Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism Events Archive
Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism
at COP27
🌍 COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 🌍
NOVEMBER 6-13, 2022
Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism attended COP27 (United Nations Climate Conference) in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022.
After many hours of work and much expense, most of our African delegates were able to get a visa to attend the COP. We presented all of our planned events in the Green Zone and were deeply welcomed. We came home with the names and emails of more than 600 people who indicated a desire to followup with us, and we've begun that work.
The Green Zone once again was our home. While we made many good contacts in the Blue Zone, the logistics of the COP made it difficult to get staff to our booth.
We presented the following events in-person in the Green Zone during the first week (local time in Egypt). We used listening projects for the hour and a half before the events to inform people, interest them in the topic, and give them a taste of our listening tools. It was very effective.
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- Emotional Burden of Oppression and the Climate Crisis
Monday, November 7, 3:30 - 5:30 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into French - War and Climate Justice
Tuesday, November 8, 11 am - 1 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into Arabic and French - Young People at the Forefront of the Climate Emergency, Tuesday, November 8, 3:30 - 5:30 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into Spanish and French - Women and the Climate Crisis
Wednesday, November 9, 11 am - 1 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into Arabic and Spanish - Forum: The Impact of the Climate Crisis on Africa
Thursday, November 10, 11 am - 1 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into French and Arabic - Healing the Trauma of the Climate Crisis
Thursday, November 10, 3:30 - 5:30 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into Spanish and French - No Human Enemies: A Strategy for Climate Justice Organizing
Friday, November 11, 11 am - 1 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into Arabic and French - Staying Hopeful as We Face the Climate Crisis
Friday, November 11, 3:30 - 5:30 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into Spanish and French - The Legacy of Colonization and Racism in Africa
Saturday, November 12, 11 am - 1 pm, Green Zone SAL booth.
Interpreted into French - Daily introduction to the tools of Sustaining All Life classes
- Daily listening projects and listening circles
- Emotional Burden of Oppression and the Climate Crisis
The second week SAL presented the following online events:
The walls of our booths were covered with beautiful posters communicating our key ideas. Many people read them and had questions. A number of people were excited to learn that there was a group focusing on emotional healing... they had figured out they needed to offer that component in their work, but didn't know how.
🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳
SAL/UER at COP26 in Glasgow, October 31 - November 12, 2021
Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism attended COP26 (United Nations Climate Conference) in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. Though our numbers and representation were limited because of COVID, we presented a number of events in person as well as many events online. All in-person events were live-streamed to our Facebook page @SustainingAllLife, and can be viewed there.
PHOTO GALLERY--SAL/UER in Glasgow at COP26: sustainingalllife.org
In-Person and Online Events in Glasgow, Scotland were hosted by: COP26 Coalition People’s Summit for Climate Justice
ALL EVENT FLYER (English, Spanish, French)
🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳
2020 SAL/UER Events
Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism 2020
When COP26 was rescheduled to 2021 because of the COVID pandemic, Sustaining All Life (SAL) and United to End Racism (UER) changed our plans and instead participated in two key events in the fall of 2020 where we offered our workshops, forums, and classes. Our first week of online events was at Climate Week New York City 2020, the week of September 21-27th, 2020. A listing of the events we offered there is here. (In Spanish/español, in French/francais) All were offered in multiple languages.
In November, we offered workshops and a forum in coordination with Coalition COP26's Global Gathering for Climate Justice (video trailer here) and other climate justice groups in Glasgow, Scotland between November 12 and 22, 2020. The list of SAL/UER events is here.
In early 2021, we held events on Women and the Climate Emergency (March 2021) and events during Earth Week 2021 (April 17-25, 2021).
SAL is offering follow-up online classes and support groups here.
Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism 2019
Sustaining All Life attended both COP25 in Madrid, Spain (December 2019) and the New York Climate Summit (September 2019).
