Inspiring stories

Around the world, those who defend the environment and the human rights that depend on it face all kinds of obstacles, challenges and threats. Overcoming adversity, they have been working to change the lives of many.

Lenca Indigenous Movement of La Paz Honduras – MILPAH

Lenca Indigenous Movement of La Paz Honduras – MILPAH

MILPAH peacefully defends and promote the rights of Lenca indigenous communities in the context of their ancestral lands. (...)

Country: Honduras

Protectoras Ambientales de la Flor y Lomas de Amancaes – PAFLA

Protectoras Ambientales de la Flor y Lomas de Amancaes – PAFLA

The green spaces surrounding Lima, Peru, are known as 'lomas'. The 'lomas' are a fragile ecosystem named fog oases, that are home to threatened and endemic species. (...)

Country: Peru

Grassroots movement against Sterlite copper plant

Grassroots movement against Sterlite copper plant

Since the beginning when it was first proposed in 1995, the Tuticorin Sterlite Copper plant was controversial due to its highly polluting nature, and was initially rejected in three different Indian states until it was approved by Tamil Nadu. (...)

Country: India

Klong Sai Pattana Community

Klong Sai Pattana Community

The Klong Sai Pattana community in Krabi province, Thailand is engaged in a struggle with a palm oil producer, Jiew Kang Jue Pattana Co Ltd. Jiew Kang Jue Pattana Co. Ltd. was sued for illegally occupying and exploiting the community´s land.

Country: Thailand

Paga Hill Settlement Community

Paga Hill Settlement Community

Paga Hill community was established after the Second World War. People have been living there for the last four generations. They were given the customary user rights to the land. In 2012, the Paga Hill Development Company, a joint venture ...

Country: Papua New Guinea

John Moreno Rutowski

John Moreno Rutowski

In 2013 the Mexican government approved the construction of a hotel in Punta Lobos beach. The real estate agency Black Creek developed a large touristic project near the town of Todos Santos. The Punta Lobos fishing cooperative decided to fight ...

Country: Mexico

Mother Nature Cambodia

Mother Nature Cambodia

In 2015, Alejandro Gonzalez Davidson founded the NGO Mother Nature Cambodia, to campaign with local communities from the Koh Kong region to protect the area´s mangrove ecosystems from the effects of sand mining. (...)

Country: Cambodia

Movimiento Ambiental Guardianes por la Vida

Movimiento Ambiental Guardianes por la Vida

The 'Environmental Movement Keepers for life' is a group of boys and girls that are looking to encourage environmental care, promote awareness about the care for the planet, which is the only one that holds life. (...)  

Country: Colombia

Ruth Buendía

Ruth Buendía

Environmental activists and indigenous leader of the Asháninka community from the Peruvian Amazon, known for her work in the defence of her culture and the environment. (...)

Country: Peru

Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de la Selva

Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de la Selva

Women from the Kichwa, Shuar, Achuar, Waorani, Zapara, Andwa, Shiwiar, Cofán, Siona, Siekopai, and Kius peoples, raised against the extractivism destroying their homes, the 'Pachamama'. (...)

Country: Ecuador

Ifugao indigenous community vs. mining company

Ifugao indigenous community vs. mining company

'In solidarity with the people of Didipo, Nueva Viscaya in asserting their right to a balanced and healthful ecology, ATM, Kalikasan PNE, LRC-KsK/FoE Philippines, and Mining Wtch Canada, as well as other national and international groups, ...

Country: Philippines

Ridhima Pandey

Ridhima Pandey

Ridhima Pandey is an energetic girl ready to fight for what she believes in. When she was 9 years old, she went to the courts of her country, India, to file a lawsuit before the government for its lack of action in the protection of the ...

Country: India