In-person youth-led panel event, In Montréal, Canada.
(A recording will be made available and shared after the event)
Venue: Hôtel ZERO 1, 1 René-Lévesque Est, Montréal, QC H2X 3Z5
Time: 10:00 (Local time, Montréal)
Co-hosts: Youth for Ecocide Law and Stop Ecocide Canada
Description:
We've known about the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis for almost 40 years, but it took thousands of youth striking and walking out of schools to push this crisis into the public view. Youth have been the driving force behind climate action for the past few years. This discussion with young land defenders and climate activists not only aims to discover why, but what is next? What do youth activists envision for the next phase of action? What does young female identifying leadership look like in this movement, and why is it important right now? How does Ecocide Law fit into this vision and what can each of us do to protect the Earth and ensure a livable future?
Panelists:
Amalie Wilkinson (she/they) is the Co-Lead of Youth for Ecocide Law, the Youth Ambassador for Stop Ecocide Canada, and Foundering Director of Stop Ecocide Toronto. They recently facilitated the first ever cross party press conference on Ecocide law with Canadian Politicians on Parliament Hill. Outside the Stop Ecocide campaign, Amalie is a grassroots environmental organizer, an advocate for youth leadership on environmental issues, a poet, and a student. They study International Relations and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies at the University of Toronto. Amalie also works on an international research team that examines the social and ecological impacts of lithium extraction for a clean energy.
Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash (she/they) is Iyinew from Waswanipi. She's a human rights activist and fights for Indigenous rights, self-determination and social justice. She's also the Information Officer for the Cree Board of Health, School commissioner for Waswanipi and columnist at the Nation Magazine. She has been called one of the most influential young women in contemporary Quebec.
Dana May Dolezsar (she/her) is an artist, speaker, film maker and climate activist from the West Coast of Canada living on unceded Coast Salish Territories. She is currently studying sustainability management at the Rotman School of Business through the University of Toronto and is the lead organizer for West Coast Youth for Ecocide Law and Junior National Director for Stop Ecocide Canada. She has been involved with climate activism for over a decade including the fight against the TMX pipeline and protecting ancient forests at Adai'tsk (Fairy Creek). She believes the proportionate response to the climate and ecological crisis now warrants non-violent civil disobedience and has been arrested twice in her pursuit for climate justice.
Aishwarya Puttur (she/her) is a 17 year old Indian-Canadian climate justice organizer. She is currently working as a Campaign Coordinator for MockCOP and the education lead for Banking on a Better Future, both youth-led climate organizations. She’s been involved in the climate movement since she was 14, working on national and international campaigns for the divestment and stopping of fossil fuel projects, and climate education through Fridays for Future Digital and Teach the Teacher. She is passionate about intersectional climate solutions and education.
Moderator:
Malaika Collette (she/her) is a 19 year old climate activist and first year student in environmental studies at Carleton University. Her passion for climate action and climate justice stems from her participation in an environmental leadership education program called Youth Leadership in Sustainability. Following this program Malaika worked with her local school board to push for better climate education in the classroom and on a systemic level, including working with students internationally. She was also a student staff member with Mock COP where she helped organize a two week online conference when COP26 was postponed, with young people from around the world. Malaika attended COP26 where she participated in the Education Ministers Summit and spoke at an event on youth leadership. Malaika is passionate about equal access to climate education for all and climate justice. She has been interviewed by media around the world on her climate activism and was recently featured in the National Observer.