In Madrid, our 30 person delegation secured a prominent location near the entrance of the Green Zone (civil society/non-governmental space) to greet people, display our materials, and hold small workshops, support groups, and forums throughout the day. Our delegation was primarily from Latin America and we focused on bring the voices of Latin America to the COP (which was moved in the last month from Santiago, Chile to Madrid). We also held workshops throughout the week at a "people's summit." More information can be found here.
The New York Climate Summit was scheduled during the week of the United Nations General Assembly to bring the parties to the Paris Agreement together to increase the level of national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to temper climate change. With a delegation of 100 RC leaders, we rented space in a building a few blocks from the United Nations and held more than 40 workshops over the week, in addition to "pop-up" workshops, forums, listening projects, and listening circles at demonstrations that occurred that week. We were successful in reaching many people, both from the United Nations Community as well as the local climate activist community, with our work. More information can be found here.
Climate Week NYC
Workshops:
Subversive Catwalk: Women, Fast Fashion & Climate Justice (flyer)
Monday, September 21, 10 am - 12 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
Interpreted into French
The video shown in the workshop can be seen here: adress.
Ending Racism and Classism in the Climate Movement (flyer) (Hungarian flyer)
Monday, September 21, 1 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 17:00 UTC
In English and Spanish, interpreted into English, French, Spanish, Hungarian
How to Lead Listening Circles (flyer)
Tuesday, September 22, 10 am EDT (New York, USA) / 14:00 UTC
Interpretation into Hindi, Spanish, Italian
Eliminating the Effects of Racism in Climate Activism (flyer)
Tuesday, September 22, 1 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 17:00 UTC
Interpreted into Spanish, French, and Portuguese
Jews and Climate Justice: Building a United Front (flyer)
Wednesday, September 23, 10 am - 12 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
Interpreted into Hebrew and Spanish
Expressing Climate Grief (flyer)
Wednesday, September 23, 1 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 17:00 UTC
Interpreted into Spanish
Sustaining Ourselves as Activists and Organizers (flyer)
Wednesday, September 23, 4 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 20:00 UTC
Interpreted into Spanish, French, Igbo
Women, Girls, and Climate Justice (flyer)
Thursday, September 24, 1 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 17:00 UTC
Interpreted into Kikuyu and Spanish
Building Resilient Movements to End the Climate Emergency (flyer)
Friday, September 25, 4 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 20:00 UTC
Interpreted into French and Spanish
Youth at the Forefront of the Climate Movement (flyer)
Saturday, September 26, 10 am EDT (New York, USA) / 14:00 UTC
In English and Spanish
War and Climate Change (flyer)
Saturday, September 26, 1 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 17:00 UTC
Interpreted into French, Spanish, Arabic
Forums:
Latin American Voices (flyer)
Tuesday, September 22, 4 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 20:00 UTC
In Spanish and English
Pacific Island Voices (flyer) (Japanese flyer)
Thursday, September 24, 6 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 22:00 UTC
Interpretation into Tagalog, Bisaya, Japanese
Youth Leading on the Climate Emergency (flyer)
Friday, September 25, 10 am EDT (New York, USA) / 14:00 UTC
In English and Spanish
Indigenous Voices (flyer)
Saturday, September 26, 4 pm EDT (New York, USA)/ 20:00 UTC
In Spanish, Portuguese, French, English and the first language of our speakers
African Voices (flyer) (flyer Igbo)
Sunday, September 27, 10 am EDT (New York, USA) / 14:00 UTC
Interpreted into Siswati, Igbo, Lingala, French
Classes:
Introduction to the Tools of Sustaining All Life (flyer)
Interpreted into Spanish, Hebrew, and Kikuyu
Tuesday, September 22, 10 am EDT (New York, USA) / 14:00 UTC
Friday, September 25, 1 pm EDT (New York, USA) / 17:00 UTC
From the Ground Up & G20 Summit
In November 2020, the COP26 Coalition in Glasgow hosted From the Ground Up - a global gathering providing the space to educate, strategize and co-ordinate, to build power and connect within our global justice movements. The Global Gathering discussed the need for a Global Green New Deal and worked towards a global plan of action to create the change we need from the ground up. SAL/UER offered nine events during this event, including two events at the Global Gathering itself.
