Our Crisis

From Guyana to Nigeria, South Africa to the Philippines - communities in the Global South are caught in a struggle against corporate greed, environmental destruction, and systemic inequality. Whether it's oil extraction poisoning the land, ancestral territories being seized, or activists losing their lives for defending nature, the pattern is the same: powerful industries and governments prioritize profit over people. Promises of development and progress mask the deepening poverty, pollution, and loss faced by ordinary citizens. These are not isolated issues but part of a larger global crisis - where the few benefit, and the many are left to pay the price of the climate catastrophe. Below are just a handful of examples.

Guyana

Guyana is at the center of a battle against the fossil fuel industry. Corporate giants like Exxonmobil have expanded their operations, capitalizing on Guyana’s status as a small, so-called “developing third-world country.” While these industries promise economic growth, the reality is starkly different. Profits accumulate for multinationals while ordinary citizens face increasing hardship. Decision-making remains in the hands of a privileged few, reinforcing long-standing systems of inequality rather than benefiting the broader population.

Nigeria

In the Niger Delta, the heart of Nigeria’s oil production, local communities bear the heavy cost of extraction. For decades, oil spills have contaminated the land and waterways, crippling local fisheries and agriculture. Shell, the dominant oil company in the region, has recently announced its departure, but it leaves behind an environmental and humanitarian crisis - unresolved pollution, lost livelihoods, and entire communities pushed deeper into poverty. The people are left to deal with the aftermath of corporate greed, while promises of sustainable development remain unfulfilled.

South Africa

In South Africa, Indigenous communities are resisting the forced occupation of their ancestral lands. For years, corporations and governments have attempted to lure them with promises of modern infrastructure such as schools, roads, and jobs. Yet, the people stand firm, questioning the imposed definition of “progress.”

“Who decided that the way we live, grow our food, and honor our ancestors is poverty?” they ask.

To them, the land is not just a resource. It is their history, identity, and future. The battle for land rights is a battle for dignity and the right to define development on their own terms.

The Philippines

In the Philippines, climate disasters dominate headlines, but the names of those who fight to protect the land often go unheard. Among them was Chad Booc, an environmental activist and educator who dedicated his life to teaching in Indigenous schools. These schools, which empower students with knowledge of self-determination and land rights, were seen as a threat by those in power. In 2022, Chad was killed and labeled a terrorist for doing nothing more than educating and defending his people. His story is one of many, revealing the dangerous reality faced by activists on the frontlines of climate justice.

The Fight

Our current global economy, dominated by corporations and driven by endless resource extraction, is failing both people and the planet. Prioritizing profits over communities, this system leaves farmers, fishers, and Indigenous peoples struggling to survive in the face of climate and economic crises. But there is a way forward: a just transition led by those most affected.