In Bataan, Philippines, communities are taking a stand against fossil fuel energy projects that threaten their health, environment, and livelihoods. With support from the Legal Empowerment Fund (LEF), these communities are organizing to protect their rights and advocate for sustainable alternatives to harmful industrial practices.
In our new video, grassroots organizers from the Nuclear and Coal-Free Bataan Movement (NCFBM) and community members living in the shadow of massive coal plants share firsthand accounts of how these energy projects have caused pollution, exacerbated health issues, and disrupted their way of life. Their stories underscore the urgent need for action to uphold environmental and social justice.
Watch our new video for highlights from the lived experiences of those on the front lines of this struggle.
The work of NCFBM exemplifies how legal empowerment strategies can fuel movements for climate justice. By equipping communities with the tools and knowledge to advocate for their rights, this grassroots movement is challenging entrenched systems of power and advancing a vision of justice rooted in equity and sustainability.
As world leaders meet at the UNFCCC COP29 climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, this week, NCFBM shared a message highlighting their commitment to supporting communities impacted by fossil fuels:
There are concerns that fossil fuel corporations are actively lobbying at COP29 to influence negotiations in favor of their business interests. This raises alarms for us – as such actions will only exacerbate the climate crisis, particularly affecting countries in the Global South.
That is why frontline communities are fighting back. They are mobilizing to defend their rights to a liveable and sustainable planet. The Nuclear and Coal-Free Bataan Movement joins with the global efforts during COP29 and beyond emphasizing collective action for environmental justice.
This is our only home, this is our planet, we live to fight for it!
By supporting groups like NCFBM, the Legal Empowerment Fund is investing in a future where the planet is prioritized over profit, and justice is within reach for all.
Watch the video now to hear NCFBM’s story and be part of the movement for hope and action.
