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The devastation at Chernobyl continues to serve as a stark reminder to the world. Our film STALKING CHERNOBYL will be made FREE on YouTube for the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. ​

Since February 2022, Chernobyl has been thrust back into the headlines because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and temporary capture of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Although Russian forces have since withdrawn from Chernobyl, other safety issues at nuclear power plants have been highlighted by the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which is just 500 kilometers away and stands as Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Since being taken over by the Russian military in March 2022, there have been repeated concerns of another nuclear disaster that could affect the region for decades to come.

Read more here:

https://www.stimson.org/.../the-enduring-risk-of-human.../

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Today, April 22, we are thinking about the Indigenous communities that contribute the least to climate change yet are still suffering from floods, heat waves, rising water levels, and other climate-related disasters. 

Explore our short documentary "Wantoks: Dance of Resilience in Melanesia," which portrays the struggle of residents in the South Pacific islands who are defending their homes from rising seas, while also working to preserve native cultures and combat the legacies of imperialism. The film is now streaming on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI7iVY5It-0

Through our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, we are proud to support many groups that represent Indigenous people fighting for environmental justice and standing up to extractive industries to protect their environment. Here are just a few:

Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil (APIB) organizes an annual, national mobilization to raise awareness of the state of indigenous rights in Brazil.

Follow them here: https://www.instagram.com/apiboficial/

Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas de la Amazonía Ecuatoriana (CONFENIAE) is a regional indigenous organization that represents nearly 1,500 communities, belonging to the Amazonian nationalities, Kichwa, Shuar, Achuar, Waorani, Sapara, Andwa, Shiwiar, Cofan, Siona, Siekopai and Kijus.

Learn more about them here: https://www.instagram.com/confeniae/

Pueblo Originario Kichwa de Sarayaku is an organization of the Kichwa People of Sarayaku who are located in the Pastaza province of the Amazon in Ecuador.

Follow them here: www.facebook.com/defensoresdelaselva

Photos 1 + 2 via @apiboficialPhotos 3 + 4 via @confeniae

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PALESTINE – Al-Haq is a Palestinian human rights organization based in Ramallah, West Bank. With brave reporters on-the-ground in Gaza, Al-Haq has been collecting and reporting on evidence concerning the daily violations of human rights. 

In collaboration with other Palestinian human rights organizations, Al-Haq has sent a joint submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur underscoring Israel’s mishandling of dead persons and their remains, including victims of potentially extrajudicial executions in Gaza. 

As Al-Haq’s writes of its submission to the UN:

The document “highlights the mutilation of Palestinian bodies by the Israeli occupying forces; the withholding of Palestinian bodies, including those of prisoners and detainees; the use of mass graves especially during the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip; and digging of Palestinian graves and cemeteries. The submission further places such draconian policies and practices within the broader context of Israel’s Zionist settler-colonialism and apartheid regime.”

Learn more about the support of Al-Haq by our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, here: https://culturesofresistance.org/groups-we-support/al-haq/

Read their press-release regarding their submission here:

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In Brazil, around 21 million people face food insecurity and hunger, particularly in neighborhoods considered “food deserts,” which lack access to affordable, healthy fruits and vegetables. Our friends at Prato Verde Sustentável work tirelessly to combat food insecurity and offer agroecological education, providing vulnerable communities in and around Sao Paulo the ability to cultivate quality food themselves and provide better food options for their neighbors.

We are proud to announce that Prato Verde Sustentável is the latest recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards!

Want to know more about Prato Verde Sustentável? Follow their work here:

Read more about our award here: 

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Posted: 4/13/24

Did you know that Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammal? Pangolins have roamed the Earth for 80 million years, yet the illegal wildlife trade now jeopardizes their existence. Their scales are used in traditional medicines and their meat is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia. 

In partnership with local activists in Asia and Africa, our friends at Fauna & Flora International are committed to ensuring these unique creatures don't disappear forever. Here are four ways they are protecting pangolins:

🏷️ Tagging black-bellied and white-bellied pangolins in West Africa for tracking their movements in the wild.

🤝 Collaborating with local partners in Southeast Asia to combat poaching and trafficking of Sunda pangolins.

📸 Conducting camera-trapping and biomonitoring activities to detect pangolin presence in Asia and Africa.

🛑 Implementing an illegal wildlife trade program in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam to reduce pangolin trafficking.

Click the link link below to learn more about pangolins and how you can support them:

Learn more about how we support Flora and Fauna International through our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, here: 

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Brian Kuya, an aspiring web developer in Kenya, was supplied with a laptop from our friends at Give Internet! Listen to his testimony in this reel below!

Give Internet is committed to bringing internet access to rural communities. Enhancing internet connectivity contributes to improved education and healthcare access, which has been proven to decrease income disparity and ultimately enhance the living conditions of rural populations.

