A story about holding onto courage while navigating climate anxiety, activism, and hope, Victória Miguel Rampazzo, Brazil
As we say in Brazil, I am in the “flower age” (“na flor da idade”, in Portuguese), which means an age that shows a lot of opportunities, things to discover, people to know, places to be experienced. I really feel grateful to have this privileged moment of “the flower age”. But I know that we have a lot of different realities of “being young” around the countries, highlighting those
who are facing environmental injustices. And, worst of all, I know that the planet that I met will not be the same for the future generations. In those reflexive moments, I feel thinking about my niece's future.
I have been immersed in environmental issues even before the beginning of my Bachelors' degree in Environmental Management in 2015, but it got more intense in 2020, where I got into the youth and climate movements, aiming and looking for positive changes around me. I need to say that, to be part of the positive change and transformation needs a lot of COURAGE, and
need to be inspired every single day, to keep strong positions and keep your faith in your internal compass. I see this in climate activism in Brazil, one of dangerous lands for environmental defenders.
I’ve been questioned “Why do you keep working in the climate?” or “Why do you keep using your free time to dedicate to the climate movement?”.. “Why..” “why..” Why? Why not? I have a thousand reasons in my mind and purposes to say why I keep doing what I do. I would like to return the question back to those who do not understand. We have too much to do and change on this planet and society, and I suffer thinking that I will never be enough to change everything alone. Of course, that it is a part of the system, and we need everybody mobilizing for it. And, it is so hard.
I’ve been anxious about seeing climate disasters on TV and social media. I feel very small even trying to do my best and involving myself to mobilize climate action through my work, volunteers, academia and in my personal life. Sustainability is surrounding my thoughts everyday. I feel that every week, the climate crisis is affecting my daily life more and more, and those who are
around me. The other week I breathed in pollution from the burned forests in the North of Portugal where I am currently living, and weeks after, I worked from home and had in-person meetings canceled because of a storm. Months ago, I was dedicating my master thesis for those who suffered with floods in the South of Brazil, hoping that my research can be a little step for more inclusive adaptations on cities, especially for women and girls. Every week I need to check if my friends and family are “ok” and “safe”, because I saw on TV an extreme weather event affecting their cities. I feel that soon, the climate crisis will take more and more from me. I hope that I can keep my courage to fight back, and I know that I am not alone