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Blog, engage, act!

Key visual of Blog, engage, act! Ilustration: Tobias Schrank © Goethe-Institut

Young people around the world have been taking to the streets for more climate justice since 2018. What drives them? What ideas do they have for the future? And how do they get organized? Eight bloggers and activists from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain explore these questions for Blog, Engage, Act! to report on the climate fever of their generation in short articles and on Instagram.
 

Get to know our bloggers

Season 4: Of a more climate-friendly future!

For three seasons, we at Blog, Engage, Act have dealt with present: we have elucidated the status quo against climate change and have taken a look at developments behind the scenes in the climate movement. To conclude, the bloggers now look into the future and ask how social change is possible, how change is already lived today, which (creative) ingredients are needed for it and why you have to be a part of it! 

Activists from Extinction Rebellion Spain marched for "the dead oceans" on Gran Vía in Madrid. Foto (detail): Sara Garchi, Agislaos Koulouris und Federico Tisa © Extinction Rebellion Spanien

Creative Climate Actions
 Actions that Don't Leave You Indifferent

Art and protest have always gone hand in hand, and climate activism is no exception. In this article, we will introduce you to our five favourite art actions against climate change from around the world. 
Protest at the Mont des Arts in Brussels © Lola Segers

How do we make the transition towards a sustainable world Just and why is it important?
The importance of climate JUSTICE

When talking about the climate crisis it is crucial to keep in mind that even though we are all in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat.
Of Boomer Posts and the Apocalypse © Goethe-Institut Italien | Graphics: Gabriele Magro

The generational question
 Of Boomer Posts and the Apocalypse

In writing the last few posts, I got the urge to broach this entire issue of the climate justice movement and the generational question, so that is what I am doing now.
The ZAD [Zone à Défendre (Zone to Defend)] de la Colline is a protest camp on Mormont Hill in Switzerland. It is the first ZAD in Switzerland and was built to prevent the expansion of a quarry by the cement company Holcim. Foto (detail): Lahminewski Lab © Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license

Climate Change
Alternative Lifestyles

What alternative ways of living are citizens trying out in the face of an increasingly threatened world?
A person attending a meeting wears a T-shirt with the inscription "Future | Capitalism (crossed out) " in the style of a town exit sign shows. Photo (detail): © Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Change
 The Society of the Future

System Change not Climate Change - a well-known adage. But what could it mean?
Extinction Rebellion Photo (detail): © Climáximo

Become an Activist
 Join the Movement for Climate Justice!

For anyone who has followed the articles of Blog, Engage, Act! over the four seasons, the most important question now is: why should I join the movement for climate justice?  

Season 3: How a movement grows

The climate crisis has a very unequal impact on people worldwide and is intensifying discrimination. This is precisely why it is important to keep an eye on aspects such as classism, racism, sexism, (neo-)colonialism and many other struggles both within and outside of climate justice movements.

In the third season of Blog, Engage, Act! our bloggers are consequently focusing on priorities in movements. What will it take for differences and commonalities? How do I create awareness for the injustices in our world? And above all, how can those affected have their say in a world that is dominated by inequalities?

Kimberlé Crenshaw at a gala Photo (detail) © Mohamed Badarne

Intersectional Activism
 Why Climate Activism is More than Ecology

Intersectionality as a term and concept has become politically established over the last decades. But what exactly is intersectionality, and what does it mean for activists?
How to solicit mor economic responsability © Goethe-Institut Italy | Illustration: Caterina Laneri

protection of the environment for all
 Of social classes, the environment and the shoulders of giants

This article is about environmentalism, class and dwarfs.

International Activism
How climate activists around the world inspire each other

Colonial, capitalist and patriarchal social structures entail that regions and beings are unequally affected by climate change. Activists around the world are joining forces to fight this inequality. How do they work together across borders? Baïa and Jo share their experiences of international activism. 
Poster that reads: "Our future is "CO2LONIALISM," from 1 April 2021 at Praça dos Restauradores in Lisbon. Photo (detail): © Climáximo

CO2lonialism
 What does colonialism have to do with climate justice?

When I first started looking at the implications of the climate crisis, I felt like I was faced with a huge math problem. But I soon realised that the climate crisis cannot be compared with a simple math problem. Because if we want to save our planet, we also need to address social justice and dismantle co2lonial and imperialist structures.
Banner on the façade of Madrid City Hall with the inscription "Refugees Welcome". © Unsplash

CLIMATE REFUGEES
 the climate crisis is a social crisis

Some 20 million people are forced to flee their homes every year because of climate change. Yet their legal entitlement to help is minimal. This is a social crisis that affects particularly those people who contribute least to the causes of climate change.
Pass the mic movement Photo (Detail): © Pass the mic movement

pass the microphone to those who are already feeling the consequences of climate change
 Pass The Mic movement

For those who do not know me, I am a white, privileged, woman living in Belgium - a rich Western European country. I am well aware of my privileges and I am using them to stand up for those who do not enjoy such privileges.