Visit Give Internet to bring more people online here:

Read more about our support of Give Internet.org through the Cultures of Resistance Network here:

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BRAZIL - Check out these photos of a free daycare program for more than 50 children in one of Brazil’s largest favelas. Favelas are deeply poor working-class neighborhoods in Brazil that face challenges including limited access to basic services and high levels of violence and crime. Children are particularly vulnerable, with little access to quality public education that would allow them to break away from cycles of poverty. Our friends at Associação Núcleo De Educação Comunitária do Coroadinho (NEDUC) lead educational initiatives like this daycare and also teach vocational classes to adults. Our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, is proud to support NEDUC and their efforts to combat poverty through education. Follow NEDUC’s Instagram here:https://www.instagram.com/neducma/Learn more about how you can sponsor a student through NEDUC here:https://assoc-creche-e-escola-porta-de-papel.ueniweb.com/services/educacao/apadrinhe-um-aluno-ou-aluna-25361533Read more about our support here:https://culturesofresistance.org/groups-we-support/neduc-associacao-nucleo-de-educacao-comunitaria-do-coroadinho/

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Check out this poster by Mexican artist Vlocke Negro! The poster is part of the Unmute Gaza Project, in which artists create images inspired by photos from Palestinian photojournalists. This poster is an artistic interpretation of a shot taken by photographer Belal Khaled, a past recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards, and it speaks to the tremendous civilian suffering currently taking place in Gaza. 

We are proud to announce that Vlocke Negro is the latest recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards! Learn more about our award here:

https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/vlocke-negro/

Follow Vlocke Negro here:

You can also keep track of the important work of journalist Belal Khaled here:

To learn more about the Unmute Gaza Project and view additional artworks to download, print, and display, click here:

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BRAZIL - Anti-racist education for children! Our partners at Piraporiando are making waves by publishing and distributing children’s books aimed at teaching kids about critical problems such as discrimination, bullying, and gender inequality. The books also celebrate the importance of cultural diversity. Take, for instance, the book “Nuang” featured below. The story is about a boy named Nuang and how he explores Afro-Brazilian culture through the tales passed down from his grandmother.

In the last year, Piraporiando has provided thousands of children with free reading materials. CoR Director iara lee is proud to support their work!

Check out their collection of books available for purchase:

Learn more about our support here:

https://culturesofresistance.org/groups-we.../piraporiando/

Photos via Piraporiando

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BRAZIL–“Symphony of Survival” tells the heartbreaking story of people saving animals amidst some of the most tragic wildfires in Brazil’s history. Check out the trailer below!!

Directed by Michel Coeli, the film centers on the 2020 Pantanal wetland fires in the Amazon. The Pantanal is home to vast wetlands larger than Greece and stretches over parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. The region boasts some of the highest concentrations of wildlife on the planet, including jaguars, tapirs, hyacinth macaws, and endangered giant otters. The wetlands play a crucial role in regulating South America’s water cycle, preventing floods and droughts, and storing significant amounts of carbon. Like a tub, the wetland swells with water during the rainy season and empties out during the dry months. In 2020, drought conditions spurred on by climate change turned the Pantanal into a tinder box and then an inferno.

"Symphony of Survival" not only documents this tragic environmental crisis but also highlights the Pantanal's irreplaceable diversity and the urgent need for environmental preservation.

We are proud to announce that director Michel Coeli is the latest recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards!

Follow Michel Coeli here:

Read more about our award here:

https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/michel-coeli/

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BRAZIL - Check out these works by artist Aline Bispo! Bispo creates illustrations, paintings, and sculptures in which religious iconography, nature, and political symbols intersect. Her work serves as a medium to explore Brazil's ethnic and social landscape, highlighting issues of racial prejudice and religious intolerance. 

Her solo show “A linha dá o ponto, a linha dá o caminho” was displayed in Porto Alegre and was influenced by her visits to different religious festivities of African and Indigenous origins. 

We are proud to announce that Aline Bispo is the latest recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards!

Follow Aline Bispo here:

Learn more about our awards here:

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WATER PROTECTORS IN BRAZIL! Diego Saldanha, a fruit vendor from Curitiba, Brazil, volunteers his time to combat pollution in the Atuba River. Disturbed by the river's deterioration, he invented an "eco-barrier" using floating pipes and submerged mesh to collect trash. This initiative has successfully removed an average of 150 kilograms of garbage monthly, totaling 10 tons over five years. Much of the collected trash is recyclable materials that benefit local waste pickers' cooperatives. Additionally, Diego created a “garbage museum” that displays items found in the river to highlight the issue and inspire action around protecting the natural environment.

We are proud to announce that Diego Saldanha is the latest recipient of the Cultures of Resistance Awards!

Follow Diego Saldanha here:

Read more about our award here:

https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/diego-saldanha/

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Kenya – Fernando Anuang’a is bringing traditional Maasai dance into the 21st century! Watch this video to see how Fernando draws on his Maasai culture and song to craft a dance language uniquely his own, marrying tradition with contemporary flair. A self-taught talent until he refined his skills under the tutelage of the iconic French choreographer Carolyn Carlson, Fernando's journey is one of dedication and innovation.

