Welcome to our 2018 BGM photo gallery
Friday 9 November BGM Day 6
A mystica reflecting on the oppression suffered at the hands of the patriarchal system that dominants Africa. But reminding us that with solidarity we can achieve system change. African society lived in peace, but this peace was shattered when the oppressor arrived to put an end to everything we do.
Enlightened by a mystical light, Africans revolted to put an end to this oppression while forgiving the oppressor. Finally a solidarity song to celebrate the victory over oppression is sung, '' We are Africa“, with fists raised in the air.
Thursday 8 November
BGM day 5
The day started with a mystica from Europe in which participants were invited to write two things on paper birds: a positive change they have experienced and a hope for the future.
The birds of change and hope were then placed on a sheet which, in the final moments of the mystica, was raised in waves releasing our hopes to the air.
Mobilization with allies session: Our strategic ally La Vía Campesina and our close ally World March of Women joined us to strategize together towards strengthening movement building for system change.
“Allies essential for movement building and in the current context it becomes a question of survival and protecting each other.”
Davine Angela Witbooi, La Via Campesina
“Ally building is vital especially in such challenging times as these. We have to constantly restructure and deconstruct the movement. It’s not possible to be liberated alone- either we are liberated all together or none of us!”
ÇİĞDEM ÇİDAMLI, World March of Women
Wednesday 7 November
BGM day 4
Today is Diwali - the Hindu celebration of the festival of light. APAC opened the session with an inspirational mystica, reminding us of the triumph of light over ignorance, good over evil. But this mystica was a multi-faith action with readings from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Buddist faiths. The mystica ended with participants joining in a chant, singing the Gāyatrī mantra for life, illumination and hope.
Tuesday 6 NovemberBGM day 3
Participants visited two local markets in Abuja.
They then visited a local community in the District of Lugbe which is building houses out of plastic bottles, as part of a project to reduce the high rates of plastic waste in Nigeria.
Monday 5 November
BGM day 2
Today's BGM session started with a mystica by ATALC commemorating the struggles of defenders of territories and peoples' rights, especially women.
At the end of the mystica all the participants sang a traditional song from the World March of Women in Brazil, translated from Portuguese: “Comrade (woman) help me, I can't walk alone, I walk alone well, but I will do better with you”.
The Gender Justice Dismantling Patrairchy working group led the morning sessions covering a feminism and system change discussion, building ownership of the framework and sharing of commitments.
Participants acted out key GJDP concepts including feminism, sexual division of labour, gender justice and patriarchy and connected them with racism and other forms of oppression.
The Defenders of the Territories and Peoples' Rights/Human Rights Defenders session in the afternoon worked on building ownership of the DoT framework and it’s approval
Participants were invited to work in groups on a drawing to depict what the term ‘territories’ means to them.
MOBILIZE!
RESIST!
TRANSFORM!
Sunday 4 November
BGM day 1
ERA/Friends of the Earth Nigeria opened the BGM with a mystica reminding us all that we need to support our communities in their struggles of resistance.
The BGM officially started with a report from the FoEI Chair, Karin Nansen and reports from all structures and regions.
Saturday 3 November 2018
Just Energy Transition Conference Day 2
“We must abandon the existing extractivist energy model. We need a just transition: energy as fundamental right, democratisation of energy thus challenging #Energy poverty. Transition is only possible with people power.”
Lyda Forero Fernanda, Transnational Institute
“Building peace is fundamental for a just transition of the energy system. energy and control of territories are the cause of wars and coup d’etats in imperialist geopolitics.
“We are calling for real and effective international solidarity with the peoples of Brazil following Bolsonaro's win. We have to build an internationalist front against fascism, only then we will achieve #Justice and peoples’ sovereignty."
Danilo Urrea, CENSAT Agua Viva/Friends of the Earth Colombia
"In the journey away from fossil fuels, it's important that rights of workers and communities are upheld. A just transition can't be controlled by the current forces. Business must pay the costs and workers need social protection."
Hauwa Mustapha, Nigerian Labour Congress
Kwami Kpondzo from Friends of the Earth Togo announces the West African Caravan for the right to land, water and peasant agroecology, starting on 10 November 2018. It will involve not only west African countries but also Uganda, and Mozambique. Join Friends of the Earth Africa in calling for Justice NOW!
“There will be no #HumanRights and no system change if we don’t deal with the geopolitical threats we are facing. We need a huge redistribution of wealth worldwide.”
Sofia Monsalve, FIAN International
Friday 2 November 2018
Just Energy Transition Conference
The BGM and conference opened with the inspiring energy of a traditional Nigerian dance
Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo, Director ERA/Friends of the Earth Nigeria welcomed us all to the Just Energy Transition Conference:
"We are talking about a radical change of the energy system away from fossil fuels including public funding for the South to pay for the historical climate debt of the global north. People are calling for public and community led renewable energy."
"A just transition can't put renewable energy in the hands of big business. We must democratize the transition process. If this transition gives big business control, we have failed. It must be translated to real peoples’ power."
"There is life after oil. A just transition means moving from fossil fuel reliance to clean, renewable, decentralised, people-controlled energy - built on the principal of justice for people, bridging the social disparity between north/south, rich/poor."
Our host, communities and groups from ERA/Friends of the Earth Nigeria.