"From the Ground Up" Festival Trailer was an excellent introduction to the Global Gathering.
SAL/UER Workshops and Forums Coinciding with From the Ground Up: Global Gathering for Climate Justice
Thursday November 12th: Eliminating the Effects of Racism in Climate Activism (1 – 3 pm EST, 6 – 8 pm GMT) (interpreted into French) (flyer with registration link)
Friday November 13th: Voices of Frontline Communities Forum (1 - 3.30 pm EST / 6 - 8.30 pm GMT) (Interpreted into Spanish, French, Hungarian) (flyer with registration link)
Sunday November 15th: Jews and Climate Justice: Building a United Front (12 pm - 2 pm EST / 5 – 7 pm GMT)) (interpreted into Spanish and Hebrew) (flyer with registration link)
Youth at the Forefront of the Climate Movement (2 – 4 pm EST / 7 - 9 pm GMT) (flyer with registration link)
Monday November 16th: War and Climate Change (1 – 2.30 pm EST / 6 – 7.30 pm GMT) (interpreted into Arabic and possibly French) (flyer with registration link)
Saturday November 14: SAL/UER with From the Ground Up: Global Gathering for Climate Justice
Fast Facts for Fast Fashion (8.30 – 9.30 am EST / 1.30 – 2.30 pm GMT) (English only) (flyer with registration link)
Self and Collective Care for Transformational Change (1 – 2.30 pm EST / 6 – 7.30 pm GMT) (English only) (co-presenting with Greenpeace) (flyer with registration link)
SAL/UER Events During the G20 Summit (November 21-22)
Saturday 21st: Expressing Climate Grief (2 – 4 pm EST / 7 – 9 pm GMT) (interpreted into French and Spanish) (flyer with registration link)
Sunday 22nd: How to Lead Listening Circles: (5 – 7 am EST / 10 am - 12 pm GMT) (interpreted into Hindi) (flyer with registration link)
An hour long, optional listening circle/support group will be offered after most workshops (not the forum).
Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism Events 2019
Sustaining All Life at COP25 in Madrid, Spain
December 2 - December 8, 2019 (español)
Sustaining All Life (SAL) has returned from COP25 in Madrid, Spain (moved from Santiago, Chile). We attended with a 30 person delegation. Our goal was to bring our tools of listening and emotional healing to the COP and to make clear the connection between climate change and capitalism, racism, sexism, classism and oppression of indigenous peoples and young people. We also held daily forums highlighting the voices of Latin Americans on issues of climate change and the intersection with social justice.
At COP25 SAL offered a series of events where we shared our understandings, and our tools of listening and healing. We had our own exhibit booth, which served as a focal point for our work. We offered workshops on the following themes: Eliminating the Effects of Racism in Our Work, Young People at the Forefront of the Climate Movement, Indigenous People and the Fight for the Environment, Climate Change and Institutional Violence, Women and Climate Justice, Sustaining Ourselves as Activists and Organizers, Parents Take Action for Climate Justice, Expressing Climate Grief, and The Environment and Health.
We also held forums (inviting people to come speak from their own experiences) for young people, Indigenous people, Latin Americans, and addressing the impact of climate change in Latin America.
Daily we held meetings for young people, and at the end of our time there we gathered interested people for a more detailed introduction to RC.
We held one event in the Blue Zone (the governmental area), in partnership with some other groups. Our three speakers spoke about our basic theory and oppression in Latin America, under the umbrella of “Expressing Climate Grief.” (We offered this workshop “climate grief” workshop a number of times.) Iliria Unzueta, RRP of Mexico, leader of the delegation (along with Diane Shisk) gave a very inspiring talk at the end of the event, and I want to share it with you all here. The other two people from our delegation on the stage are Nancy Callañaupa, a Quechua woman from Cusco, Peru, and Daniel Vela, young adult man from Baja California, México.