Season 2: behind the scenes

The second season of Blog, Engage, Act takes a look behind the scenes of the climate movement: What does the movement really want? What common goals connect the many different groups? We learn more about how the movements get organised during the pandemic, why climate conferences are a good place for protest actions, and why activists nonetheless do not want to leave the development of a socially just climate agenda up to the international negotiation rounds alone. Last but far from least, it is also about the role of personal commitment: What does ethical consumption achieve and how can we convince others of this? And to what extent does activism actually shape and change the lives of activists?

Portraits from left to right: Nabelle, Sendo Elota, Juliette Rousseau, Marie-Alexandra Perron Photomontage: Victoria Berni

marathon against climate change
 Lives of Activists

Activists dedicate their time to the climate fight and the alternative movement so as to curb global warming. What impact does this have on their lives?
Activists painted Hopeful: “Another world is possible” in huge letters and pictures on the Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin. © Fridays For Future Berlin

Goals of the Climate Justice Movement
Strength in Plurality

What does the climate justice movement want? Many groups in the movement seem to have different goals. But is this even the case? Aren’t all the perspectives connected?
Protest in Brussels Photo (detail): © François Dvorak

The corona virus and its links to climate change
 Climate activism during a pandemic

How to keep up the drive of the Belgian climate movement, and also keep it on the political agenda.
5 young activists pose in front of the logo of the COP24. There are several screens to be seen above them. © Carmen Huidobro

COP26 IN GLASGOW
 PROTESTS WITH MAJOR IMPACT

One of the most important prerequisites for successful protest actions is to be surrounded by  really influential people. And there is no better place to do this than the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Lisbon, October 2020. Our voice is important to put an end to the business as usual that is the climate crisis. Photo (detail): © Pedro Alvim

The Glasgow Agreement
 How the climate movement is developing its own agenda for climate justice

Emissions continue to rise even after 25 years of COPs, protests and demonstrations. What is stopping us from reaching our goals? The Glasgow Agreement outlines a plan that can take the climate movement a step forward.
How to solicit mor economic responsability © Goethe-Institut Italy | Illustration: Caterina Laneri

ethical consumption
 New from the front

A while ago I had a talk with two nice people: Federica Tessari and Stefano Liberti. Instead of finding answers, I ended up with more questions than before, but that is precisely the beauty of such conversations.

Season 1: Are we winning?

Demonstrators with a sign saying "Why finish school, if we are destroying the planet?" Foto (Detail): © Inés Más de la Peña

How could it come so far?
Explaining climate change without despairing

As a climate activist, you have most likely encountered people who are difficult to argue with. In this article, we will show you how to counter the claims of climate deniers with simple arguments. Please make sure you read it!
The movement Climáximo symbolically buries the paris agreement Foto (Detail): © João Camargo

Paris Agreement
 Are governments doing enough?

The results of climate research are clear. But are they also reflected in the political actions of governments and institutions around the world? A reality check.
Youth for Climate Streik Belgien qr Photo (detail): © Youth for Climate

A change within people’s minds, hearts and policies.
 What has changed since the first Belgian school strike for climate?

On January 10th 2019, more than 2 years ago, over 3000 youngsters gathered in the streets of Brussels for the first school strike for climate. The whole country was startled by the amount of young people that were willing to skip school and go on the streets to strike for climate. One week later 15.000 students gathered in Brussels, and the week after the crowd grew to an amazing 35.000
Activists on their way into an open-cast mine Foto (Detail): © Ende Gelände

Justice in the Climate Movement
 The Problem with Green Capitalism

Green Capitalism is often portrayed as an easy and comfortable solution for the climate crisis, enabling us to not needing to change the way we live that much. But is that true? Can we really resolve the climate crisis within a capitalist system?
ZAD du Carnet Foto (Detail): © Victoria Berni

Democratisation in the climate fight?
 Climate Change and Social Struggles

Can we win the climate struggle in France? Three young activists share their views on the social, political and economic struggles.
How to solicit mor economic responsability © Goethe-Institut Italy | Illustration: Caterina Laneri

Sustainable Economy and the Climate Crisis
 Ipsos custodes: How can We Attain Greater Corporate Responsibility

It is a beautiful summer morning on the coast of Tuscany. Young and old have set off by car at the crack of dawn with the air still damp from the night’s dew to get the best spot on the beach. Directly behind them, a forest of chimneys and smokestacks blocks the view of the sky.
 

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Ecologues Keyvisual © Unsplash

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