- Environmental defenders face various challenges depending on their context, whether in Colombia, Uganda or the Philippines.
- Since 2012, more than 2,100 defenders have fallen victim to violence, according to Global Witness. This includes activists in these three countries.
- Mongabay spoke with three defenders from these nations at the 2024 Climate Change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. They were there to raise their voices on issues around just transition to energy, equity, inclusion and that the global climate policies work for them.
- Despite serious threats to their lives, these defenders remain steadfast in their commitment to their cause. They are determined to continue their work, believing their mission is worth the risks they face.
In 2023, a staggering 196 land and environmental defenders lost their lives worldwide, according to a report by Global Witness. Since 2012, more than 2,100 defenders have been victims of violence, highlighting the increasing dangers faced by those who bravely advocate for the conservation of their lands and the environment.
During the 2024 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Mongabay met with three environmental defenders from Colombia, Uganda and the Philippines. Though the host country limited protest within the city, these three activists joined several others from developing countries to make their voices heard.
These three guardians of nature shared their personal experiences and the enormous challenges they face in their fight for environmental justice. They spoke about the motivations that drive them to continue their work, even in the face of daunting human rights records in their countries. Most importantly, they offered insights into what fuels their hope and resilience amidst such adversity.
Gina Marcela Cortés Valderrama is from Colombia. Her advocacy focuses on climate and gender justice, with current emphasis on the intersections between feminism, decoloniality and degrowth. While a major peace accord between rebels and the military was signed in 2016, increasing numbers of human right defenders and social leaders have been killed in the Latin American country. In 2023 alone, 79 environmental human rights defenders were killed, most of them members of ethnic communities and campesinos fighting to defend their land, according to the Stokeholm International Peace Research Institute.
Bob Barigye from Uganda has taken a stand against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, a controversial 1,443-kilometer (nearly 900-mile) crude oil pipeline intended to transport oil from Uganda to the Indian Ocean in Tanzania. Environmentalists argue it would harm the ecosystem around Lake Albert. Barigye’s advocacy against the pipeline has already landed him in trouble several times, including prison time.
Finally, Rhoda Dalang is from the Philippines. Dalang works for an organization known as the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera in the north of the country. Dalang has spent more than half a century advocating for the advancement of human rights and Indigenous peoples suffering from discrimination and other social inequalities.
Mongabay spoke to all three defenders at the U.N. climate conference, asking them the same questions. They took turns answering, and the interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Mongabay: Can you share your experiences regarding where you work, the context and the challenges you encounter in defending your land and environment?
Gina Marcela Cortés Valderrama (Colombia): I am an activist involved in various places, not only in Colombia but also in different countries. Each country has its own laws of oppression and repression regarding what can be spoken about and how one can refer to the government. This issue is not limited to the Global South; we are also witnessing similar situations in the Global North.
In countries such as Germany, France and the U.K. — nations that claim to uphold democracy and human rights — we observe a troubling increase in repression. This trend has been particularly alarming in the context of ongoing genocides. For a country like Colombia, this situation is especially risky, as these same repressive states continue to suppress populations while extracting valuable resources from the ground.
Furthermore, we are witnessing a concerning trend of censorship and diminishing civic space within the United Nations. It is crucial that we address how this institution, which is meant to protect and guarantee people’s rights, is also contributing to the shrinking of civic space.
We need to have a conversation that resonates with everyone, making it clear that the issue isn’t only in the South; it also involves the North. The imperialist powers are the ones increasingly driving repression, and they are responsible for the machinery of oppression around the world.
Bob Barigye (Uganda): In Uganda, authorities have resorted to tactics that demoralize activists and portray them as insane within their communities. Their goal is to undermine community support, allowing them to operate without opposition. Many of us have faced arrest for speaking out.
Whenever someone discusses important issues, whether it’s through journalistic articles, organizing seminars or engaging with communities about the dangers and impacts of a proposed pipeline, we risk being arrested. The charges that are typically leveled against us often include “common nuisance.” This trivial charge is reminiscent of those used against our grandparents, intended to belittle us and make our concerns seem unimportant in the eyes of our communities. For instance, how can delivering a petition be labeled as a common nuisance?
