A group of scholars and activists from the Global South are embarking on a lobbying and advocacy tour of major European cities to address the pressing issue of transitioning to an ecosocial energy system.
Comprising seven participants, this delegation aims to build upon a global manifesto released earlier this year, which denounced a new form of green colonialism and emphasized the need for more equitable approaches to achieving a future free from fossil fuels.
During their tour from May 29 to June 2, 2023, the delegation will organize public events, engage with policymakers and NGOs, and interact with the media in Berlin, Brussels, and London. Their primary mission is to incorporate Global South perspectives into ongoing policy discussions in Europe concerning energy and the environment.
The delegation includes notable individuals such as Nnimmo Bassey, a Nigerian activist and recipient of the Right Livelihood award; Maristella Svampa, a widely published sociologist and philosopher from Argentina; Kavita Naidu, an international human rights lawyer from Fiji; Madhuresh Kumar, an activist-researcher from India; Breno Bringel, an activist-scholar of Brazilian-Spanish origin; Liliana Buitrago, a linguist and ecofeminist from Venezuela; and Vasna Ramasar, a scholar-activist of South African-Swedish background.
The tour is being organized by three entities: the Ecosocial and Intercultural Pact of the South, the Global Just Transition project of the Institute for Policy Studies, and the Global Tapestry of Alternatives.
In Berlin, on May 30, the delegation will hold a press conference in the morning, followed by a public event co-sponsored by the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung.
In Brussels, on May 30, Maristella Svampa will participate in a public event titled “The Green Transition and Critical Minerals.”
Furthermore, on May 31 in Brussels, the delegation will meet with NGOs at Mundo-madou at noon, co-sponsored by Oikos and Dirk Holemans. Later that day, they will host a public event at GEC in Ghent, co-sponsored by Broederlijk Delen.
