We welcome this 50th edition of the Eco-Instigator with mixed feelings: both of excitement and sobriety. Excitement because our collective voice for ecological justice has continued to grow stronger with every passing season for the past 50 editions; and sobriety because the world continues to drift deeper into the throes of a poly-crisis that demands more honesty, courage, solidarity and action than ever before.
As a milestone edition, this collection assembles a wide range of stories at the heart of the values, ethos and causes that HOMEF embodies and lives for. For instance, we bring you stories from HOMEF’s coverage of the November 2025 COP30 in Belém, Brazil. For many, this COP was expected to be different, perhaps even transformative. It was expected to usher in what should have been a moment of global resolve. But having experienced the events and negotiations of COP30, we witnessed the familiar disappointment that has gradually become characteristic of COPs. The spectacle of glossy blue-zone halls, guarded by bureaucratic language and political manoeuvring, reminded us, once again, that those who claim to negotiate our climate future often do so with their eyes fixed firmly on profit margins, not people or the planet.
Earlier, October 2025 marked a profound moment with the annual Right Livelihood Lecture held at the University of Port Harcourt. The lecture brought together students, scholars, environmental defenders, and movement builders to reflect on climate justice in the Niger Delta, and how we can use tools of forensic investigation to combat the climate crisis. It was a sobering reminder that education is not complete until it is connected to the struggles of real people, and that the university remains a crucial space and agent for nurturing critical thought and a sense of responsibility towards our damaged ecosystems.
Our community dialogues continued across coastal and rural communities, each one revealing yet again the depth of wisdom that resides among the people and the enormity of the burdens they carry. Whether in conversations about the loss of livelihoods, poisoned waters, or persistent gas flares, the message remained clear: communities know what they want; they know what they deserve; and they know that justice begins with being heard and included. The outcomes of these dialogues continue to strengthen our resolve to never relent in our mission of amplifying local voices and equipping community members with the tools (knowledge, skills, mindset etc) they need to resist environmental harm and reclaim their dignity.
One of the defining moments of this quarter was the Climate Justice Assemblies in Benin City, Nigeria, and in Belém, Brazil, where environmental justice comrades, allies, and community leaders gathered to reflect on the state of the climate struggle and to chart a shared path forward. From the powerful testimonies of Ogoni representatives in Benin City to the stirring reflections on global resistance in Belém, the Assemblies were reminders that climate justice goes far beyond carbon metrics.
During these meetings, we launched the Yasunize and Ogonize campaign, drawing inspiration from Ecuador’s Yasuni referendum and the long-standing Ogoni resistance. Both movements teach us that the statement “leave the oil in the ground” is not just a slogan but a commitment to survival, sovereignty, and intergenerational responsibility. These examples show what is possible when people refuse to be intimidated and choose instead to defend their land, their rights, and their future.
Other significant programmes held in this period have continued to deepen our collective work. Our engagements around agroecology and food sovereignty remain strong as we confront the threats of GMOs, hunger, and corporate capture of food systems. Our Culture and Environment desk has continued to push the boundaries of knowledge through poetry, prose, and film, demonstrating the undeniable truth that art has the power to awaken the imagination and mobilize the spirit in ways that policy papers may never be able to. The expansion of HOMEF’s school arm, the Young Environmentalist Network (TYEN) in universities and secondary schools, renews our belief that the next generation is ready, willing, and eager to take the baton of ecological justice and run with it.
As we move through the next quarter, we hold close the memory of the 30th anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight Ogoni martyrs. Their courage continues to guide our steps. They remind us that the struggle for environmental justice is never in vain, and that history is always kind to those who insist on truth.
This edition brings you stories, reflections, and reports that capture the heartbeat of our work. As always, we invite you to read, engage, question, create, and share. Your voices, articles, poems, and images are the threads that strengthen this collective tapestry of resistance.
We look forward to hearing from you. The movement grows stronger through your participation.
We never stop looking forward to receiving your feedback, stories, articles, poems, or photos. Continue to share with us at [email protected] / [email protected].
Until Victory!
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