350
Activist Stories
Chibeze Ezekiel
Chibeze Ezekiel is a Ghanaian environmentalist and youth leader working on various thematic areas particularly climate change, renewable energy and sustainable development goals.
In 2013, he joined 350.org during Global Power Shift, where he and 600 young activists were trained on advocacy, organising and campaigning skills. A year later, he and six fellow activists formed 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon (350 GROC) and started campaigning against a coal-fired power plant that was then proposed in Ekumfi Aboano District in Ghana.
Between 2013 and 2016, 350Africa worked with the GROC team led by Chibeze to build their campaign through regular coaching, trainings and provision of small grants to run the campaign’s activities. Thanks to GROC’s strategic work, their partnerships with key stakeholders, and increased advocacy efforts, the government rejected the proposed $1.5 billion coal project proposed by Volta River Authority and Shenzhen Energy Group.
Currently, 350 GROC is running a campaign aimed at helping key districts in the greater Accra region of Ghana to mainstream renewable energy into their development plans. 350 GROC chose to focus on this work in order to help the country achieve its Renewable Energy Master Plan and go 100% renewable.
Landry Nintereste, 350.org’s Africa Managing Director, reflected that “Chibeze’s commitment, activism and leadership has enabled a group of young volunteers to shut down the first coal-fired power plant proposed in Ghana. That was a heroic act and it inspired the climate movement in Africa and around the world. I am particularly proud and happy to support Chibeze and his team in future campaigns.”
Chibeze continues to be actively involved in national and regional advocacy towards safeguarding the interest and welfare of young people and grassroots communities against any adverse environmental impact. In addition, as of July 2020, Chibeze serves on 350.org’s Board of Directors.
We thank local leaders like Chibeze for their vision and partnership in order to create a safe and 100% renewable energy future for all!
Novita Indri
Novita Indri is an environmental engineering student and an activist involved in our Climate Rangers Jakarta group, a community of young people who share their concern on the climate crisis in Indonesia.
Novita learned of 350.org a few years ago, initially joining 350’s events to fill her spare time on the weekend. But as she became more involved with our work, her concerns about the climate crisis’ impact on her community grew. Novita believes in people’s power and she was inspired when Greta Thunberg said “no system change can come without pressure from large groups of individuals.” Novita decided to join Climate Rangers Jakarta and became engaged in our training programs and local campaigns.
Since joining Climate Rangers, Novita was invited to join 350.org’s East Asia Climate Leadership Camp in 2018. At this training, she learned more about the science of the climate crisis and also developed valuable organizing skills along with youth leaders from the East Asia region. “Thanks to the movement,” said Novita, “I feel more empowered and have a platform that enables me to reach more people.”
During the Global Climate Strike, Climate Rangers Jakarta and partners organized more than 2,500 people to take the streets. Novita notes that Climate Rangers Jakarta “also organized press conferences, art workshops, and discussions” to expand the climate movement. Following this momentum, Novita and the Climate Rangers mobilized 200 Jakartans to join a climate march on the main street of the city last November.
Sisilia Nurmala Dewi, 350.org’s Indonesia Team Lead, reflects that “Novita’s enthusiasm and dedication to Climate Rangers Jakarta and the climate crisis are very uplifting to her community and our team. People like her always push us to give our best.”
At the moment, Novita and her friends in Climate Rangers Jakarta are preparing to have an annual meeting to plan the year ahead. They are gearing up towards a more strategic campaign in 2020 looking forward to strengthening their group with 350.org’s help.
Our profound thanks goes out to Novita and Climate Rangers Jakarta for their activism and leadership.
Avery Shannon
Avery Shannon is a community organizer and activist based in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver resides on the territories of the three Local First Nations: the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh.
Avery became involved with 350.org during their time supporting the resistance to the Kinder Morgan pipeline at the Watch House on Burnaby Mountain. During those actions, Avery was coordinating volunteers, planning actions, and working closely with Indigenous activists.
Recently, Avery took on leadership roles in national youth climate organizing. They became one of the most important organizers in the Our Time campaign — a campaign led by young people that put a Green New Deal for Canada on the map ahead of the 2019 Federal election. Avery was involved from the time we started laying the foundation of the campaign, and later joined the national organizing committee representing the massive team in Vancouver. Over the summer of 2019, Avery led the Our Time team to press the CBC to hold a leaders debate on climate, helped mobilize 100k people in the streets in Vancouver for the Climate Strike, and worked to direct that energy to get out the vote behind Green New Deal champions.
Our Time organizers helped to elect a squad of Green New Deal supporters, and after the election they have helped us organize to get cross-party support for the first Green New Deal motion to ever hit the floor of Canadian Parliament. Avery has been part of this work every step of the way, and through the election campaign, didn’t miss a single national organizing call. Their dedication and energy was unmatched.
“When I think of an organizer who shows up for climate justice, I think of Avery” says Katie Rae Perfitt, 350.org’s Canada National Organizer. “They are one of the most dedicated organizers I’ve met. While supporting the youth climate justice movement in Vancouver and across the country, Avery has brought hundreds of young people to the table to build a vision for a Green New Deal here, all the while maintaining an unwavering solidarity with frontline Indigenous communities facing down the fossil fuel industry. To say Avery was a critical part of Our Time organizing is an understatement.”
Avery is currently working with other Our Time organizers to build and roll out a strategy to get cross-party support for the first ever motion in Canada’s parliament for a Green New Deal. They are also organizing solidarity actions in their community in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people who right now are resisting the Coastal Gas Link Pipeline, and supporting a youth coalition to turn out record numbers for the next global climate strike.
It’s thanks to leaders like Avery that we’re able to organize and mobilize thousands for climate action.