A biography of the Indian Indigenous Environmental Activist, Archana Soreng.

Archana Soreng & How Her Tribe Could Save the Earth

Short biographies of activists from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India

 South Asian Activists

Ultimately, climate change affects the futures of kids like you and me. Just like Archana and her friends at the UN Youth Advisory Group, you can do your part to learn about the environment and lie by your life in a sustainable way.

Archana Soreng. A biography of the Indian Indigenous Environmental Activist, Archana Soreng.

When indigenous communities become leaders of conservation rather than the victims of it, they can decide what's best for the planet and their people. Although they might be beneficial for the environment, some global&nbsp;initiatives&nbsp;are harmful to people nearby. She also asks that leaders of the world listen to the youth and include them in the process of creating policies for conservation efforts. For example, the&nbsp;Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework&nbsp;came up with a solution for conservation. At least 30% of land and sea areas global would be protected through systems of protected areas&nbsp;(which sounds nice!)&nbsp;However, this would force millions of people off their land&nbsp;(violating their human rights).

Soreng believes local communities should have leadership roles in deciding how to protect&nbsp;biodiversity, and that indigenous practices be respected-especially when it comes to climate change. Local indigenous communities have constantly had their rights taken away by the government and corporations.

UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. Meet the members! Nisreen Elsaim from Sudan is the president of&nbsp;Sudan Youth for Climate Change. She also was one of the organizers of the 2019 Youth Climate Summit. Ernest Gibson from Fiji is a co-coordinator for&nbsp;350 Fiji,&nbsp;which is a youth-led climate change network.

She was appointed to a UN youth advisory group in 2020. The UN Youth Advisory Croup on Climate Change collaborates on how to work with young people to combat the climate crisis.

Archana Soreng: Youth Warrior For Climate Change

Archana Soreng's tribe, the Kharia tribe, uses the land and environment in their day to day life in a respectful and&nbsp;sustainable&nbsp;way. Soreng is inspired by how her tribe's traditions and use of the environment helps both her people and the land stay healthy. One thing Soreng is inspired by is a song from her tribe called&nbsp;Kheri Odo. This song sings about how the farming practices of tribes are connected with nature, and how different animals contribute to the agricultural process. Sustainable. Using the environment sustainably means that the people use the environment in a way that the environment is kept healthy with enough time and resources to regrow or replenish the things that they use.

Some of the lyrics to the song go like this: “Garha Dhoda Ankal Te, Rai Chuni Baa: Re (Rai Chuni Baa: re Sailo Soire) *2 Khankada Re Ankal Si Te Re Dhamana Re Pata Tarte Dundlu Re Bihda TerTe Re Bakula re Rowa Onte Re Gudnu Re Jhumer Kuichta” This translates to: Up and down the paddy field, there is paddy swaying with the wind The crab ploughs the field, while the rat snake levels it The small frog hops around doing inter-cultivation, while the crane transplants the paddy seedlings The tiny fish dance around in the water-filled field Soreng says, "I think this song is a beautiful expression of the symbiotic relationship that our tribes share with nature."

Let's Find where she was born and where she grew up on the map!

Nathan Metenier from France is the founder and coordinator of&nbsp;Generation Climate Europe. Vladislov Kaim from Moldova is a young economist committed to ensuring green and decent jobs for youth. Paloma Costa from Brazil&nbsp;is a lawyer and human rights defender. Costa has coordinated youth delegations for several climate conferences. Sophia Kianni from the USA&nbsp;is the founder and executive director of&nbsp;Climate Cardinals. The Climate&nbsp;&nbsp;Cardinals work to translate climate information into over 100 languages.

A note from the authors. This book was created in a South Asian Politics course at Lehigh University taught by Prof Nandini Deo (ndd208@lehigh.edu). We tried to contact the activist featured here, but we were unsuccessful with reaching them personally. Her Instagram account appears to be down or no longer exists at the time this was published. However, her Twitter can still be reached @SorengArchana. Readers who wish to contribute to the cause can learn more and donate here- https://www.vasundharaodisha.org/

<a href="https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2020/08/tribal-activist-archana-soreng-is-indias-new-hope-for-a-greener-world/">https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2020/08/tribal-activist-archana-soreng-is-indias-new-hope-for-a-greener-world/</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archana_Soreng">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archana_Soreng</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sorengarchana/status/1175292144187146241">https://twitter.com/sorengarchana/status/1175292144187146241</a> <a href="https://genevasolutions.news/climate/archana-soreng-indigenous-youth-are-the-bearers-of-their-culture">https://genevasolutions.news/climate/archana-soreng-indigenous-youth-are-the-bearers-of-their-culture</a> <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/tribal-communities-must-be-made-stakeholders-in-post-covid-world-archana-soreng/articleshow/77727452.cms">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/tribal-communities-must-be-made-stakeholders-in-post-covid-world-archana-soreng/articleshow/77727452.cms</a> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action/youth-advisory-group">https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action/youth-advisory-group</a> <a href="https://vimeo.com/539936954">https://vimeo.com/539936954</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DvkKC1qvMY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DvkKC1qvMY</a> <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/give-indigenous-people-their-rights-to-tackle-climate-change-archana-soreng-76677">https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/give-indigenous-people-their-rights-to-tackle-climate-change-archana-soreng-76677</a> <a href="https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/archana-soreng-un-youth-advisory-group-climate-change/">https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/archana-soreng-un-youth-advisory-group-climate-change/</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/archana.soreng/?hl=en">(@archana.soreng) • Instagram photos and videoshttps://www.instagram.com › archana.soreng</a> <a href="https://genevasolutions.news/climate/archana-soreng-indigenous-youth-are-the-bearers-of-their-culture">Archana Soreng: Indigenous youth are the bearers of their ...https://genevasolutions.news › climate › archana-soreng…</a> <a href="https://in.linkedin.com/in/archana-soreng-291842129">Archana Soreng - Research Officer - TISS Forest Rights and ...https://in.linkedin.com › archana-soreng-291842129</a> <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-climate-activist-archana-soreng-named-by-un-chief-to-new-advisory-group/article32209316.ece">https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-climate-activist-archana-soreng-named-by-un-chief-to-new-advisory-group/article32209316.ece</a> <a href="https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/are-world-leaders-ready-to-work-with-youth-asks-archana-soreng-at-un-biodiversity-summit">https://ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/are-world-leaders-ready-to-work-with-youth-asks-archana-soreng-at-un-biodiversity-summit</a> <a href="https://www.cbd.int/article/draft-1-global-biodiversity-framework">https://www.cbd.int/article/draft-1-global-biodiversity-framework</a>