New York Climate Summit September 19-27, 2019
A large delegation for Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism attended the United Nations Climate Action Summit the week of September 23, 2019. The Summit was scheduled during the week of the United Nations General Assembly to bring the parties to the Paris Agreement together to increase the level of national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to temper climate change.
You can see a slideshow of our week here.
We brought our tools of listening and discharge to groups and individuals attending the Climate Strike, the Summit, and related events. We focused on making clear the connection between climate change and capitalism, racism, sexism, classism, and oppression of indigenous peoples and young people. We also held events and had materials urging the United States to remain in the Paris Agreement and fulfill our commitment to the future.
About another 150 local Co-Counselors and friends joined us for the march on Friday the 20th and we were very pleased with our presence: drumming, changing, and with a beautiful assortment of signs and banners. Starting the day after the march we held seven days of workshops and forums (40 total, 1.5 - 2 hours each, most followed by an hour long support group) and daily introductions to RC, all held from 10 am to 6:30 pm at several locations in Manhattan. Attendance was good--many people were connected in some way to the United Nations, others were in New York to attend the Climate Action Summit, and local climate activists also attended. People are very receptive to our ideas and practice, and many stated for our support groups and introductory class.
Some of our events were sponsored as part of Climate Week and the Nature4Climate Hub, some were in partnership with other organizations, and some were ours alone.
Here is our comprehensive flyer which you can download and distribute. (Print version folds into pocket-size flyer.) The PDF has live links to all events.
SAL/UER SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY (9/20)—GLOBAL STUDENT STRIKE AND MARCH FOR CLIMATE
9am Listening Projects near the United Nations, 9am
12pm Global Student Strike and March, 12pm, starting at Foley Square. March to Battery Park and rally at 4PM. GlobalClimateStrike.net for details
SATURDAY (9/21)
9am Listening Projects near the United Nations, 9-10:30am
10am Workshops and Forum
Building United, Resilient Movements to End the Climate Emergency, 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer)(Handout)
War and Climate Change, 10–11:30am, 4w43rd Aqua Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
The Impact of Climate Change on Puerto Rico, 10am–12pm, 4w43rd Blue Room (Spanish Flyer) (English Flyer)
1pm Making a Climate for Families, 1-5 pm, 10am-6pm for set up and clean up, Central Park (Flyer)
1pm Workshops
Eliminating the Effects of Racism on Our Work to Sustain All Life, 1–2:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
Bringing Labor and Climate Justice Movements Together for a Sustainable Future, 1–2:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (Flyer) (Handout)
4pm Workshops
Mental Health and Climate Justice, 4–5:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (Flyer) (Handout)
Sustaining Ourselves as Activists and Organizers, 4–5:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout) (Handout 2)
5:30pm Introductory Class to the Theory and Tools of Sustaining All Life, 5:30–6:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (Flyer)
SUNDAY (9/22)
9am Listening Projects near the United Nations, 9 - 10:30am
10am Workshops and Forum
Supporting Young People of Color in the Climate Movement, 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Aqua Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout 1) (Handout 2)
Women and Climate Justice, 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
Forum: The Impact of the Climate Emergency on New York State, 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Blue Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer)
1pm Workshops and Forum
Jews and Climate Justice: Building a United Front, 1-2:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (Flyer) (Handout)
Young People at the Forefront of the Climate Movement, 1-2:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout 1) (Handout 2)
Forum: Climate Emergency: Impact on Frontline Communities, 1-3:00pm, 4w43rd Blue Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer)
