Indigenous Women: The Frontline Protectors of the Environment

The Bhumia tribal community practices sustainable forestry: these women returning from the forest carry baskets of painstakingly gathered tree bark and dried cow dung for manure. Credit: Manipadma Jena/IPSBy Tharanga YakupitiyageUNITED NATIONS, Apr 27 2017 (IPS)Indigenous women, while experiencing the first and worst effects of climate change globally, are often in the frontline in struggles to protect the environment. A forum organized by the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) brought together indigenous women from around the world to discuss the effects of climate change in their communities and their work towards sustainable solutions.“This forum is very much dedicated to frontline communities around climate change issues…we really wanted to take the time to visibilise women’s leadership and their calls for action,” said WECAN’s Executive Director Osprey Orielle Lake.She added that indigenous women are “drawing a red line to protect and defend mother earth, all species, and the very web of life itself.”Among the forum’s participants was Executive Director of the Indigenous Information Network Lucy Mulenkei who works with indigenous communities in Kenya on sustainable Development.She told told IPS how Kenyan indigenous women are bearing the brunt of climate change, stating: “We have been experiencing a lot of prolonged droughts…so it leaves women with added workload [because] getting water is a problem, you have to go father.”In Februar...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Africa Aid Climate Change Combating Desertification and Drought Democracy Economy & Trade Environment Featured Food & Agriculture Gender Global Global Governance Headlines Health Human Rights Indigenous Rights Inequity Po Source Type: news