Interviews

African Peoples Tribunal demands a radical shift in the way transnational corporations operate

“This was a trend-setting event,” says Amos Yesutanbul Nkpeebo from Friends of the Earth Ghana

The African Peoples Tribunal, organised in Lagos and online by Friends of the Earth Africa, saw testimonies on cases from 10 African countries. The 24-28 November event ended with a call on governments to urgently ensure that human rights are respected and protected. It also denounced the collusion between governments  … Read more

New report makes ten proposals for how to pay for the covid-19 pandemic and a just transition

Interview with Ben Tippet, researcher from TNI and author of the report

“The world is currently facing a series of existential and interlocking crises… But as we know from the long history of inequality that exists in the world, people won’t suffer these crises equally, some are already bearing the brunt much more than others, and it is predominantly those in the  … Read more

Social organisations against UN Food Systems Summit in 2021

The Summit does not respect the “rights-based, legitimate and inclusive” multilateral framework, argue the organisations

“If this Summit, convened by the United Nations (UN), goes on in the same way, whatever guidelines come out of it will most likely continue promoting the industrial food systems that have made people unwell,” warns Saúl Vicente from the International Indian Treaty Council. He was referring to the UN  … Read more

Death threats against CLOC-Via Campesina leader Nury Martínez

“It should not be a crime to be a social leader in Colombia,” said the threatened Chair of FENSUAGRO

In early November, Elsa Nury Martínez, Chair of the National Agricultural Union Federation in Colombia (FENSUAGRO) and member of the Latin American Coordination of Rural Organisations (CLOC-Via Campesina), received death threats against her and her family. These threats came from the ‘Black Eagles’ narco-paramilitary group (Águilas Negras – Bloque Capital),  … Read more

Irregularities surrounding police investigation in to death of Indonesian human rights activist Golfrid Siregar

Over one year after his death, WALHI-Friends of the Earth Indonesia and the #JusticeForGolfrid Coalition still demand justice

Golfrid Siregar, member of the legal advocacy team of WALHI North Sumatra was found unconscious on a roadside on 3 October 2019, and died three days later in hospital. Despite being found fatally injured under very suspicious circumstances, the police said that his death was the result of a traffic  … Read more

South African organisations urge government to investigate murder of anti-mining activist

Interview with Robby Mokgalaka from groundWork-Friends of the Earth South Africa

Mama Fikile Ntshangase was shot dead at her home in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal province, by four gunmen on 22 October. She was Vice-Chairperson of a sub-committee of the Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation (MCEJO) and actively opposed the expansion of the Tendele coal mine near her home. “We feel that she  … Read more

Every vote counts

Interview with Liz Butler from Friends of the Earth US as the world awaits the results of the presidential election

As of Friday morning, Joe Biden had secured 253 electoral votes of the 270 needed to win the Electoral College, with Donald Trump at 214. But in the last few hours, Trump turned to the courts to stop the vote count, tweeting “Stop the Count” and refusing to acknowledge his  … Read more

Social victory in Sweden: Oil company Preem drops plans to expand oil refinery

After two years of protests, the Swedish environmental movement celebrates a major new victory

“I’m absolutely sure that our resistance was one of the big factors that made them realise that this was not going to happen” said activist Lena Maloney from Friends of the Earth Sweden in an interview with Real World Radio. “They might have been able to expand their oil refinery  … Read more

Global Week of Action for Debt Cancellation led by Jubilee South Americas network

“Life should be above debt”

“Financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund still determine and influence major decisions in our countries and the direction of our public policies, through how they allocate resources and loans,” warned Martha Flores, General Coordinator of the Jubilee South Americas network. “We are seeing our  … Read more

India: Ongoing repercussions and demands after massive fire in oil well

Organisations warn about corporate negligence: “Oil India Limited functions on their own basically”

On 13 September, almost four months after the explosion and oil spill in the Indian town of Baghjan (Tinsukia district, Assam state), experts from the company in charge of  the oil well (Oil India Limited) and international engineers managed to control the fire. Four days earlier, an engineer from the  … Read more