2 pm Listening Projects near the United Nations, 2 pm
3:30pm Workshop: Eliminating the Effects of Racism on Our Work to Sustain All Life, 3:30-5:00 pm, (New School, Wollman Hall, Room 500, 65 W 11th St. NYC 10011) (Flyer) (Handout)
4pm Workshops
Forum: Personal Stories of Activism to Communicate Hope and Courage, 4-5:30pm, 4w43rd Blue Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer)
Parents Take Action for Climate Justice, 4–5:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
Sustaining Indigenous Life, 4-5:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
5:30pm Introductory Class to the Theory and Tools of Sustaining All Life, 5:30–6:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (Flyer)
MONDAY (9/23)
9am Listening Projects near the United Nations, 9 - 10:30am
9am Workshop: Backing Women & Girls in to Lead in Sustainable Agriculture, 9-10:30am Nature4Climate, Convene, Madison Hub South, 101 Park Avenue (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
10am Workshop: Eliminating the Effects of Racism on Our Work to Sustain All Life, 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
1pm Workshop: Expressing Climate Grief, 1-2:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (Flyer) (Handout)
4pm Forum: Young People Leading on the Climate Emergency Now and Into the Future, 4-5:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (Flyer) (Handout 1) (Handout 2)
5 pm Workshop: Migration is a Climate Issue, 5-6:30pm, 4w43rd Room 407 (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer)
5:30pm Introductory Class to the Theory and Tools of Sustaining All Life, 5:30–6:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (Flyer)
TUESDAY (9/24)
10am Workshops
Sustaining Ourselves as Activists and Organizers, 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
U.S. Back in Paris: Ending U.S. Greed and Isolationism 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Aqua Room (Flyer) (Handout)
1pm Workshops
Supporting Young People of Color in the Climate Movement, 1-2:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer)
Supporting Indigenous Leadership, 1-2:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
Pakikinigang Magkapwa: Sharing Our Stories to Build, Unite, and Sustain Our Communities Toward Resiliency and Justice, 1-2:30pm, Convene, Madison Hub South, 101 Park Ave (Flyer)
4pm Workshops
Young People at the Forefront of the Climate Movement, 4-5:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout 1) (Handout 2)
Women, Climate Emergency, and the New Economy, 4-5:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
5:30pm Introductory Class to the Theory and Tools of Sustaining All Life, 5:30–6:30pm, Green Room (Flyer)
WEDNESDAY (9/25)
10am Workshops
War and Climate Change, 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout)
A New Economy and People of Color in the Forefront of Change 10-11:30am, 4w43rd Aqua Room (Flyer) (Handout)
1pm Workshops
Pakikinigang Magkapwa: Sharing Our Stories to Build, Unite, and Sustain Our Communities Toward Climate Resiliency and Justice, 1-2:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer)
Young People Leading the Way to a Sustainable World 1-2:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (English Flyer) (Spanish Flyer) (Handout 1) (Handout 2)
4pm Workshops
Expressing Climate Grief, 4-5:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (Flyer) (Handout)
Climate Activism, 4-5:30pm, 4w43rd Aqua Room (Flyer) (Handout 1) (Handout 2)
5:30pm Introductory Class to the Theory and Tools of Sustaining All Life, 5:30–6:30pm, 4w43rd Green Room (Flyer)
THURSDAY (9/26)
RC workshop and debrief, all day
FRIDAY (9/27)
10am Workshop: Bringing Labor and Climate Justice Movements Together for a Sustainable Future, 10-11:30am, 1st Floor Kimball Hall (NYU), 246 Greene Street (Flyer) (Handout)
1pm Workshop: Climate Emergency: Capitalism’s Failure, 1-2:30 pm, 1st Floor Kimball Hall (NYU), 246 Greene Street (Flyer) (Handout)
2:30 Workshop: Tools for Climate Activists, Sunset Park (45 minutes)
3:15 Workshop: Eliminating Racism in the Climate Movement, Sunset Park (45 minutes)
4pm Workshop: The Role of the U.S. in the Climate Emergency, 4-5:30pm, 1st Floor Kimball Hall (NYU), 246 Greene Street (Flyer) (Handout)
Some of our events were live-streamed on Facebook (sustainingalllife), live-tweeted on Twitter (@sustainalllife), and Instagram (sustaining_all_life) has many photos and notes.
