Reverse the Trend:Save Our People, Save Our Planet

Since our last update, a lot of developments have occurred with Reverse the Trend: Save Our People, Save Our Planet.  We are rapidly growing and are excited that Climate Cardinals is joining this initiative. 

In January of 2021, we officially launched the website: rttreversingthetrend.com. As part of the launch event, the audience heard from representatives of Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati and representatives from the Marshallese Educational Initiative, Peace Boat US, NAPF, Peace Action New York State, Youth Nuclear Peace Summit, Bombshelltoe, an elder from the Navajo First Nation, and a fashion designer. Representatives from the Youth Nuclear Peace Summit shared their excitement and feelings about Reverse the Trend with a newspaper in Winnipeg, Canada.

We further convened a meaningful and emotional event for Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day (March 1). We are very proud that Benetick Kabua Maddison, the Project Specialist for Youth, Climate, and Nuclear Issues and advisor for RTT, moderated the event. Speakers included: representatives from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, K=1 Project, Center for Nuclear Studies at Columbia University, IPPNW, and NAPF.  At this event, Marshallese youth presented their art pieces about the legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands.

After this event, we engaged in GlobalGiving's March Campaign. These funds will support Pacific Islanders and help them to access our global youth advocacy network.

Regarding the docuseries, Lovely Umayam of Bombshelltoe has been convening a series of zoom sessions with youth from the Marshallese Educational Initiative. The “Docuseries” project serves as the creative arm of Reverse the Trend. It is a series of creative writing workshops for youth participants living in frontline communities, with the goal of (1) teaching them writing skills and encouraging them to tell their own stories; and (2) creating a positive, safe space to discuss intergenerational trauma of nuclear weapons production and climate change. We conducted five docuseries workshops in the Winter 2020-Spring 2021, which focused on the legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands (youth participants from the Marshallese Educational Initiative). Lovely Umayam of Bombshelltoe is now in the process of compiling all the writing from the Marshallese youth to produce the final art piece: a “community poem” to be presented in video format (will be available in the Summer 2021). Umayam also provided participants basic training on how to approach editors with community stories. She is currently working with select participants in pitching and writing an op-ed about their docuseries experience. 

We also developed a curriculum that spans topics related to: nuclear disarmament, legacy of nuclear testing, paradigm shift on the discourse of nuclear weapons, climate activism, and the convergence of the two topics. Our underlying philosophy is that youth mobilization to address the existential threats facing humanity is only possible when young people take a hold on these issues and teach one another. Thus, the curriculum was developed in collaboration with our partner organizations and serves as a comprehensive overview of nuclear disarmament affairs, international law, and environmental affairs. 

This curriculum is a resource for educators, interested youth, government officials, and any person interested in gaining a well-rounded understanding of these issues. There are 29 corresponding lesson plans. In addition, Doga Unlu, a former intern, developed a toolkit for youth. The toolkit aims to educate and move youth in the service of fighting against nuclear weapons. The issue of nukes and the fact that they are an immediate concern must be highlighted among youth in order to reframe discussions on nuclear weapons and climate change. 

The toolkit provides a concise compilation of resources to specifically guide youth in their activism efforts. The first two parts of this toolkit provide factual information on nuclear weapons and discuss the medical consequences of not only their use, but also their deployment. The third part provides an intersectional perspective by taking into account racism, the climate crisis, patriarchy, and draws attention to the underlying ideologies that keep nuclear weapons in place. This intersectional approach is crucial to thoroughly understand the intertwined threats of nuclear power games, and to find more creative and effective solutions. This approach also provides a foundation to carry the discussion around nuclear weapons to everyday conversation. The final section builds upon the idea of engaging with nuclear disarmament activism everyday and provides guidance on how youth can get more involved.

We are now preparing for stage two. As part of stage two, we will work with youth activists from Winnipeg, Canada who coordinate the Youth Nuclear Peace Summit, to spread awareness about uranium mining in the country. Specifically, Umayam will facilitate five docuseries workshops with Canadian participants, which will culminate into its own unique art piece (likely to be an online magazine). Additionally, we would like to organize a series of lectures and events that showcase the curriculum, lesson plans, and toolkit to both students and teachers. These lectures will encourage both students and teachers to become stewards of youth empowerment. These lectures would feature both the authors of the curriculum, commentaries by experts in the field, and special guests, including diplomats from progressive states.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Links:

• Launch of Reverse the Trend
• Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day
• Reverse the Trend: Save Our People, Save Our Planet