Grassroots Women and Climate Justice: What’s Working and Why
The dominant culture that brought us colonialism, patriarchy, white supremacy and capitalism has led us to the brink of global ecological, economic and social collapse. In this session we will hear from women leaders who are lifting up frontline women around the world. They will share what they see as emergent directions in movement-building, healing and transformative change. They will describe inspiring examples of grassroots women’s Climate Justice initiatives offering equitable and vibrant solutions. They’ll show how it’s essential to amplify and invest in BIPOC and grassroots women climate leaders globally. With: Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network International; Leila Salazar Lopez, Executive Director of Amazon Watch; Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, author of Freedom is an Inside Job; Amira Diamond, co-founder and Co-Director of Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA).
Freight & Salvage
April 7th | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm
Panelists
Leila Salazar-López
Executive Director
Amazon Watch
Leila Salazar-López, Executive Director of Amazon Watch since 2015, leads the organization in its work to protect and defend the bio-cultural and climate integrity of the Amazon rainforest in solidarity with Indigenous and forest peoples. For 25+ years Leila has worked to defend the world’s rainforests, human rights, and climate through grassroots organizing and international advocacy campaigns at Amazon Watch, Rainforest Action Network and Global Exchange. She is also a Global Fund for Women Advisor for Latin America, a Greenpeace Voting Member and serves on the Advisory Circle of Daughters of the Earth. (amazonwatch.org)
Zainab Salbi
Co-Founder
Daughters for Earth
Zainab Salbi, frequently named one of the “women changing the world” by leading publications ranging from Newsweek to The Guardian, founded Women for Women International, a humanitarian organization dedicated to women survivors of wars when she was just 23. Under her leadership (1993–2011), it grew from assisting 30 women to helping more than 420,000. The author of several books, including the best seller Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny and her latest, Freedom is an Inside Job; in 2022 Zainab co-founded (with Jody Allen) Daughters for Earth, a new fund and campaign that aims to inspire all women to engage in climate change action to protect and restore the Earth.
Osprey Orielle Lake
Founder and Executive Director
Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International
Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and Executive Director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International, works with grassroots and Indigenous leaders, policy-makers and scientists to promote climate justice, resilient communities, and a just transition to a democratized energy future. She also serves on the Executive Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and is the author of the award-winning book, Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature.
Amira Diamond
Co-Founder and Co-Director
Women's Earth Alliance (WEA)
Amira Diamond, co-founder/Co-Director of Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA), has over 2 decades’ experience delivering community-driven, rights-based programming at the intersection of gender, racial, economic, environmental and climate justice around the world. Before WEA she had stints as: West Coast Director of Democracy Matters, on the team of Circle of Life, and founding and performing with the ensemble, the Social Prophet Choir. Amira, also a leadership trainer, facilitator and strategic planner, has served on a number of organizations’ boards and advisory councils.
Keep Your Finger on the Pulse
Our bi-weekly newsletter provides insights into the people, projects, and organizations creating lasting change in the world.
