Although the virus is a natural disaster, it is global capitalism that undermines our health and makes us extremely vulnerable to economic crises. We must put people before profits again, during and after this crisis.

The exploitation of nature causes enormous harm to the planet and to ourselves. To prevent this situation from getting even worse, we need urgent climate action now.

Everywhere in the world authoritarian leaders are misusing the state of emergency to crush democracy. We need to keep on fighting for everybody’s right to health but also to freedom.

Poor people and refugees were already vulnerable, but they are even more so in this pandemic. Any real solution to this crisis is unthinkable without true international solidarity.

In this moment we need activism more than ever. We have to make sure that the world after corona will be better than before. But how to change the world in times of crisis?

In the coming weeks we will present new activist perspectives on the COVID-19 crisis – and what we should do about it. For now please read our statement on this matter here.

With the financial support of Het Actiefonds, Brandalism is launching a new creative campaign in September. The car industry is one of the biggest advertisers and it is also one of the biggest polluters. Despite the enormous CO2 emissions of car manufacturers, carmakers still have access to all public spaces to advertise their products. Due to the smart advertising campaigns of the automotive industry, their products are still seen as a status symbol. The creative subvertising campaign of Brandalism must change that.

In five different cities in the United Kingdom, the artists of Brandalism are going to tell the true story of the car industry, the story the car industry is conveniently trying to conceal for its consumers: namely that the products they produce are extremely harmful to humans, animals, and the environment. Starting in September the work of Brandalism will be displayed in public spaces in Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, London, and Sheffield.

‘Paper’ waste

The Indonesian government imports paper waste from the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Since 2014, the import of paper from the United States has increased by 550%. However, research of Ecoton has shown that the imported bales of paper contain 30 to 40 percent of plastic waste.

Despite the fact that the Indonesian government has adopted a law that prohibits importing plastic waste, the Indonesian state continues to import ‘paper’ bales from rich countries. Most of the imported plastic waste that is imported is either burned or dumped. As a result of this illegal dumping most – if not all – rivers in Indonesia are polluted with plastic. Research of Ecoton shows that 80% of the fish in the Brantas River have plastic in their stomachs.

Artistic protest

To demonstrate against the plastic waste import and the dumping of plastic Ecoton is building a big fish statue from the plastic found in the Brantas River. They will use this creative construction at their demonstrations at the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry. Furthermore, Ecoton is planning to make a film about their project to display at universities and other public spaces to educate a wider audience about the contamination of rivers in Indonesia.

Nearby the village Jermuk, gold was discovered 12 years ago. The plans of Lydian International to start exploiting the Amulsar goldmine have led to much protest of local communities. Locals fear that the exploitation of the goldmine will have negative consequences for their food and water supply, the wildlife of this region and tourism. These concerns are justified. Armenia has a long history of controversial incidents in the mining industry. The mining industry is one of the most corrupt sectors of Armenia and in the past, many projects of mining companies have heavily damaged the environment.

The inhabitants of Jermuk and Gndevaz demand from the Armenian government to reconsider the permission granted by the previous administration to the mining company.

The Forest Rights Act.

In 2006 the Indian parliament adopted the Forest Rights Act. This law was passed to protect the indigenous people of India against forced expropriation of forests and to compensate them for past injustices. However recently the Supreme Court of India has ruled in favor of wildlife organizations, who claim that the presence of indigenous people in the forests is harmful to the protected forests of India. This court ruling also has significant consequences for the indigenous people of other states in India. Due to this court order, indigenous communities of other states can also be forced to leave the forests where they have existed for centuries.

Unfounded

The claim of the Indian wildlife organizations, about the presence of indigenous communities supposedly threatening the Indian forests, is groundless. The biggest threat to the forests and wildlife in India are still the Indian government and companies, who are cutting the forests for their natural resources.

Protest

On 11 August, the group is organizing a cultural event where they will sing traditional songs to protest against the planned eviction of the Adivasi communities from the forests of Jharkhand.

By mid-2018, 123 social leaders had already been killed: the majority of them belonged to indigenous or campesino groups, and were engaged in the fight for natural resources and territories. The Tejuntas organization (Tejido Juvenil Nacional Transformando a la Sociedad) is taking action. Founded in 2011, the group is the result of a meeting of around 300 young people in Marinilla, all of whom wanted to fight for democracy and peace.

