Oxfam, WaterBear bring voices of marginalised activists to COP
November 30, 2023
As the UN climate summit, COP28, kicks off this month where political and business leaders gather to review the progress made on limiting global warming– WaterBear believes crucial voices continue to be side-lined: the voices on the frontline of climate change.
To shed light on this, WaterBear, the free eco-streamer, and international organisation Oxfam have come together to showcase young, leading climate activists – known as Earth defenders – fighting for communities bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.
In Climate Dispatches, an inaugural series of vivid animated short films, three activists partner with specialised animators to recount stories of their communities’ first-hand experience battling the devastating impacts of climate change in the Philippines, Peru and Kenya.
These short films support Oxfam’s ‘Make Polluters Pay’ campaign, urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to fairly tax the biggest and richest polluters – namely fossil fuel companies and the super-rich – to help tackle the rising costs of climate change and raise funds to support communities, like those in the films, to adapt and recover.
Research consistently shows that stories are far more effective at inspiring climate action. With at least 3.3 billion people around the world vulnerable to climate change, this series propels under-represented voices from climate-vulnerable areas into the spotlight, reshaping activists’ real-life experiences and humanising their work. Through these multimedia techniques, ‘Climate Dispatches’ aims to engage a broader audience, using art as a potent force to ignite change.
The audio postcards, short films of spoken word overlaid with playful animation, will launch on December 8th and be streamed exclusively on WaterBear.
Sam Sutaria, CEO of WaterBear, said: “Communities devastated by global warming have long been sidelined in critical climate talks. At COP28, our films aim to compel those in power to truly hear the real-life stories of Earth defenders. Harnessing the power of forward-thinking digital art, these beautifully crafted animations don’t simply chronicle adversity; they serve as a stirring call to arms, illustrating that a brighter planet and future are achievable through collective action. While one voice alone may not wield much influence, united voices can dismantle even the most formidable fossil fuel giants.’
Alya Al-Khatib, Oxfam’s Head of Creative Hub, added: “Climate activists like Marinel, Abigael and Pavel deserve to have their voices and their stories heard – particularly in crucial climate talks like COP. These films are a new and powerful way of sharing those stories, connecting more people who care desperately about our future and our planet, and collectively calling on the biggest and richest polluters to pay for urgent climate action through fairer taxes.”