EP 4: Kopi with Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines - Regional Solidarity in Southeast Asia

In the run-up to our rally on 23 September at Hong Lim Park, SG Climate Rally will be featuring the voices and stories of climate activists in our region; after all, the climate crisis is an existential threat that transcends national borders, affecting people, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. 

In the second episode of this series, we speak with Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a full-time climate justice activist based in Metro Manila, Philippines. She is the convenor and international spokesperson of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), the Fridays For Future (FFF) of the Philippines. In an illuminating chat, we talk about how YACAP aims to educate people about climate justice in the Philippines, Mitzi’s experience engaging with local communities on the ground, the sometimes dangerous reality of being a climate activist in the Philippines, and how regional collaboration on climate action can look like (follow the capital!). 

Check out the first episode of this series with Aroe Ajoeni from Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY) if you’ve not done so already here.

Links:

Mitzi’s Instagram: @mitzijonelle

YACAP’s Instagram: @yacaphilippines

Environmental activists abducted in the Philippines

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction/Who are YACAP?

(03:22) YACAP’s organisational strategy and using storytelling to introduce climate justice

(06:26) How is climate justice viewed in the Philippines?

(08:26) Takeaways from engaging local communities on the ground

(11:25) Challenges for climate activists in the Philippines

(14:21) “That’s why we have no choice but to fight back”

(19:11) The possibilities of a better world

(22:26) Regional and global collaboration with other groups

(24:55) What is your ideal form of regional collaboration?

(25:44) How can Singaporeans support climate activists in the Philippines?

(29:45) Outro