The aim of the action “La paz está en rojo” (Peace is colored red) is to raise awareness of this desperate situation, and demand that human rights be respected in the country. The conflict situation renders any democratic process of peace and social justice in Colombia impossible. The justice system makes no effort to adequately investigate the murders.

To generate media attention, the activists are taking direct action in the public space of Medellín, in a very creative way. They’re making dolls that are clearly recognizable as social leaders, and hanging them on traffic lights throughout the city. This way they reach the millions of people who pass these traffic lights every day.

This is part of a national campaign called “Ser Líder Social No Es un Delito” (It is not a crime to be a social leader). Taking action against these tragic crimes is desperately needed. According to a study conducted by the National Consulting Center and Consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement, between January 2016 and June 2018 no fewer than 311 people were killed for their commitment to human rights and peace. Het Actiefonds supports Tejuntas, because social leaders and human rights defenders must be free and safe to do their important work!

Poisoned soil

Around 1500 families – mainly women – depend on the mussel capture and processing in the area around the Muros-Noia estuary. The mining industry pollutes the soil with heavy metals. As a result, thousands of hectares of seabed have already been closed. The consequences for the community are disastrous: no livelihood without mussel capture. Meanwhile, Sacyr Group is taking legal steps to block environmental groups from taking water samples in sites where illegal discharges of toxic substances are taking place, in order to keep their harmful practices under wraps.

Forced expulsion

The communities living around the mine are not only in danger of losing their income. They are also threatened with eviction from their homes and the loss of even more of their land. Residents complain of intimidation by the Sacyr Group. Despite massive protests, the regional government continues to support the mining activities.

Regaining the ground

With the help of Het Actiefonds, local communities are reclaiming the land that has been taken from them. They do this by planting endangered, native tree species in the old mine shafts and mining holes. Many families with children are planting trees in the soil, thus getting right of use to the trees and its fruits. The goal is to restore the affected areas and reclaim the lost ground.

Help out

Do you agree that it’s unacceptable that the interests of multinationals take precedence over the rights and health of local communities? Show your solidarity with the residents of Galicia and donate now!

🎥 Watch the video here 🎥

A great action, and desperately needed. 88 procent of the Amsterdam streets named after a person are named after a man. And of the women’s names used, most are “wives of”, according to the action group. So De Bovengrondse took to the streets in August to hang up alternative street name signs. This happened simultaneously in ten other cities in the Netherlands. The original street names were crossed out with pink tape.

The action group made a diverse selection of twelve extraordinary women to honour with this action. Representation matters: if all streets are named after men, this stimulates the idea of only men doing relevant things for society.

Cluy-Napoca, or Cluj in short, is the second largest city in Romania. The city is known for its ethnic and religious diversity. But nevertheless, it is the least tolerant city in all the EU member states when it comes to LGBTQI+ people.

Spreading hate

The groep ‘Coalition for Family’, a group of no less than 30 NGOs, has even started a hate campaign against the LGBTQI+ community. This coalition wants to secure ‘traditional family values’. And their goal is to define marriage in the constitution as ‘the unification of a man and a woman’. According to them, there’s no place in Romania for same-sex marriage.

Sabotage

Last year, the organisation of Pride Romania also encountered bizarre sabotage actions at the hands of the municipality. The Pride was denied the use of several public spaces and eventually the mayor declared that these kinds of manifestations are forbidden in the city.

It’s clear that Romania has a long way to go in LGBTQI+ rights and emancipation. For that reason, the group Asociatia PRIDE wants to hold the march in the city center, even without permission. Through this manifestation, they aim to make the oppressed community more visible. They want to reclaim public space and make their voices heard against the continuous discrimination, repression and violence. Because the city belongs to everyone.

Recognition and tolerance

The primary goal of the Pride is to show the city that the LGBTQI+ community can’t just be silenced. They deserve true recognition. Het Actiefonds is supporting the collective in organising the march itself and in purchasing and spreading promotional materials.

This Pride march is only the beginning of a series of actions that put the rights of the LGBTQI+ back on the public agenda. Actions demanding respect and tolerance, actions against hatred. In the coming months a referendum will be held about the constitutional definition of marriage. In the run-up to this, the group hopes to open the eyes of the Romanian people.

You can support this fight for equality and equity. With a one-time donation you can help the group continue their campaign!