4 times ordinary people did extraordinary things for their communities and for the planet
Activism takes many forms. From kids suing the government over climate change policies to people adopting zero-waste lifestyles, there are many ways we can act to change the status quo that threatens our planet.
These four victories led by ordinary people show that everybody can be an activist.
The Philippines says NO to underwater theme park in Palawan
Palawan — a province in the Philippines — is known as one of the world’s most beautiful islands. Home to spectacular biodiversity, any human built attractions there seem unnecessary. Nickelodeon thought otherwise. Along with Coral World Park, the company was planning to build not only a resort, but also an underwater theme park in the region.
The announcement was met with criticism right away. That’s why activist Anna Oposa started a petition to demand Nickelodeon scrap its invasive project and set a better example for the children who watch it. Local groups in Palawan and Greenpeace Philippines joined forces and also amplified the voices of Tagbanuas, the Indigenous People who live in the area and whose livelihood would be directly impacted by the project.
Over 200,000 people signed the petition and put pressure on Nickelodeon, causing the company to finally drop the project in August 2017. This was a major victory, but the fight is still not over. Even though Nickelodeon has cancelled its plans, Coral World Park still hasn’t backed down, so the battle continues.
Indigenous rights protected in São Paulo, Brazil
The Jaraguá land is home to 700 Indigenous People in the state of São Paulo, who depend on it for their survival. Living in a state of extreme poverty, they rely on the land for hunting, fishing and growing their own food. However, their lives and culture were threatened by the Brazilian government’s decision to reduce 512 hectares of protected land to a mere three hectares.
Local activist Renato Cafaro, along with more than 100 other people, wrote letters to Brazil’s minister of justice to demand him to revoke the decision and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples who live in the region. After a lot of pressure, the decision was finally suspended, assuring not only that the Indigenous Peoples could return to their land, but also that the nature and wildlife in the area are also protected.
Microbeads banned in New Zealand
Activist Jake Benge called on New Zealand’s minister not only to ban microbeads from the country, but to make sure they are not replaced by any similar kind of particles. After more than 8,000 people signed Jake’s petition, the government finally announced a ban on microplastics will take place in May 2018.
Microbeads are small pieces of plastic that are found mainly in cosmetics and hygiene products such as facial scrubs and toothpaste. They take years to decompose and usually find their way into our oceans, where they have a devastating impact on marine life and human diets. Because microplastics are so small, there is no practical way to capture them once they are in the ocean, and have even been found in sea salt we consume.
No more landfill in San Pedro, Argentina
The construction of a landfill in a town is not something usually well received by its population. It can pollute the air, the water and the soil around it, affecting everyone and everything that lives in the area. And that’s why Nelson Vilche decided he needed to step up and stop it.
He lives in the small town of San Pedro, in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Along with surrounding cities, the region is home to local farmers who depend on a healthy environment to thrive. The town, however, was set to become the site of a huge landfill. Nelson created a petition demanding the mayor of San Pedro to stop the project and, with the support of 2,200 people, was able to have his voice heard. The building of the landfill was suspended and the town is currently exploring better alternatives for the population of San Pedro.
These are only a few example of people who took action and proved the world can and is becoming a better place. You don’t have to climb cranes, drop banners or tie yourself to trees to be an activist (but that’s pretty effective, too!). Making positive changes in your community is an act of resistance to governments that are indifferent to the problems they should be solving and to corporations that care more about their profits than the health of our planet.
Do you know any stories of people who are leading the way to make positive changes in their communities? Share in the comments below!
