Interviews


“THEY SAID THAT IF BERTA WAS GONE, THE STRUGGLE IN RIO BLANCO WOULD DISAPPEAR”

The trial against David Castillo in Tegucigalpa has been underway since 5 April, although it actually began on 26 April. Castillo is a former intelligence officer from Honduras, trained at West Point military academy, who became a state official in the energy sector and then manager of Desarrollos Energéticos SA (DESA) Company, in charge of carrying out the Agua Zarca…

Colombia: Mobilization Continues To Grow

On April 28th, a National Strike started in Colombia. Since then, there have been massive demonstrations on the streets, spearheaded by women, youth, and Indigenous, peasant, and Black organizations. As president Iván Duque deployed the military to several important cities across the country, this increased the magnitude of the militarization, paramilitarism, and governance by Colombian police and military forces. On…

Friends of the Earth Bangladesh calls for independent investigation into coal plant workers police shooting

It has been a month since police opened fire on a workers peaceful demonstration at the under-construction Banshkhali Coal Power plant in Bangladesh. They were defending their worker's rights and payment of their overdue salary. "They were protesting because of their underwages, disgusting working conditions and also because they want to reduce a few working hours during Ramadan month", summarized…

Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific demands justice for nine indigenous leaders killed in the Philippines

On 30 December 2020, nine Tumandok indigenous leaders were killed and 16 others arrested by the Philippine Army and National Police in a joint operation on Panay Island, located south of the Philippines. State forces allege that those killed were members of an insurgent group and that upon being served search warrants for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, they…

BLACK LIVES MATTER: END OF PREPARATORY WORKSHOPS AHEAD OF 4TH TUCA CONGRESS

Representatives from different trade unions affiliated to the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) stressed their commitment with the struggle for racial equality today. They also expect to ratify this commitment during the 4th Continental Congress to be held by TUCA from 20-23 April. With the workshop titled “The fight for racial equality in trade unions and the world…

The gender perspective and gender justice: where are we headed as a trade union movement?

The first workshop ahead of the 4th Congress of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) focused on the gender perspective and gender justice. Real World Radio interviewed Jordania Ureña, Trade Union Policy and Education Secretary at TUCA, who acted as facilitator during the workshop. Ureña highlighted that “gender issues should not only be dealt by women. This is…

The Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) is ready for two key weeks

This Monday, the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas will start four days of intense work with its affiliated organisations, allied and international institutions that support its work, through four pre-congress workshops ahead of their 4th Continental Congress to take place from 20-23 April. Both events will be held online. “The creation of these spaces is part of a process…

Marianela Mejía Solórzano of OFRANEH: “They are calling us ‘invaders’ of our own lands”

Marianela Mejía Solórzano and her sister Jennifer, members of the Honduran Black Fraternal Organisation, OFRANEH, were detained on 3 March of this year. They are among the 32 OFRANEH members who currently face arrest warrants, accused of supposedly “usurping” lands from the company Bienes y Raíces Juca SRL which plans to build real estate projects on ancestral territories. The arrest…

Friends of the Earth wins historic ruling against Shell in Nigeria

On 29 January 2021, after 13 years of legal proceedings, the Dutch court ruled in favour of four farmers who, with the support of Friends of the Earth Netherlands, denounced Shell for oil spills in the Niger Delta between 2004 and 2007. “My first impression is that of joy and happiness. When you struggle and you see the fruit of…

Capire: feminist voices to change the world

Capire is an initiative coordinated by the World March of Women, together with women members of La Vía Campesina, Friends of the Earth International  and organisations that are part of the project “Strengthening Popular Feminism.” “There are so many things that women are organising, resisting and building in the territories which must be recognised and expressed as part of feminism.…