This June edition of the Eco-Instigator comes at a time when the world is increasingly bedevilled by overlapping crises: wars, ecological collapse, displacements, and deepening inequalities. Across continents, these realities continue to expose the fragility of systems built on extraction, militarism, and concentrated power. Yet, amid these fractures, communities continue to resist, organise, and imagine pathways towards justice and collective wellbeing.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has once again reminded the world that war is never disconnected from ecological realities. Beyond the immediate violence associated with this avoidable war are damaged ecosystems, disrupted livelihoods, polluted environments, and diverted attention from urgent climate responsibilities. These realities reinforce an important truth we have echoed for years: there can be no climate justice in a world where unilateral powers continue to shape global realities through domination, resource control, and violence.
It was against this backdrop that the 4th Environmental and Social Justice School in Lomé, Togo, created a critical space for reflection and movement-building. Participants from across Africa interrogated dangerous climate “solutions” such as geoengineering, carbon markets, and other techno-fixes that fail to address the structural roots of the climate crisis.
Discussions revealed how most of these approaches merely reproduce colonial patterns under green branding, shifting risks to vulnerable communities while allowing polluters to continue business as usual. The School reaffirmed that real climate solutions must be rooted in justice, democratic participation, ecological responsibility, and people’s sovereignty.
This quarter also witnessed the successful hosting of the Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence (NDAC) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The convergence, which brought together activists, community leaders, youth groups, scholars, and movement builders, advanced people-centred alternatives for the Niger Delta. At the heart of the conversations was the urgent need to halt the continued abandonment of the region and resist the normalisation of environmental devastation in the name of profit. NDAC strengthened collective calls for ecological restoration, accountable governance, sustainable livelihoods, and justice for communities whose lands and waters have long been treated as sacrifice zones. Important insights and learning from this edition of NDAC are reported in this edition.
Our engagements this quarter equally highlighted the defence of ocean rights and coastal livelihoods. Across many African communities, offshore extraction, pollution, and exploitative maritime activities continue to threaten marine ecosystems and the survival of fisherfolk. Some of the reports included in this edition show that oceans are not simply economic frontiers for exploitation; instead, we’re reminded that they are living ecosystems that sustain cultures, histories, and livelihoods. Defending ocean rights therefore remains inseparable from defending community dignity and environmental integrity.
Amid these difficult realities, we also found necessary spaces for healing, creativity, and cultural resistance. Through the work of our Cultural and Environmental Desk, we gathered at events designed to rekindle the creativity in us, including poetry readings, book conversations, and the EcoComedy event. These moments, reported in this edition, reminded us that resistance is not sustained by outrage alone. Art, storytelling, humour, and creativity remain essential tools for political education, collective healing, and movement-building.
Across all our programmes, we remain committed to confronting systems of exploitation while nurturing alternatives grounded in justice, care, solidarity, and collective power. This edition of the Eco-Instigator captures stories of resistance, reflection, and renewal.
We invite you to read, reflect, and continue building with us. The movement grows because you are part of it.
It’s always a delight to hear and read from you. We never stop looking forward to receiving your feedback, stories, articles, poems, or photos.
Continue to share with us at [email protected].
Until Victory!
Read the issue here.
