Press Conference – Indigenous Women from the Amazon: Calls for Urgent Action; COP28, Saturday, December 2, 2023, 5:00 - 5:30 PM

During COP28, WECAN hosted a series of events

Press Conference – Indigenous Women from the Amazon: Calls for Urgent Action; COP28, Saturday, December 2, 2023, 5:00 - 5:30 PM

During COP28, WECAN hosted a series of events highlighting the powerful voices of women leaders in all of their diversity from around the world!

Indigenous women powerfully mobilized to protect Indigenous rights and biodiversity in the Amazon. Speakers from the Amazon called forth calls to action and advocacy efforts to uplift Indigenous rights and protect forests, water, communities, and the global climate.

Speakers included:
✨ Célia Xakriabá, Indigenous Activist and Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Minas Gerais, Brazil
✨ Fany Kuiru Castro, General Coordinator of the Coordinating Body of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), Colombia
✨ Elaine Shajian Shawit, President of the Regional Coordinating Committee of Indigenous Peoples of San Lorenzo (CORPI SL), Peru
✨ Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), USA

During COP28, WECAN hosted a series of events highlighting the powerful voices of women leaders in all of their diversity from around the world!
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Women Leading Fossil Fuel

During COP28, WECAN hosted a series of events highlighting the powerful voices of women leaders in all of their diversity from around the world!
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Women Leading Fossil Fuel Phaseout and A Just Transition, Press Conference, COP28; Saturday, December 9, 2023, 5:30 - 6:00 PM

Women leaders shared vital reports and critical strategies to advance a fossil fuel phaseout and accelerate a Just Transition while supporting communities and ecosystems impacted by extractive industries and human and Indigenous rights violations.

Speakers Included:
💥 Tzeporah Berman, Chair, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Canada
💥 Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Convenor and International Spokesperson for Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), Philippines
💥 Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, Canada
💥 Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), USA

Press Conference– Rights of Nature: A Systemic Solution to the Climate Crisis; COP28, Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM

During COP28, WECAN hosted a series of

Press Conference– Rights of Nature: A Systemic Solution to the Climate Crisis; COP28, Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM

During COP28, WECAN hosted a series of events highlighting the powerful voices of women leaders in all of their diversity from around the world!
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Rights of Nature articulates a new legal framework and economy based on living in balance with Earth’s natural systems. Presenters shared successes from the Rights of Nature movement, and how it can offer a systemic framework for defending biodiversity, communities, and our climate.

Speakers included:
🌿 Nnimmo Bassey, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nigeria
🌿 Casey Camp Horinek (Ponca Nation), Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member, Turtle Island, USA
🌿 Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) and Executive Committee, Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, USA

During this press conference, international women leaders discussed feminist and women-led visions emerging from global movements, share the context and impacts of international climate policies,

During this press conference, international women leaders discussed feminist and women-led visions emerging from global movements, share the context and impacts of international climate policies, and discuss strategies, solutions and alternatives towards shaping a healthy and equitable future.

Speakers included:
--- Neema Namadamu, Democratic Republic of Congo Coordinator, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), Democratic Republic of Congo
--- Casey Camp Horinek (Ponca Nation), Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member, USA
--- Anne Songole, Climate Justice Coordinator, The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), Kenya
--- Taily Terena (Terena), Indigenous Rights Leader, and WECAN Coordinator, Brazil
--- Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)

Women leaders are building critical strategies for national and international divestment that call for justice and accountability from the financial sector and governments to phase out fossil

Women leaders are building critical strategies for national and international divestment that call for justice and accountability from the financial sector and governments to phase out fossil fuels and deforestation, while advocating for a Just Transition that places people and planet first.

During this WECAN press conference at COP27, speakers shared vital reports and strategies for ending the era of fossil fuels and supporting communities and ecosystems impacted by extractive industries and Indigenous rights violations.

Speakers included:
--- Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), Executive Director, Indigenous Climate Action
--- Tzeporah Berman, Chair, Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty
--- Leila Salazar-López, Executive Director, Amazon Watch
--- Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)

"How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis,” a fundraiser for Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and book launch for “The Story is in Our Bones.”

"How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis,” a fundraiser for Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and book launch for “The Story is in Our Bones.”

