NGO panel on Regenerative Activism

NGO Panel Discussion held at the Advaya event Regenerative Activism: Revitalising Self and Society. Moderated by Gita Parihar. With NGOs War on Want, AVAAZ, Friends of the Earth, and Transition Towns.

The event is an exploration of tools and approaches that can transform our activism into a source for flourishing, both individually and socially. Those of us involved in social change are all too familiar with the challenge of meeting injustice and hardship in the world. Our aim is to explore a range of tools and approaches, collective and personal, to make our activism more effective and sustainable. We will look at the personal and inner dimensions, as well as the interpersonal and organisational factors that enable long term engagement and continuity in the struggles we face. We hope to understand how our work for social change can be a context for flourishing, both individually and socially. We will explore these issues using holistic and participatory methods, drawing on popular education, ecological and systems thinking, as well as reflective practices. The day will bring together leading activists and change makers from across the UK and beyond, to share practice and strengthen networks.

Contributors

Gita Parihar

Gita was Head of Legal at Friends of the Earth until July 2016 and has spent 12 years working with and for campaigning organisations, using her skills as a solicitor to bring environmental cases and advise at international negotiations on issues like climate change.

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Asad Rehman

Asad Rehman is the executive director of War on Want, where he organizes to put an end to poverty and injustice. Prior, he was the head of international climate at Friends of the Earth.

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Fatima Ibrahim

Much of her work has been spent campaigning and building solidarity with international movements. She has worked for global NGO Avaaz, EU citizens movement WeMove.eu and was one of the lead organisers of the People’s Climate March. She has also spent years organising with and supporting the UK Youth Climate Coalition.

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Alasdair Roxburgh

Alasdair is Director for Communities and Networks for Friends of the Earth working alongside communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on a wide range of environmental issues.

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Sophy Banks

Coming from a background in engineering and computing, Sophy soon realised that there were many questions technology couldn’t answer, and in 1995 she started her inner journey. She has worked as a psychotherapist, family constellator and workshop leader combining insights from indigenous traditions, western therapy schools and meditation practices.

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