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LGBTQ+ Activism in West Africa

6/11/2021

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Happy Pride Month! This month, we're taking some time to recognize the intersection between the climate and LGBTQ+ rights movements. First, we're talking about activists and organizations that have been historically been underrepresented: those in West Africa. 

West African LGBTQ+ activists are underrepresented in the news and the global community. But many organizations have made incredible progress in this region, and they're not slowing down.
History and Context
  • The region has a strong patriarchy.
  • The gender binary is strictly enforced by society.
  • Religious fundamentalism is common and spreading.
  • Many governments criminalize LGBTQ+ people, and others deny that they exist.
  • Men generally have more rights than women and non-binary people, and the largest LGBTQ+ rights movements focus on gay men and preventing HIV/AIDS.
Trans and Non-Binary Rights
  • "Goorjigéén" is the word for gender non-conforming.
  • West Africa has strong, international goorjigéén communities.
  • Trans and non-binary people are severely underrepresented in healthcare.
Safehouses
  • Safehouses are temporary homes for people rejected by their families.
  • Many young people are kicked out of their homes due to religious beliefs.
  • The organization Queer Alliance funds safehouses.
Achievements
  • Increased visibility
  • Empowerment to activists
  • Creation of HIV prevention clinics
  • Some legal efforts
  • Formation of strong communities
Organizations
  • Queer African Youth Network
  • Coalition of African Lesbians
  • Centre for the Right to Health
  • JournalRAGE
  • Lesbian Life Association Cote d’Ivoire
  • Open Society Initiative for West Africa
  • Women’s Health and Equal Rights Initiative
News and Resources
  • “We Exist: Mapping LGBTQ+ Organizing in West Africa” by Mariam Armisen
    • s3.amazonaws.com/astraea.production/app/asset/uploads/2016/10/WeExist.pdf
  • “Ghana police arrest 21 LGBT+ activists at 'unlawful' gathering” in Reuters
    • www.reuters.com/world/africa/ghana-police-arrest-21-lgbt-activists-unlawful-gathering-2021-05-21/
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Climate Change is a Harsh Reality for Kids

4/20/2021

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The New York Times recently published a feature called “Bad Future, Better Future: A guide for kids, and everyone else, about climate change -- and what we can do about it.” This interactive article directed at kids tells the story of fossil fuels and paints a picture of two futures: one in which we don’t take action against climate change and one in which we do. And it’s scary. It’s scary knowing from a much-too-young age that your future is at stake and the people in charge aren’t doing anything about it. This is the reality in which my generation is growing up. I don’t remember learning about climate change for the first time--it has been a reality for my whole life. 

The NY Times article does a great job of simplifying the fossil fuel problem and environmental racism. It also gives us hope for the future by describing a “better future." The one thing the article lacks is specific action steps that young people can take. We need to make activism more accessible to protect our future. Concrete action steps are what I needed as a 12-year-old suffering from climate anxiety. I needed something or someone to guide me through making a difference. I knew climate change was an existential threat, but I didn’t know what to do about it, so I let my mental health deteriorate to a point where I couldn’t do anything without feeling guilty about contributing to the climate crisis. 

So I say this to the New York Times: we need action steps, not more horrifying stories about what our future could be. We know it’s scary, and we’re motivated to take action, but we don’t know how. Please highlight stories of action to help the younger generations feel hopeful about our futures. 

And I pose this question to world leaders: our future is in your hands. Can we trust you with it? 

Author

Leigh Schmidt (she/her) is a high school sophomore and a political activist. Find her on social media at @leighkschmidt.

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Colonialism and the Climate Crisis

2/25/2021

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What does colonialism have to do with the climate crisis? Actually, quite a lot. European colonizers changed the environment of the Americas, causing manmade climate change. 
Colonialism: “Control by one power over a dependent area or people."
When they colonized the Americas, Europeans…

...brought invasive plants. They forced Indigenous people into slavery and made them grow cash crops. Not only did this practice kill species of native plants, but it also established a racial hierarchy that put Indigenous people below Europeans.​

...killed indigenous species. Colonizers, and later US pioneers, killed almost the entire buffalo population in the American West. Indigenous people relied on buffalo for centuries before colonization. Fewer buffalo means more small game, which means fewer native plants.

...disrespected nature. Indigenous people lived in harmony with the ecosystem and thrived for millennia by respecting Mother Earth. Europeans managed to destroy that ecosystem (and 99% of the people living in it) in just a couple hundred years. “With colonialism came the idea that everything on this earth is made for our extraction and that everything is to be bought and sold. We see this in the arrival of European colonizers to the Americas, where the land, water and other natural resources were stolen and abused” (Jamie Margolin).