Sustaining All Life at COP24 in Katowice, Poland, November 29 - December 8, 2018
Introduction
After our experiences In Paris, Marrakech, and Bonn in the last three years, Sustaining All Life attended COP24 in Katowice, Poland in December. Our goal continued to be to make clear that there is a connection between climate change and capitalism, racism, sexism, classism and oppression of indigenous peoples and young people. We made space for people from the different oppressed groups who are often denied a voice in the mainstream climate movement and in the media, to share their experiences, their activism, their hopes and struggles, while being listened to with respect.
Follow and like us on Facebook: Sustaining All Life
Follow us (and like and retweet) on Twitter at #SustainingLife1
One of the most important tasks of the 24th Session of the of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) was to work out and adopt a package of decisions ensuring the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, in accordance with the decisions adopted in Paris (COP21) and in Marrakesh (COP22). Moreover, COP24 included the Facilitative Dialogue intended to support the implementation of national commitments.
SAL Slideshow Showing at COP24
SAL Events at COP24
At COP24 we offered a series of events sharing our understandings, and our tools of listening and healing. We hoped to be present with our own exhibit.
We held an official COP24 side event, together with The Global Peace Initiatives of Women and Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association (DDMBA). The theme of the event was ‘To stand United for the Climate, Overcoming Divisions’. Our workshop was
In addition, each morning Sustaining All Life offered an open workshop where members of the audience were listened to about their experiences connected to the topics below. Each afternoon we followed-up with meetings for people who are interested to learn more and try out our tools.
Our topics included:
- SAL COP24 Workshop Young (SAL COP24 Workshop young po) (SAL COP24 Workshop Young fr)
- SAL COP24 Workshop Young Racism (SAL COP24 Workshop Young Racism po) (SAL COP24 Workshop Young Racism fr)
- SAL COP24 Workshop Indigenous (SAL COP24 Workshop Indigenous fr) (SAL COP24 Workshop Indigenous po)
- SAL COP24 Workshop Activism (SAL COP24 Workshop Activism fr) (SAL COP24 Workshop Activism po)
- SAL COP24 Workshop Global(SAL COP24 Workshop Global po) (SAL COP24 Workshop Global fr)
- SAL COP24 Workshop United (SAL COP24 Workshop United fr) (SAL COP24 Workshop United po)
We also offered a daily SAL COP24 SG Young (SAL COP24 SG Young fr) (SAL COP24 SG Young po) for young people.
Sustaining All Life/United to End Racism at Solidarity to Solutions (SOL2SOL) week and the Global Climate Action Summit
Sustaining All Life and United to End Racism attended the Solidarity to Solutions (Sol2Sol) events, the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS), and other climate activist events, the week of September 8-14, 2018. Our goal was to bring the tools and understandings of RC to climate activists. We presented workshops and forums, and held support groups, caucuses, listening projects, and introductory classes. Our delegation was lead by Barbara Love (ILRP for African Heritage People), Teresa Enrico (ILRP for Pacific Islanders), and Diane Shisk (AIRP). Mary Ruth Gross and Chris Selig were the organizers.
We also participated in the Rise for Climate Justice + Jobs march on Saturday, September 8, where activists groups challenged governments and industries to do more to shut down the fossil fuel industry.
Indigenous workshop at Sol2Sol
SAL/UER WORKSHOPS, FORUMS, AND MORE
We led 23 workshops and 12 forums over the week, and many introductory classes and caucuses.
In our workshops we shared our perspective on current environmental issues and how we have used the tools of Re-evaluation Counseling to free ourselves and others from emotional hurts that have interfered with our thinking and functioning. Our workshops are interactive, giving participants the chance to share their experiences and be listened to.
At the forums, activists signed up for a 3 minute turn to speak about the impact of climate change on their people, stories of hope and courage in activism, and more. These are important opportunities to hear directly from people already impacted by climate change. Periodically the flow of speakers is paused for the opportunity for the audience to exchange listening with one another in pairs and share their reactions.
