BÂTIR UN MOUVEMENT DE JEUNES INCLUSIF ET INTER-RÉGIONAL POUR LA JUSTICE ENVIRONNEMENTALE

This zine documents a cross-regional exchange between young environmental activists from Africa and Europe conducted by Friends of the Earth International between 2016 and 2018. It provides reflections on environmental justice, the impact of colonialism, and the challenges of building an inclusive, intergenerational movement, while offering practical educational tools for activists.

• Between 2016 and 2018, Friends of the Earth conducted a youth exchange involving 14 inter-regional trips, two regional youth meetings, and three inter-regional gatherings to strengthen the youth environmental justice movement and foster solidarity between Africa and Europe.
• The document identifies systemic barriers to inter-regional solidarity, specifically the 'Fortress Europe' approach to border control. In July 2017, only 3 out of 7 African participants were granted Schengen visas to attend a meeting in Brussels, highlighting a global inequality in freedom of movement that marginalizes non-European voices in climate decision-making.
• In Liberia, youth in rural areas face marginalization and are often labeled as 'rebels' by authorities and elders, particularly regarding decisions on land and natural resources. Additionally, the government sometimes slows environmental justice progress by offering lucrative positions to prominent young activists to change their approach.
• The 'Cancer Valley' region in South Africa demonstrates severe environmental injustice, where residents face a 2400% higher chance of contracting leukemia compared to other parts of the country due to pollution from two oil refineries and other factories. Half of the local schoolchildren suffer from asthma, with one school holding a world record for asthma among first-grade students.
• The document emphasizes the necessity of intergenerational learning and the dismantling of the patriarchy to create an inclusive movement. It suggests that while youth bring energy and technological skills, older activists provide depth and consistency; however, youth must be given real responsibilities in governance structures rather than being used as mere instruments.
• The zine provides three specific educational tools based on popular education methodologies: an 'Inter-regional Timeline' to explore colonial history and modern connections; 'Pillars of Support' to analyze and strategize the dismantling of systemic oppressions like racism or patriarchy; and 'Problem Trees' to map the root causes and symptoms of social issues.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (n.d.). BÂTIR UN MOUVEMENT DE JEUNES INCLUSIF ET INTER-RÉGIONAL POUR LA JUSTICE ENVIRONNEMENTALE. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Africa-Europe-Youth-Movement-SofS-FR.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. BÂTIR UN MOUVEMENT DE JEUNES INCLUSIF ET INTER-RÉGIONAL POUR LA JUSTICE ENVIRONNEMENTALE. n.d. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Africa-Europe-Youth-Movement-SofS-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=BÂTIR UN MOUVEMENT DE JEUNES INCLUSIF ET INTER-RÉGIONAL POUR LA JUSTICE ENVIRONNEMENTALE |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Africa-Europe-Youth-Movement-SofS-FR.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternationalndbtir, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{BÂTIR UN MOUVEMENT DE JEUNES INCLUSIF ET INTER-RÉGIONAL POUR LA JUSTICE ENVIRONNEMENTALE}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Africa-Europe-Youth-Movement-SofS-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }