Calendar

For over a decade, Alejandro’s research and advocacy work have focused on the successes and limitations of water justice social movements and the social and environmental consequences of extractive development in Central America. He has worked with a variety of non-governmental organizations in El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Washington D.C., and California on issues spanning US trade policy, water governance, and gold and lithium mining. His work centers environmental justice that embraces diversity and coalition-building with underrepresented and vulnerable populations.

Registration: Extractive Industry & Environmental/Human Rights (givebutter.com)

Webinar to discuss the report Free to Leave and Free to Stay, whioh details the impact of climate change in Honduras as a case study. Caritas France and ERIC are two allied organizations the work in global advocacy spaces, including the Climate Migration and Displacement Platform (CMDP).

The conversation will also explore the relationship between environmental degradation and forced displacement and migration. They will examine the concept of socio-environmental disasters and discuss the importance of prevention, respect for human rights during disaster responses and in the immediate displacement, and the impact on forced migration. The conversation will be rooted on how Honduras can support the needs of people displaced by climate-related events and the role of the international community in supporting this process, including advocacy opportunities.

You are invited to join the conversation: 

 Wednesday, May 15

 9:00 AM
 Register at: https://bit.ly/3UQEhxj

Panelists:
Elvin Hernández, ERIC
Yolanda González Cerdeira, ERIC
The event will be in Spanish with English interpretation available.

Join us next week for “Rivers of Resistance: Resource Conflict and Rural Organizing in the Americas,” our May Member Meeting hosted by Jacey. The event is on Thursday, May 16 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT and El Salvador/5pm PT. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86132677306?pwd=Qk1zVExpNHZpcUpaN2JDdTUzR25hUT09 

Sister Cities’ staff member Dr. Jacey Anderson will share her research on the history of resource conflict and rural organizing in two river basins in the Americas. She tracks how the people of each place used their local knowledge of the land to successfully prevent mining projects in the late twentieth century. Through oral history and unique access to private archives, Jacey argues the leaders of both movements were not traditional environmentalists, nor did they identify as such; they were ordinary people who were fighting for what they valued–living with dignity and respect for their surroundings.

English-Spanish interpretation is available. All are welcome to attend. We invite you to share this event, also found on our website’s calendar of events.

Click here to RSVP for our Power Hour on May 16th 3pm ET | 2pm CT | 1pm MT | 12pm PT.

Critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper and more are key components of electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies.  As the world increasingly transitions to clean energy sources, global demand for critical minerals is on the rise.  

As a result, the U.S. government is currently considering entering into a number of possible “Critical Minerals Agreements” with foreign nations.  Depending upon how they’re written, these targeted trade deals could either help meet shared climate, job creation and sustainable development goals or end up accelerating exploitative models of resource extraction that are devastating for workers, communities and the environment.  

During this month's Power Hour briefing, we’ll be joined by Krista Shennum of Climate Rights International who will be summarizing a new report on the environmental, indigenous rights and labor implications of massive new nickel mining operations in Indonesia and Arthur Stamoulis of the Trade Justice Education Fund who will describe what’s at stake in new Critical Minerals Agreement negotiations and how you can help shape them.  

The mining and farming communities of Northeast Antioquia fear a new escalation of violence by different armed groups in their territory. The lack of implementation of the peace agreements signed between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -FARC- in 2016 has created an environment where there is no guarantee for establishing a comprehensive and lasting peace. Faced with the panorama of abandonment, the communities that walk in resistance accompanied by the Corporation for Humanitarian Action and Peaceful Coexistence of Northeast Antioquia – CAHUCOPANA, weave alternatives to war and build paths to move towards peace with social justice.

In this delegation, you will share with communities and grassroots organizations that resist violence and oppression, building peace day by day. You will hear directly about their commitment to a dignified life based on respect for Human Rights, and you will discover how you can be part of the change. (You will also learn how to sleep in a hammock and keep mosquitoes away). It will be a transformative learning experience.

For more information: https://cpt.org/delegations/colombia

This delegation will  focus on US-backed militarism in Honduras and its negative impact on communities struggling against the climate crisis by contextualizing the root causes of climate migration. Delegates will learn directly from frontline communities and organizations centering the experiences of Indigenous and campesino people who are witnesses and victims of hyper-militarism and who are at risk of being displaced because of climate aggravation. This delegation intends to spread awareness of how militarism exacerbates the climate crisiss which harms the living conditions of Indigenous and campesino communities. Climate and anti-war activists are strongly encouraged to apply, as well as students interested in global human rights and climate migration.

Delegation Fee: $2,000 fee + airfare (sliding scale range available for request on application

Delegation fee covers all meals, lodging, transportation, interpretation, and reading and activist tools

Sliding Scale: $1,000-$2,500+

The delegation fee covers all in-country expenses (lodging, travel, meals, interpretation, etc.) along with pre-travel resources, reading lists, and support. The delegation fee also covers our international team’s expenses for delegation preparation and coordination. Any amount paid over the delegation fee will go to support delegation scholarship and sliding scales, helping to ensure the delegations are more accessible to everyone. A delegation payment of $2,000 or more is ideal to cover all of your expenses and the broader delegation needs-- please pay this amount if you have institutional support or other financial resources. 

Application and $300 deposit due May 1st, 2024

The remaining balance, due June 15th, 2024

​Vaccination Policy: We require that all delegates be fully vaccinated and we ask that you please get your booster shot. Read our full vaccination policy here

​Refund policy: Read our full refund policy here