Many, many listening projects were also held, where small groups of SAL members encourage passers-by to share their thinking on key climate change issues, using questions such as:
- What do you think about climate change? What should be done?
- How do you feel about fossil fuels? Should we "leave them in the ground"?
- Do you think wealthy nations should help less developed nations pay for environmental damage caused by climate change?
- How do you see racism impacting our ability to organize effectively on climate change?
- What gives you hope as a climate activist? What's hard for you about it?
- What are you worried or scared about losing to climate change?
- How can we build the movement we need to change everything?
Support groups and caucuses were offered daily, offering people a chance to be listened to about their feelings connected to climate change. Having the chance to share their anger, their discouragement, their hope in a mutually supportive group refreshes people and gives them fresh ideas for action. Group leaders also help people think about how to set up support groups in their home communities.
An saluerintroductorysgflyer (saluerintroductorysgflyersp) in Re-evaluation Counseling, in English and Spanish, was offered daily.
We are building relationships with climate activists in many countries, and many people are joining RC or starting local Communities after their contact with SAL/UER.
COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF SAL/UER WORKSHOPS AND FORUMS
saluerallworkshopforumflyer (saluerallworkshopforumflyersp)
Sustaining All Life (SAL) at COP23 in Bonn, Germany
The delegation to COP23 in Bonn was led by Wytske Visser (ICRP for Care of the Environment) and Teresa Enrico (ILRP for Filipinas/os and Pacific Islanders). Anne Helgedagsrud (Norway) and Marijke Wilmans (The Netherlands) organized.
The COP was from November 6 to 17, 2017. The nation of Fiji organized the COP, but determined that it would be too expensive (financially and CO2 emissions) for everyone to travel to Fiji. So it was held at UN facilities in Bonn, Germany. Again we held workshops, forums, and more. Two years since the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN climate talks in Bonn came at a pivotal moment for climate action and vulnerable states. After Paris signaled the intent to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, COP23 must now achieve real progress on the Paris Agreement's implementation guidelines.
The Sustaining All Life (SAL) delegation held our series of Forums and Workshops, Fundamentals classes, support groups, and caucuses. Once again we were well received. You can see reports from our activities below, as well as a listing of our events and flyers and handouts that we used there.
SAL SLIDE SHOW
Sustaining All Life at COP22
Sustaining All Life again sent a delegation to COP22, November 7-18, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco. The conference was to an important step towards implementation of the Paris Agreement. There was ongoing work on the mandates arising from COP 21, and attempts to strengthen the "voluntary" provisions of the accord. Climate finance was also a pressing issue.
Sustaining All Life (SAL) was present for the two full weeks of COP22. Because we had NGO status, we were able to have our own booth, and we were allocated spaces for ten workshops and forums (see below). It made a tremendous difference to have our own spaces in the middle of the "Green Zone" (the non-governmental section, open to the public). We did many of the same things we did in Paris: workshops, forums, caucuses, fundamentals classes, support groups, and listening projects. But because we could hold our events in very public spaces that were announced, people could find us easily. More and more people came to know us and appreciate us as the days went by.
All of our events were translated in to French and many were also translated into Arabic.
Many people from Morocco attended the COP, enabling us to make many relationships with Marocains. As a result we have started an RC Community in Morocco. Their first weekend workshop was September 2017.
Sustaining All Life at COP21
Sustaining All Life sent a delegation of 25 Co-Counselors to the COP21 negotiations in Paris, France, November 30-December 8, 2015. COP21 was the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21/CMP11), otherwise known as "Paris 2015" from November 30th to December 11th. COP21 was a crucial conference, with a goal of achieving a binding international agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Centigrade. Sustaining All Life participated in the Civil Society events and events held by climate activist groups.
Because of the attacks right before the COP, security was tight our plan to hold workshops nearby wasn't very successful. But we were able to use spaces that other groups hadn't claimed and we were able to share a booth with an African NGO. The workshops, forums, and flyers/handouts above were first developed for SAL at COP21, and we have expanded our presence every year.