Amazon Dialogues, President Lula and Deforestation
In this past weekly update, I give a brief update on my recent trip to Brazil for the Amazon Dialogue where I had the oppourtunity to meet incredible advocates doing inspiring work.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Olá bom dia! I’m back from an inspiring few days in Brazil, where I had the privilege of being part of the Amazon Dialogues hosted by President Lula.
I’m excited to share with you a recap from my trip and other highlights.
Amazon Dialogues: Navigating Change, Cultivating Commitment
As we dive into this week's newsletter, I'm thrilled to bring you the echoes of an incredible journey that recently took me to the heart of Brazil for the Amazon Dialogues.
First of all, what an extraordinary place. We visited Belém in the state of Para, which is hip, vibrant, and abuzz with energy. The Indigenous Communities we spoke to left a deep impression, and we also had a chance to try some of the many foods found in the Amazon. It was a timely reminder that the Amazon is not a static place but hip and full of many thriving communities.
In case you missed my Twitter thread (here), here is a summary: One takeaway we’ve heard time, again and again is that preventing the Amazon tipping point means upholding the rights and interests of the 50 million people living between the land and the trees.
To achieve that, we need the countries of the Amazon to make bold commitments to end deforestation, but we also need investment in the communities living here and ensuring they have clear pathways out of poverty and vulnerability.
We can't be wagging fingers. After all, the Amazon provides a global public benefit to all of us. That's why it's essential for countries like the US and UK to keep their promises in funding nature and climate solutions, and for the private sector to play a responsible role in investing in tropical forests.
Let's cut through the noise around carbon markets, fix the problems, and make sure the money goes where it needs to go — benefiting those communities on the ground who need it the most. This requires clear rules of the road and standards endorsed by governments for carbon credits to adhere to.
President Lula has made great headway in reducing deforestation in the Amazon by 66% over the last year. Now we need the right rules, incentives, and funding to ensure such success is implemented elsewhere and create the conditions for this new Amazonian economy to take shape, be competitive, and generate real development.
Stay tuned for the exciting updates and initiatives that have sprung from this transformative journey, particularly ahead of COP30.
WAISLITZ GLOBAL CITIZEN AWARDS
The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards are annual cash prizes totalling $250,000. The grand prize is $100,000 with two semi-finalist prizes at $75,000 each. The awards are presented by the Waislitz Foundation and Global Citizen and recognize the excellence of individuals in their work to end extreme poverty.
After evaluating hundreds of applications from around the world, we are pleased to announce the winners of the three award categories of the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizens’ Award.
Waislitz Global Citizen Award Grand Prize: Peter Njeri, CEO, Mega Gas Alternative Energy
The Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award: Esther Kimani, Founder & CEO, FarmerLifeline Technologies
The Waislitz Global Citizens’ Choice Award: Oluwafunke Adeoye, Founder, Hope Behind Bars Africa
The Future of Employment Is Green: International Youth Day Aug. 12 with 2023 Global Citizen Prize Winner, Wangari Kuria
This International Youth Day on August 12, Global Citizen is spending a day in the life of Wangari Kuria, one of the winners of the 2023 Global Citizen Prize Award, who through her organization in Kenya, Farmer on Fire, is addressing hunger, empowering women farmers, promoting sustainable practices through skills-based workshops and farming. Catch the video here.
The Global Citizen team is also listening to the International Labor Organization Podcast "Green Jobs: Youth Employment and the Climate Crisis," exploring the meaning behind green jobs, the circular economy, and their potential impact on employment and the environment. Hear from trade union and employers' organization representatives, Rabiya Anwer and Boitumelo Molete, and ILO representatives, Mette Grangaard Lund and host Maja Markus. Listen here.
Standing as Witnesses (and supporters) of Human Rights Defenders:
As you all know, Global Citizen is a global movement of action-takers, and there is a very strong human rights dimension to the very fact of taking action and holding our leaders accountable. When global citizens are empowered to take action, we are enabling them to exercise their rights as citizens and more importantly, as human beings. And just like those courageous Brazilian indigenous and environmental leaders and defenders I met in Brazil, thousands of people around the world are bravely standing up for change, with, unfortunately, in too many cases, consequences leading to harassment, imprisonment, and loss of life. You have seen all the different campaigns that Global Citizen support for the release of specific Human Rights Defenders, from Nicaragua, to Iran, from Belarus to Eswatini, and this time I would like to introduce to you the Stand As My Witness campaign, run by CIVICUS . Please make sure you also help amplify this Call to Action for Governments to increase their funding support to organizations supporting Human Rights Defenders at risk.
My Reading List
How to Command a Stage Without Great Dance Moves (Taylor’s Version)
Insight: Europe cracks down after rise in 'direct action' climate protests
As always, if you’re enjoying the weekly newsletter format, and want even more, you can subscribe to my Substack here where I publish reviews, lists and articles on a regular basis.
Til the end of this week,
Mick