...created oppressive systems. Colonialism introduced systems of oppression based on race, economic class, and gender that are still integrated into our systems today. Oppressed peoples are more impacted by the climate crisis and have fewer resources to protect themselves from it.
Sources
"I'm Not Only Striking for the Climate" by Jamie Margolin.
"Colonialism, Climate Change and the Caper of Coopted Culture" by Timothy Harris.

​
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What Does a Warm Winter Mean?

2/3/2021

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It was 60 degrees in Denver yesterday. What does that mean?

​Although it was awesome to be able to go outside in a t-shirt, this weather indicates a trend that could have serious effects unless we deal with it. Obviously, climate change has caused winters to be warmer. 2020 tied for the warmest year on record, and the planet is only getting warmer. That means that there will be fewer and fewer snows. 70% of Colorado's water comes from snowmelt. When there is less snow, the Colorado River is drier than it should be, and the millions of people who depend on the river for their water supply face a water shortage.

What can you do?
Reduce your individual carbon footprint. Check out some of our challenges for ideas and tips. 
Contact your legislators and ask them to make climate action a priority.
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Overcoming Resistance to Climate Solutions

11/20/2020

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The climate crisis is already affecting all of us, but in different ways. If you live in a coastal area, you’ve probably noticed rising sea levels. If you live in a dry climate, like I do, you’re probably hearing a lot about drought and forest fires. There is no doubt that human-caused climate change is a threat--97% of scientists agree on that fact. Now, we’ve waited so long to make a change that it has become an immediate existential threat, and it is estimated that we only have 10 years to make a 50% reduction in our carbon emissions before we permanently lose some ecosystems.

The climate crisis is a nonpartisan issue--because it affects everyone--and we can’t deal with it unless we recognize that. The only thing stopping the two political parties from working together to beat this crisis is misunderstandings about the benefits and costs of the proposed solutions. I’m going to address some of the main concerns expressed about the best solution: transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. 

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Pre-Election Interviews - What You Can Do in the 2020 Election

10/20/2020

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We interviewed Colorado State Senator Brittany Pettersen about the 2020 election and what you can do to get involved and make a difference. 
Make sure to tune in to our other live interviews here: instagram.com/project5billion
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Pre-Election Interviews: Racial Justice

10/16/2020

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We’re interviewing activist and politician MacDella Cooper about racial justice and the 2020 election! Tune in to our Instagram live on Wednesday, October 21 at 6 pm EST!
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MacDella Cooper was born in Monrovia, Liberia, and moved to the US to escape the Liberian Civil War. After graduating from the College of New Jersey with a degree in Electronic Communications, Cooper worked in fashion and corporate planning. She is the founder of the MacDella Cooper foundation which educates, trains, and motivates Africa’s disadvantaged youth. Cooper also founded the MCF Academy, Liberia’s first tuition-free boarding school for vulnerable children. In 2017, she was the only female candidate for President of Liberia. She came in 9th against 19 men. ​
Stay tuned here and on our social media pages for more info about this week's topic and upcoming interviews.
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Pre-Election Interviews: The Climate Crisis

10/15/2020

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View this post on Instagram

A live conversation with @jessica_goad about what’s at stake for the #ClimateCrisis in the #2020Election. We talked about the candidates’ plans for climate and why it’s so important to #vote this year. Check out our website to watch our interview and to access resources like voting guides that will help you be an informed voter. #project5billion

A post shared by Project 5 Billion (@project5billion) on Oct 14, 2020 at 3:42pm PDT

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Pre-Election Interviews: The Supreme Court and Reproductive Rights

10/8/2020

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View this post on Instagram

A conversation with ACLU reproductive rights policy counsel @lizzyhinkley about what’s at stake during the #2020election for the #SupremeCourt #ReproductiveRights and #Healthcare

A post shared by Project 5 Billion (@project5billion) on Oct 7, 2020 at 4:35pm PDT

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Pre-Election Interview: The Climate Crisis

10/8/2020

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We’re interviewing Jessica Goad about the Climate Crisis and the 2020 Election! Tune in to our Instagram live on 10/14 at 6 pm Eastern time.
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Jessica was born in Golden, Colorado and graduated from Lakewood High School and Carleton College. She holds a Masters of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. She is the deputy director of Conservation Colorado, the largest statewide environmental advocacy organization in Colorado. She previously worked at the Center for Western Priorities, Center for American Progress, and The Wilderness Society. She is passionate about fighting climate change, protecting our state and nation's amazing public lands, and environmental justice! 

Stay tuned here and on our social media pages for more info about this week’s topic, the climate crisis. 
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