By: Christine Samwaroo, The Breadfruit Collective- Guyana
“Is it Sam-war-oo?” the agent at the airport asked. “You pronounced it correctly,” I smiled. “Miss Samwaroo, do you know someone called Walter Rodney?” My eyes widened excitedly despite being sleepy from the night before. “Yes! He is one of my heroes. He is Guyanese and he wrote the book "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa.” The agent nodded, recognizing the late Walter Rodney as an internationally known activist, scholar, and formidable orator who spent years teaching at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, focusing on Pan-Africanism.
Walter Rodney’s life, especially his connection with grassroots people through “Groundings,” is the kind of work I aspire to do in Guyana and the Caribbean. It has been an honor to experience Tanzania and to think that someone as great as Walter Rodney once walked this land. This experience was made possible through the Climate Justice Camp held in Arusha, Tanzania from October 8th to 12th. The Camp is grounded in building community as we continue to fight for collective justice across the globe.
Having the Climate Justice Camp on the continent of Africa and specifically East Africa, was monumental. When we speak of the climate crisis, it is necessary to reflect on the historical and current impacts of colonization and imperialism on the continent. Brian Seroney, Director of Operations, Isisa Limited shared that
“The current impacts of climate change are affecting Indigenous communities in East Africa. It is important to bring the discussion close where people can witness what is happening. Specifically in Uganda and Tanzania where there are crude oil pipelines. It is important to hear what the locals have to share and the challenges they face. East Africa has been termed as the cradle of humankind, so we need to get back to our homeland and create a pathway that will save us from the climate crisis and provide a just transition to sustainability.”
As an Intersectional Feminist and Environmental Justice Advocate, I am deeply aware of the ongoing violations to human rights and the degradation of our environment. However, I am motivated to know that radical change is possible. I believe that fighting against our current realities has the power to change the trajectory of our planet to create a better, more just world. Returning to the third international Climate Justice Camp, after having supported the organization of the Caribbean Edition, the Camp continues to exemplify my vision of a just world.
Although it may seem utopian, the Camp showed me that living in harmony with nature and each other is not only possible but achievable. For five days, we gathered at MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation, a renowned Pan- African training center in Arusha, located just miles from the majestic Mt. Meru. The grounds included a farm from which some of our meals were sourced, and we recycled our water as greywater for reuse. During mealtimes, the cafeteria buzzed with laughter and conversations in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Portuguese over hearty meals and Masala tea. Each morning, I look forward to finding the grounds covered in a purple carpet of blossoms that fell from the trees above. The Center served as a haven for animals too. As we walked from session to session, participants were often caught looking up, hoping to catch sight of the Colobus Monkeys swinging from branch to branch, unfazed by our curiosity.
Living communally and simply, with genuine check-ins among participants, was central to my experience. The Camp provided not only two psychologists but also a group of trusted individuals to help us navigate the heavy topics of the climate crisis, displacement, genocides and the broader issues facing the world in places like Palestine, Lebanon, Haiti, Tigray, Sudan, and Congo. As we shared our stories and struggles, participants shared their experience in the recent student protest in Bangladesh. At the Camp, there were a number of peaceful demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
When I think of creating a more sustainable world, I will use the Camp as my example because of how seamlessly the organizers - this year made up of more than thirty (30) partner organizations - incorporated art into our experience. On the first night, we participated in “Honoring the Land,” where organizers shared stories from East Africa, highlighting historical leaders like Wangari Maathai and her work in the Greenbelt Movement in Kenya. We danced to the rhythms of drums late into the night. For the Caribbean participants, the performances resonated deeply, reflecting our own traditions. This followed by two nights of Livery-storytelling from activists that were nothing short of powerful. We were reminded that storytelling helps us remember and connect. We sat in a circle, holding onto each other as tears sometimes flowed from both storytellers and audience members.
The Climate Justice Camp continues to be the most multicultural, multilingual, and diverse space that I have experienced in my ten years of being in the climate and gender justice space. In Tanzania, I was among three hundred (300) people from all corners of the globe, engaging with diverse topics such as: Plastic Pollution, Energy Transition, Gender and Climate Justice, Conference of Parties (COP) processes, Imperialism and Demilitarization, Adaptation and Resilience and Climate Finance. Throughout the five days they were opportunities for participants to be a part of conversations on well being, women’s circle, artivism, and climate simulation games.
