{"id":8123,"date":"2020-10-27T17:34:33","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T17:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justiceandpeace.nl\/?p=8123"},"modified":"2021-05-28T17:36:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T17:36:12","slug":"artivism-event-reflections-together-we-act-for-justice-and-the-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justiceandpeace.nl\/en\/artivism-event-reflections-together-we-act-for-justice-and-the-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Take action for justice and the environment!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n\n
\n \n

This was the message of our online event<\/a> \u2018ARTIVISM for Environmental Justice\u2019, held on 14 October. Through this event we aimed to provide alternative ways to take action for the environment, by using the combination of art and activism. Mediums such as music, film, photography, graffiti murals, and more, have long been used as tools to push forward issues of human rights, peace and justice. Today, these tools are also used to take action for environmental justice, and if we look closer we can see examples of that around us. By reaching the end of the article you will find out a few of these tools and get inspiration from the people who employ them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why is it necessary to focus on environmental justice<\/strong>? Environmental defenders across the world have dedicated their lives to protecting the lands, waters, and air for the past, living and future generations. However, it is these very same people who are suffering great injustices and violations for protecting nature and their human rights. An example is the late indigenous and environmental defender Berta Caceres<\/a>, who was murdered in March 2016 for her efforts to defend the environment and her community. In light of this, we dedicated this event as a tribute<\/strong> to Berta<\/strong> and the Lenca community<\/strong> for their unstoppable fight for justice and the environment.<\/p>\n

Why should we be concerned with such injustices? Through our event last Wednesday, we strived to show that we are all connected in this movement for justice and the environment. You may not be the victim, and you may not be the perpetrator of environmental injustices, as our moderator Chihiro Geuzebroek stated, but you also have a role to play.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilence is also a role. It can be changed at any moment.\u201d \u2013 Chihiro<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To demonstrate how you can combine art<\/strong> and activism<\/strong> to defend justice and the environment, we gathered a group of inspiring artists, activists and human rights defenders. Joining us live was Roelof Schierbeek<\/strong> from Dutch graffiti artist duo Karski & Beyond<\/a>, Victor Hugo Moreno Mina<\/strong> who is a Colombian human rights defender of Afro-descendant communities and their territories and a former Shelter City<\/a> guest, Chihiro Geuzebroek<\/a> who is a filmmaker and an environmental artivist from the Netherlands, and also the moderator of the event, and the recorded participation of Yero Gaynaako<\/a>, human rights defender and activist-rapper from Mauritania.<\/p>\n

Roelof, creating graffiti to empower and uplift<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The programme kicked off with one of the makers of the Mural of Change<\/a> \u2013 Dutch graffiti artist Roelof Schierbeek<\/strong> (Beyond) from the graffiti art duo Karski & Beyond<\/a>. \u201cWe are sort of rebels\u201d, stated Roelof. Together with Roy (Karksi), Roelof is using the public space as a canvas, and graffiti<\/strong> as a tool to make a statement and a call for action.<\/p>\n