Many thanks to the amazing speakers! Speakers included:
Corrina Gould (Ohlone)— Tribal spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan and Director of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust
Isabella Zizi (Northern Cheyenne, Muskogee Creek and enrolled Three Affiliated Tribes)— Organizer with Idle No More SF Bay and Movement Rights
Leila Salazar-Lopez —Executive Director Amazon Watch
Osprey Orielle Lake —Founder and Executive Director Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) and author of "The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis.”
Moderation: Tracey Osborne— Associate Professor in the Management of Complex Systems Department at the University of California, Merced
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We are at a choice point for humanity. As social and ecological crises escalate globally, it is clear that the dominant cultural worldview, informed by colonization, patriarchy, capitalism, and racism is displaying a relationship with Nature and each other that is devastatingly unjust and out of balance.

To live in a healthy and equitable world, we must fundamentally change how we respect and interact with the Earth and one another. To change the present and future, it is imperative to change the narrative and amplify worldviews and stories of solutions that transform the dominant worldview from an extractivist, colonial paradigm of exploit and extract to a thriving, globally-conscious one of respect and restore.

During this event, movement leaders and change-makers wove together stories, worldviews, and experiences of restoration and justice that demonstrate the world we know is possible and needed. We knew in our bones this time was coming. And now we must act in solidarity more than ever, as we continue building a powerful movement founded on principles of justice, love, and a fierce dedication to our planet and our communities.

This event was both a fundraiser for Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and the launch of the book by Osprey Orielle Lake, "The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis." All book proceeds at this event will be donated to Sogorea Te’ Land Trust to support the powerful work of Corrina Gould and her leadership in the urban Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people.

To learn more about the book: https://ospreyoriellelake.earth
To learn more about Sogorea Te’ Land Trust: https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/
To learn more about the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network: https://www.wecaninternational.org/

On November 18, WECAN hosted a COP29 press conference where women leaders spoke about the importance of advancing a fossil fuel phaseout and embracing a Just Transition that supports communities

On November 18, WECAN hosted a COP29 press conference where women leaders spoke about the importance of advancing a fossil fuel phaseout and embracing a Just Transition that supports communities and ecosystems. Speakers highlighted the role of climate finance in supporting equitable solutions and ensuring accountability in the Just Transition. Speakers also discussed the efforts of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Speakers included: Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, Canada; Dr. Amiera Sawas, Head of Research and Policy at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty; and Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), USA.

As global leaders gathered for the UN Climate Ambition Summit on Wednesday, September 20, WECAN hosted an event, right across the street from the UN, bringing together women leaders to call on

As global leaders gathered for the UN Climate Ambition Summit on Wednesday, September 20, WECAN hosted an event, right across the street from the UN, bringing together women leaders to call on governments to reckon with their role in fueling climate chaos, and harm against communities and the planet by continuing the extraction of fossil fuels. Governments must invest in and deploy a Just Transition that is grounded in a climate justice framework and uplifts care economies, community-led solutions, Indigenous rights, and a different vision than business as usual. During the event, we hosted two panels detailed below.

In the first panel, “Women Ending the Era of Fossil Fuels," speakers shared expertise and frameworks for transitioning away from extraction and ongoing policy advocacy and campaigns that seek to phase out fossil fuels and other harmful extractive practices.

Speakers included: Sharon Lavigne, Founder and President of RISE St. James, Turtle Island/USA; Farhana Yamin, Coordinator, Climate Justice & Just Transition Donor Collaborative, United Kingdom; Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action, Canada; Tzeporah Berman, Chair, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Canada; moderation and comments by Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, WECAN.

In the second panel, "Women-led Climate Solutions Are Central to a Just Transition and Thriving Future," leaders shared how to implement and support solutions that are advancing a Just Transition, and recent successes and victories for community-led climate just solutions!

Speakers included: Casey Camp Horinek (Ponca Nation), Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member, Turtle Island, USA; Helena Gualinga (Kichwa from Sarayaku), Indigenous Youth Climate Leader, Ecuador; Ozawa Bineshi Albert (Yuchi and Anishinaabe), Climate Justice Alliance Co-Executive Director, Turtle Island/USA; Elizabeth C. Yeampierre, Executive Director, UPROSE, Turtle Island/USA; Zukiswa White, Coordinator, Women and Gender Constituency, South Africa; moderation and comments by Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, WECAN.