In this article, Munashe Masiyiwa coordinator of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) Youth Hub makes reflections and shares key takeaways from a recent People’s Dialogue, held in South Africa.
The People’s Dialogue, a regional gathering of activists from Southern Africa and Brazil, has condemned extractivism, capitalism, and climate change as interconnected threats to the environment, communities, and the economy.
The dialogue brought together activists from South Africa, Lesotho, DRC, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Brazil to share experiences and challenges caused by extractivism, capitalism, and climate change.
Key discussions centered on the need to transform society, rather than simply transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The group also explored the concept of “green extractivism” and its implications for biodiversity and critical minerals.
The dialogue concluded with a call to action, emphasizing the need for robust mobilization against extractivism and capitalism, and the creation of climate jobs to promote socio-economic development among young people.
The People’s Dialogue emphasized that the fight against extractivism is a fight against capitalism and that a new politics is needed to shape the natural resource discourse and ensure that Africa’s soil and subsoil benefit Africans.
“In the dialogue, we explored the importance of looking at the entire value chain of artisanal mining, where powerful politicians and business elite benefit.
“There was a discussion on the need to comprehensively analyze the concept of green extractivism and start understanding green extractivism as a two-fold connotation, including biodiversity and critical minerals.
“On the same note, the People’s Dialogue condemned transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy without transformation. This idea seeks to address the concrete material reality of poverty in Africa. It seeks to go beyond transition and start transforming society.”
There was also a discussion on the link between extractivism and capitalism where the sole motive is to make a surplus value of profit with no regard for the community and environment. The platform concluded that the fight against extractivism is a fight against capitalism and the LEFT must continue to robustly mobilize to encourage the youths, governments, and civil societies to start engaging in critical discourse.
A significant discussion emerged regarding the connection between extractivism and capitalism, highlighting that the primary goal is to generate surplus profit without considering the impacts on communities and the environment.
The consensus reached on the platform was that opposing extractivism equates to opposing capitalism itself.
It was emphasized that the LEFT must actively mobilize to inspire young people, governments, and civil societies to engage in meaningful and critical discussions about these issues.
Delegates also deliberated on a compelling approach to engaging young people in the climate change conversation through the creation of climate jobs. This strategy recognizes that many youths prioritize employment opportunities, often feeling disconnected from discussions surrounding climate issues.
“This initiative was prompted by the recognition that many youths are absent from climate change discussions due to their primary concern with securing employment. Consequently, it was emphasized that climate change and justice efforts must prioritize the creation of climate-related job opportunities for young people, thereby enhancing their socioeconomic prospects.
The dialogue culminated in the identification of three key takeaway points, namely: exit strategies from extractivism, the complexities of green extractivism, and the need for novel political approaches to address the challenges posed by extractivism.
“For the CNRG Youth Hub, the People’s Dialogue provided a platform for ideas that should shape the natural resource discourse and how soil and subsoil of Africa should be able to benefit Africans amid new alternatives or the critical minerals markets of nickel, lithium, copper, and cobalt and ultimately the biodiversity.”