New Series: Fearless Together
This email is part of a series where we deliver powerful stories of feminist activists, right to your inbox. Feminist movements are fearless, and so are the funders and supporters who stand with them in solidarity.
GIVE NOW
|
|
|
|
Dear John,
It’s no secret: Fossil fuel production causes widespread harm to people and the environment. And the powerful corporate interests behind fossil fuels are among the richest in the world––with just four industry giants amassing more than $100 billion in profit in 2023 alone. These companies will go to almost any length to protect their staggering power and wealth.
Feminist activists are at the frontlines, pushing back against these extractive industries to protect people and our planet. All feminist activists face enormous risks to their lives and wellbeing, but environmental defenders face particularly virulent threats––at least 2,253 have been killed or disappeared since 2012.
|
|
Meet Irina
As hundreds gather for Climate Week in New York, we are thinking about frontline activists who continue to fight for our communities and our planet despite facing tremendous risks.
Irina is one of them. A journalist and environmental activist, she has advocated against mining projects in her hometown for years. These projects harm her neighbors’ health, in addition to fueling climate change.
Irina described to us how the tactics used by the mining company to intimidate her—and many other activists—escalated over time, with seeming impunity. Initially, the mining company tried to silence Irina, asking relatives to pressure her into retracting or changing her articles criticizing its actions. She describes what happened next:
|
“People connected to the mining company started following me, I was under surveillance… This included taking pictures of me in my house and publishing them on social media. The photos were taken by my neighbor who shared them with a private security officer of the mining company. In the posts, they said I was hosting the person who was investigating the mining project in my house, suggesting I was providing sexual services... Because the company had a lot of financial resources, they promoted this really nasty content as ads on social media using fake profiles and fake pages.”
|
The mining company also used legal threats to intimidate Irina and her neighbors. In her articles, Irina called the company “criminal,” and she was forced to pay a fine after they successfully sued her for slander. Despite the threats against her, Irina continued her work, advocating for her community and telling the truth about the impacts of the mining company.
Irina didn’t give up. Neither should we.
Activists like Irina are fighting for all of us. We must show up in solidarity with them. By shifting power, protection, and resources to frontline feminist movements, we can support activists and ensure their movements thrive over time. Join us in this work by making a donation today.
In solidarity,
Urgent Action Fund
|
|
|
|
|