Returning to her third Climate Justice Camp, Audrey Lenga, a Climate and Gender Activist from Cameroon shared that
“The Camp continues to offer peace and a sense of belonging, while honoring each person’s authenticity.” Audrey continues to participate in the Camp to “increase the voices of African youth in the climate justice movement, specifically French speakers.”
Similar sentiments were shared by Alexandria Subramanien, an Environmental Scientist and Greenpeace Africa Volunteer Leader and Activist from South Africa. She attended the previous Camp in Lebanon. Alexandria noted that her knowledge continues to be enhanced through the Camp while interacting with people from all walks of life.
“Last year, I attended a variety of workshops to gain a holistic approach to the climate justice movement. This year, I zoned more into my interests. Through attending twice, I managed to network with participants, strategise solutions for frontline communities, and add value from my experience in studies, research and volunteering.”
Through the Climate Justice Camp, so much has changed in my life as an Activist. Last year in Lebanon, sitting in the audience, I felt fortunate to be in a space that encouraged co-learning and connected me with climate activists from around the world. There, I found like-minded individuals who shared my dream of organizing a similar camp in the Caribbean. Despite being among the least contributors to global carbon emissions, the Caribbean is among the most vulnerable regions to hurricanes and unprecedented climate disasters. Less than one year later, the Climate Justice Camp - Caribbean Edition was executed. Through hard work, collaboration, and a shared vision, in March 2024, one hundred and twenty (120) participants from the Dutch, French, Spanish, and English Caribbean came together in Saint Maarten to share our struggles and solutions for our region. This gathering fostered hope, friendship, and grassroots Caribbean -centered solutions.
Deniel Novella from Trinidad and Tobago attended the Climate Justice Camp - Caribbean Edition shared how much it has influenced her life
“The Caribbean Camp provided me with a gateway and I was affirmed in my voice. So many people told me my voice mattered. I made connections at the Camp that gave me new confidence even after the Camp ended.”
Deniel who also attended the most recent global Camp in Tanzania shared that being on the land and on the continent of Africa has provided her reconnection to her ancestry, as a mixed race person from the Caribbean, she is able to find connections to her heritage in so many ways. Similar to Deniel, I am indebted to the Roots team, a lead partner of the Camp, who continue to believe, support and trust us to co-lead. Five months after the Caribbean camp, there is immense gratitude for their leadership, co-learning, and willingness to share their light and space.
The Camp team continues to believe in my leadership. This year, I returned to the Climate Justice Camp to support Intersectional Feminists from across the world in executing the Gender and Climate Justice track. Together, we expand on topics such as Gender and Climate - A Grounded Exploration, Mapping Gender and Climate Justice Movements, International Finance and the Gender-Climate Nexus, Effective Gender and Climate Research, Localizing Interventions, Integrating Feminist values into community building and Feminist Conversation on Climate Justice.
When I look back at the Climate Justice Camp, I truly believe that this is what climate solutions look like: diverse voices coming together to do what we can with what we have. As justice leaders, it is our duty to continuously speak truth to power. Through the Camp, we are reminded that all struggles are interconnected. When a bomb falls, we think of the ecocide of the land, the women using scraps of tents during their menstrual cycles, and the children affected, alongside the mental health impacts on all who suffer from avoidable violence. Every bombed village is our homeland, and every person denied their humanity is one of our loved ones. We are obligated to speak out, even when we lack the right words. For many of us at the Camp from formerly colonized nations, our ancestors were also robbed of their homelands.
A better world is possible because of all the stories of resilience I have heard, and of activists playing their role to create change that centers justice. To conclude our time at the Climate Justice Camp in Tanzania, we celebrated with the annual traditional fashion show, where participants dressed in their traditional outfits and danced to songs from their regions. As I paused to adjust my Sari, I think of the connections I am able to make with others of indentured heritage from Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Embracing my Indo-Caribbean identity, there is a longing to learn more about my ancestors who were taken from India as Indentured Servants to work on sugar plantations, who knew and worked with the land. I thought about how much my Indo-Caribbean heritage influences my work as an intersectional environmental activist. As the rain began to pour, I continued to dance with fellow participants, reflecting on our shared joy and calling upon the collective strength of our ancestors as we celebrated on Tanzanian soil. We left with hope, renewed motivation, new friendships, plans for collaboration, and gratitude for the opportunity to experience this utopia for five transformative days.
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