People For Climate – A Greenpeace Climate Justice Campaign

Greetings! 

Introduction

‘Cyclone Michaung had eroded, damaged infrastructure, flooded 1500 homes, affecting the lives and livelihoods of about 20,000 residents’ – The Hindu, January 2024

‘The extremely severe cyclonic storm claimed 64 lives and caused substantial damage to infrastructure, including houses, power lines, agricultural fields, communication networks and water supply systems.’ – Economic Times on Cyclone Fani that struck Sundarbans in 2019

‘More than 50 per cent of Maharashtra is now officially under drought’ – Indian Express, November 2023

‘At least 96 people are reported to have died from heat-aggravated conditions during a blistering heatwave across two of India’s most populous states’ – The Guardian, June 2023

‘What’s raising the fears is the fact that over 70,000 are still missing, and given that rescuers haven’t yet been able to reach many ravaged towns’ – The Times Of India on the 2013 Uttarakhand cloudburst

It is high time we stop viewing these extreme weather events in silos and look at them as a symptom of a larger, deeper problem at hand – The Climate Crisis. The stories around these disasters need to be told before they hit and much after they have passed. Communities impacted by them are more than just facts and figures that appear on our television screens. They continue to reel under the direct and indirect impact of the disaster for years to come. It is critical that we look at these stories as part of the larger picture, a giant jigsaw puzzle that connects our everyday decisions, systems and policies, that can either mitigate or exacerbate climate change. Every action has consequences and every action counts.

Museum Of Memories

Greenpeace’s Museum Of Memories is an attempt at telling the story of climate change, not with numbers or statistics, but through the memories and belongings of people that were impacted by climate disasters. These memories serve as a reminder of the emergency we have at hand. Museum Of Memories is a display of 26 exhibits of everyday articles that tell a powerful, true story of people’s struggle while facing the climate crisis. These memories are here to remind us that we should demand accountability, from big polluters, governments, elected representatives, civil society and ourselves. 

Virtual Reality Film On Sundarbans

Sit in an art installation, made by renowned artist and activist Siddhesh Gautam aka Bakery Prasad, that mimics the breathtaking Sundarbans, and watch an immersive 360 degree VR film that documents the life of Badal Das, a farmer and fisherman, from the Gosaba Island. Beyond the tiger conservation optics, there are nearly 4 million people living on the quaint islands of Sundarbans, battling cyclones, rapid land erosion, man-animal conflict and more on the daily. This installation and film is an attempt at bringing the stories of Sundarbans and similarly affected regions to the forefront of climate justice conversations. 

Roundtable Discussion and Engagement 

Two roundtable discussions – one focussing on community experiences and another focussing on the role of policy and state – will bring to the fore diverse voices that add perspective, depth and direction to the climate justice movement. The discussions will see participation from community representatives, climate change experts, environment journalists and civil society groups. 

Sounds Of Solidarity by Arivu and Ambassa 

Described by Rolling Stone India as “the Tamil artist (who) has scorched a path out, raising his voice against systemic injustices”, Arivu, a groundbreaking Indian rapper, singer, and social activist will be performing along with Ambassa band at a free concert at the People For Climate event. Arivarasu Kalainesan, rose to international fame with his hit Tamil song “Enjoy Enjaami,” that has amassed half a billion views on YouTube. 

The Speaking Wave

The Covid19 crisis seems like a bad dream that we lived through. It was an experience like never before that came with helplessness, isolation and devastation. For some of us it was the loneliness of being stuck at home, but for most others it was a complete stoppage to their daily living and lack of access to basic facilities. Although things might seem ‘normal’ now, the impact of the pandemic is still being felt by communities, especially by the most marginalised. This audio film is an auditory reminder of the experience of the Covid19 waves and how it exposed the social and economic gaps that make us vulnerable and is a reflection of our collective unpreparedness as we face the climate crisis.

Photo Exhibition

This photo exhibition includes the works of noted photographers Palani Kumar, Supratim Bhattarcharjee and several community women and reveals stories of people living in vulnerable coastal and delta regions. Each photo showcases the close connection between communities and their changing environments, highlighting the resilience of coastal dwellers and the cultural richness shaped by tides. The exhibition aims to humanise the often-overlooked stories of these communities.

Venue – Kamaraj Arangam, Chennai 

Entry Free