#42 | Remaking a World in Crisis: The WECAN story with Osprey Orielle Lake
Walking among the giant redwood trees near her home, Osprey Orielle Lake had a moment in 2009 that changed the trajectory of her life and her work. Frustrated by the lackluster results of that year’s COP 15 Climate Change talks in Copenhagen, Osprey decided to commit her life to help protect the earth for future generations. She has not only kept that commitment, but has also helped transform the face of climate activism by elevating women’s and indigenous leadership in the field. Forming Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, WECAN, Osprey began her journey to support and collaborate with women in cultures around the world.
Digging into the research, Osprey discovered the tangible impact women were already making protecting planetary health, from safeguarding biodiversity to water conservation to tending the land, particularly in earth-respecting Indigenous cultures. Forming Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, WECAN, Osprey began her journey to support and collaborate with women in cultures around the world. Their vision:
The Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) envisions a just, equitable world in harmony with Nature.
A herculean, collaborative effort is needed to change the trajectory from where social justice and the health of the planet currently exist and where they need to be to create a healthy planet filled with supportive communities. Osprey asserts that women’s voices need to be amplified to help make that happen.
“Every year we go to the United Nations climate talks…And we see that.. women are doing these incredible projects, doing enormous leadership. [Yet] over 70% of the talking time during the negotiations is being done by men, let alone the small amount of women leaders that are leading out in delegations.”
In her compelling and energizing new book, The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis, Osprey presents a useful guide to remaking our world. Drawing on years of personal interaction with global leaders, Indigenous peoples, climate activists and many others, she shares a hopeful and uplifting vision of the world within our reach.
“The biggest thing I would say is people really need to roll up their sleeves and get involved. No one can be on the sidelines anymore. We all need to speak out. We all need to take action and find that place where you can do that in your community.”
In this episode, we discuss:
• Why climate justice is integral to climate change solutions.
• The powerful and expansive ways women are leading the way with climate solutions.
• WECAN’s partnership with Indigenous women at COP, the United Nations, and in political activism.
• WECAN’S on-the-ground projects like Reforesting the Otombe Rainforest in DR Congo.
• How the current poly-crisis creates an opportunity to make systematic change.
• The urgent need to reframe our economy so the earth, human life, and all nature is valued.
• How understanding and changing our worldview is key to the transformation needed to heal the earth and ourselves.
