The inspiration came from efforts to deal with a very different problem in Malawi – the influx of refugees. The project, which Haji heard about from fellow conference delegates, assigns plots of unused land for refugees to farm. This gives them a source of food and income, helps reduce costs on the government, and quells tensions with locals.
With the rising impact of climate change, ranging from flash floods, landslides and ocean surges, coupled with the urgent need to implement more effective – and long-term – disaster risk reduction, credible journalist initiatives are increasingly playing a crucial role of informing the public.
In rural western Kenya, it’s the women farmers who feel the biggest loss from unusual crop seasons, increased flooding and previously unseen plant diseases – while the men set off in search of urban jobs.
Upon hearing stark numbers on how cows contribute to climate change, comedian and podcast host Maeve Higgins boils the problem down: “We mustn’t let them get their own nation,” she exclaims. “We have to stop them from organising.”
In October 2018, CJRF co-sponsored a historic gathering: the First Peoples’ Convening on Climate-Forced Displacement with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and the Alaska Institute for Justice. Held in Girdwood, Alaska, the three-day conference brought together more than 60 community leaders and advocates from around the world to address how climate change is forcing indigenous communities off their land.
In June 2018, IMPACT Finance and Administration Officer Elizabeth Silakan, Program Officer John Tingoi and Samburu Women Trust Director Jane Meriwas shared their thoughts on collaboration and movement building for land management and land rights.
