About the event

In light of Peasants’ Month, Embark is excited to be joined by CPSHR for a climate workshop on the resilience and struggles of peasant communities in the Philippines. Peasant farmers in the Philippines are on the frontlines of overlapping crises—climate breakdown, systemic corruption, land dispossession, militarization, and repeated violations of their basic rights.

Peasants are a class of people in the Philippines who work on the land of a feudal landlord—not to be confused with its derogatory connotation in Western contexts.  For this month of solidarity, join us as we immerse ourselves in the lived realities of peasants through a narrative activity and teach-in. Together, we will connect the peasant struggle to the climate crisis and entrenched systems of corruption and land dispossession enforced by the state and backed by foreign corporations and banks. Through this collective dramatization, participants will not only witness the resilience and struggles of peasant communities but also be given a few options to stand in solitary. The workshop will close with a way to support political prisoners in the Philippines—many of whom are peasants and peasant rights advocates—and with concrete calls-to-action to advance genuine land reform and the broader fight for national democracy. 

Plus, enjoy Jeff’s homemade Suman—a steamed sticky rice cake that peasants often eat. 

Land ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This event takes place on the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛw̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nations.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Jeff (he/they)
Jeff is an organizer with Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR) and regional coordinator for the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP Canada). He is passionate about human rights advocacy and building solidarity across borders with our partners across the sectors of workers, peasants, fisherfolk, and other civil society groups in the Philippine

Event Accessibility

Embark Sustainability events are free and open to Embark members which includes Simon Fraser University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Embark Associate Members.

This event will be held indoors at the Embark Studio, room #1310 of the SUB Student Union Building (SUB), SFU Burnaby. Please review the following accessibility details:

• Attendees are free to opt in and opt out of activities as suits their needs throughout the event, including exiting and re-entering the event space.
• The event space is wheelchair accessible.
• All-gender and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located on the same floor.
• We welcome all gender identities and expressions.
• We provide access to a quiet space for personal meditation, reflection, or prayers.
• The event space is a tree nut and peanut-free zone
• The event space is a scent-free zone.
• Unfortunately, we are unable to provide ASL interpretation at this time.

We strive to make our events accessible to as many of our community members as possible. If you have accessibility needs you’d like to share, please contact our Director of Engagement at engagement@embarksustainability.org.

Health & Safety

Participants who register are agreeing to release Embark Sustainability Society from any liability related to COVID-19. Masks are optional but encouraged.

Community Agreement

By registering to attend this event, you are agreeing to be respectful when listening to and communicating with others, and be mindful of the space you are taking up amongst your peers.

Embark Sustainability does not tolerate violence or aggression against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or ability. Please also refer to people using the introductions they provide and do not assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or appearance.

If these agreements are broken by someone, we will have to ensure the safety of our community members by removing them from the event.

Questions

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Embark Sustainability’s Climate Equity Programs Coordinator at climate@embarksustainability.org.