Moreover, when we are arrested, we are often taken to maximum-security prisons. This is a clear indication of how far they are willing to go. The intimidation continues even after release. Many activists, especially female activists, face violence during arrests, which has made it particularly difficult for them to continue their work.
The situation is disheartening because these authorities prioritize profit over the climate and the well-being of the people. It’s even more troubling to see that the individuals responsible for environmental destruction in Africa are often the same ones we encounter at international conferences. They come seeking funding under the pretense of working for climate justice. However, the money they receive is frequently diverted to bolster their military efforts or other agendas that serve their interests rather than addressing the actual issues at hand.
Rhoda Dalang (Philippines): We have more leaders who have been killed than incarcerated in the Philippines. Additionally, more leaders have disappeared than have been imprisoned. Incarceration or filing false charges does not hold up under the bar of justice. We only have a small number of individuals who are incarcerated and then later dismissed or acquitted. This issue is not going away; we are still fighting.
Sometimes, to deter activism, they freeze their accounts and designate them as terrorists. By labeling them as terrorists, they cut off their access to resources. This is an effective strategy to shut down these NGOs and the individuals that are working to protect our forests and resources, as well as contributing to our goal of limiting global warming to1.5° [Celsius, or 2.7° Fahrenheit] by 2050.
Mongabay: These are quite challenging circumstances. Is there a specific challenge you would like to highlight as a land or environment defender?
Gina Marcela Cortés Valderrama (Columbia): I do not want to mention any specific case now for safety and security measures.
Bob Barigye (Uganda): One of the most painful aspects is that these stories are traumatic, and often, we hesitate to share them because they are so distressing. Just imagine being beaten, suffering bruises and finding yourself in a maximum-security prison with people who do not expect to be released at any time. We have faced the worst, but our determination and commitment to protect our environment remain unwavering.
Rhoda Dalang (Philippines): Despite these challenges, we cannot give up. We have to keep pushing forward. Many have died fighting for this cause, and there are still people who are struggling. It’s important to acknowledge that.
I’ve already dedicated five decades to this work, so it’s time for the younger generation to continue the struggle. However, as long as there are people in need, we cannot step back. There is no retirement from this fight.
Mongabay: Many people must be wondering what keeps you ticking. What keeps you motivated despite the threats to your lives?
Gina Marcela Cortés Valderrama (Colombia): I am part of a feminist movement that thrives on the belief in abundance rather than scarcity. For us, scarcity does not exist; our visions of a different world are filled with possibilities.
This is evident in the work of people on the ground who are actively bringing these imaginations to life. They are fostering transitions and uniting across borders and languages. It is truly inspiring to share spaces with individuals from various countries, all coming together with a shared cry for justice. We unite our voices to challenge the colonial systems that have long oppressed us.
At the core of our struggles is the understanding that we have all been deeply affected by colonialism, imperialism and systems of supremacy. As we share our histories of colonial pasts, we also forge a path toward a shared future.
We have the ability to shape our world differently, and we understand that alternative systems are possible. I have witnessed these possibilities, experienced them and embodied them through dance. That is what motivates me. No trials or tribulations will hold you back. No, nothing will stop you.
Bob Barigye (Uganda): This morning, while I was on my way, I met Gina and her colleagues, who were reading aloud the names of people who have died due to war. When you look at that long list, you start to realize that if we remain silent, the world will not change. That’s why we say we will not give up.
The little things we do, like reading names or standing up to those in power and telling them that what they are doing is wrong, are what drive us forward. If everyone stays quiet and focuses only on profit instead of people, where will the world end up?
Rhoda Dalang (Philippines): I hope that terrorism financing charges will not fall on me. Hope for the best, expect the worst.
Banner image: From left to right: Rhoda Dalang (Philippines), Gina Marcela Cortés Valderrama (Colombia), and Bob Barigye (Uganda) have each devoted their lives to defending the environment in their respective countries and regions. Image by David Akana / Mongabay.
More than half of activists killed in 2021 were land, environment defenders
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