Fernando’s performances have captivated audiences from Kenya to France to Canada and beyond! We are thrilled to announce that he is the latest recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards.

Follow Fernando Anuang’a here: https://www.instagram.com/fernando_anuanga/

Read more about our award here: https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/fernando-anuanga/

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Brazil – Justice for murdered farmworkers! In 1997, Manoel Luiz da Silva, a rural farmer and member of Brazil's landless worker's movement (MST), was tragically murdered. He was an outspoken advocate for land rights and his case was linked to other murders and enforced disappearances related to the activities of militia-like groups in the Northeast region of Brazil, which have close ties to landowners and local political authorities. To this day, Manoel's murderers have not been brought to justice, in part because the Brazilian State has failed to comply with its duty to properly investigate violence against landless workers.

The case of Manoel's murder, unfortunately, is not an isolated incident. In November last year, in the Northeast region alone, three other landless rural workers were murdered.

Our friends at Justiça Global are bringing Manoel's case to the Inter-American Court in Costa Rica for a trial that will proceed this month—charging the Brazilian state with a failure to investigate and uphold justice. This case has the potential to lead to international condemnation of Brazil and pressure to protect human rights defenders!

Justiça Global was founded in 1999 by a group of researchers, lawyers, and human rights defenders. Since its foundation, their work has focused on promoting human rights by using litigation at organizations such as the Inter-American Human Rights System and the United Nations.

Follow Justiça Global's Facebook for updates on the trial at the hashtag #JustiçaParaAlmirEManoel:

Learn more about our support of Justiça Global through our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, here: https://culturesofresistance.org/groups.../justica-global/

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Brazil – support tribal sovereignty! This week we are celebrating our ally Survival International, which is turning 55 years old this month! For more than five decades, they have protected indigenous tribes like the Kawahiva in the Brazilian Amazon from loggers, ranchers, and settlers. This week they are asking supporters to recreate their logo, then post it with the hashtag #ActForSurvival to help spread the word about their movement to support indigenous rights!

Learn more about how you can participate here!

https://survivalinternational.org/.../Act_for_Survival2024/

All participants will also be entered into a raffle to win a Survival International print worth £375!

Another way to support Survivor International is to buy their 2024 calendar here:

https://shop.survivalinternational.org/.../we-the-people...

See how our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, supports Survival International here:

https://culturesofresistance.org/.../survival-international/

Survival International

Image credits:

1 - Quechua People Captured by Indigenous photographer Jero Gonzales

2 - Ho Youth Captured by Indigenous photographer Ashish Birulee

3 - Rendille man in Kenya by @jeroenvloon_photographer

4 - @nicola.ducati

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São Paulo, Brazil – Resistance through poetry!! Check out Slam Resistência, a poetry collective born from the spirit of protests and social movements in Brazil. In the face of rising exclusion, violence, and social inequality driven by the right in Brazil, Slam Resistência uses Poetry Slams as a powerful cultural form for youth expression. Take a moment to watch their video below to witness how they boldly occupy streets, squares, alleys, and public facilities as a fundamental part of their performances, making their lyrical dissent reverberate through the city of São Paulo.

We're thrilled to announce that Slam Resistência is the latest recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards!

Follow Slam Resistência here:

Learn more about our award here:

https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/slam-resistencia/

(13) Facebook

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2/16/24 - MALAWI – Check out this gathering in Malawi's Dzaleka refugee camp, where young, vibrant performers are taking the stage to dance, sing, or perform their original poetry! They're showcasing their talents and bringing joy to their community. This event is hosted by our friends at Union for Youth Art and Vocational Skills, who are committed to empowering youths through art, leadership workshops, skillsharing, and vocational training. Their goal is to help these talented youths express themselves creatively and learn skills to become self-reliant.

We are pleased to announce that Union for Youth Art and Vocational Skills is the latest recipient of our Cultures of Resistance Awards! Union for Youth Art and Vocational Skills

Follow them here:

Read more about the award here:

https://culturesofresistancefilms.com/union-for-youth.../

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Mediterranean: We need to stop immigrant deaths at sea! In the first month of 2024, nearly 100 people have died or disappeared in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. The majority of the dead were migrants fleeing poverty and conflict from North Africa, risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea in boats that are badly designed and overcrowded. The number dead is more than twice the figure for the same period of 2023, which was already the deadliest year for migrants crossing into Europe by sea since 2016.

In the face of this crisis, civil search and rescue organizations like our friends at Sea-Watch continue to perform essential rescues in the sea. Sea-Watch and others are trying to fill the gap of a non-existent sea rescue program organized by European states or the European Union. They have recently expanded their field of operation, including adding more rescue boats. Since their start in 2015, they have rescued more than 45,000 people.

Donate to Sea-Watch here:

https://sea-watch.org/en/donate-2/

Another way to support them is by buying items from their shop, all proceeds go to their rescue efforts:

Learn more about our support of Sea-Watch through our sister organization, the Cultures of Resistance Network, here: https://culturesofresistance.org/groups-we.../sea-watch/