Greenwashing -&nbsp;a deceitful tactic that companies and organizations use to appear environmentally friendly without putting effort into helping the environment. Indigenous -&nbsp;relating to or deriving from ethnic communities of people who are native to a certain place before other ethnic communities arrived. Initiatives -&nbsp;the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. Monoculture -&nbsp;a single crop planted over a wide area. Policymaking -&nbsp;creating new laws. Polyculture -&nbsp;the simultaneous cultivation of several crops or kinds of animals. Sustainable -&nbsp;using the environment sustainably means that the people use the environment in a way that the environment is kept healthy with enough time and resources to regrow or replenish the things that they use.

When learning about the environment and looking for solutions to climate change, it is important to remember and include indigenous peoples. Climate change affects everyone, and learning and talking about climate change is the best way to find solutions and spread awareness!

Grass chairs. Coconut ropes. Twig toothbrushes. Other sustainable practices include using grass to make chairs, coconuts to make ropes, and twigs for toothbrushes. Because all of these things are&nbsp;biodegradable, it does not harm the planet after they are thrown away like how chairs, ropes, plates, and toothbrushes made of plastic do. Biodegradable: If something is biodegradable, it means that the material can naturally decompose and become part of the Earth again as dirt and nutrients. Materials like plastic cannot naturally decompose for hundreds of years, polluting the planet and harming wildlife.

Archana Soreng. 1996 to present. This is Archana Soreng! She was born in 1996 and was born into the Kharia Tribe in the Bihabandh Village in India. She grew up in Rajgangpur in Odisha, India, a town just south of where she was born. Archana Soreng graduated from Patna Women's College and later received her Master's Degree in Regulatory Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Fun Fact. Did you know that 1996 was the same year that Dolly, the FIRST cloned sheep, was born!

People who fight against climate change and inform people and governments on how to take care of the environment are called&nbsp;environmental activists! My friend&nbsp;Archana Soreng&nbsp;is an&nbsp;indigenous environmental activist. She fights against climate change using knowledge passed down from her tribe and advocates for her people in discussions about climate change.

Archana Soreng and how her tribe could save the earth. By Jess Galarza and Misa Leeflang

Soreng came from a family that treasured the environment and her tribe very dearly. Her father was an indigenous health professional who used medical knowledge passed down through generations in the tribe to help treat patients, and her grandfather was a community forest protector.

She mainly researches and records indigenous forest protection practices, the role women play in the movement, and on protecting the rights of Adivaasis and forest-dwelling communities.

Archana also works at an action and policy advocacy and research group in Odisha called Vasundhara, where they advocate for natural resources&nbsp;governance,&nbsp;conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.

Glossary. Advocate&nbsp;- to protect and fight on behalf of something. Allies&nbsp;- people working together with you towards the same goal are allies. Biodegradable&nbsp;-the material can naturally decompose and become part of the Earth again as dirt and nutrients. Biodiversity&nbsp;- a lot of different animals, plants, and fungi can live together and play different, important roles in one environment. Climate change&nbsp;- the change of climates in different environments across the world that cause a lot of problems and shifts humans, plants, and animals cannot adapt to fast enough. Conservation&nbsp;- to protect and keep the existing environment, plants, and animals healthy and thriving. Environmental activist&nbsp;- People who fight against climate change and inform people and governments on how to take care of the environment. Governance&nbsp;- responsible oversight and control of something.

She works with her brother on a youth-led platform called Adivaassi Drishyam. They use this platform to collect the cultural eco-friendly practices of different tribes–for example–dance, music and food. Then they share it on platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, and other social media.

Climate change is different from usual changes in weather, and there are a variety of different problems it can cause. Watch this video to learn what climate change is, why it's happening, and what it is doing to our life on Earth:

Climate change (according to a kid)

Kharia Tribe has many sustainable practices. One sustainable practice is collecting leaves from the forest to make plates. They stich these leaves together with splinters, and voila! they have&nbsp;biodegradable&nbsp;plates! Step One: Gather some banana leaves and overlap the edges. Step Two: Use a splinter and sew together the overlapped parts of the leaves. Step Three: Repeat steps 1 &amp; 2 until you get a full circle plate. BOWLS: If you fold the leaves as you sew them, you can also make bowls!

Archana started raising awareness and spreading information of sustainable, environmental practices from different tribes through social media with her brother. They focused on encouraging youth groups and participation from younger generations to learn their past and&nbsp;advocatefor their future.

Recently, you may have heard the adults in your life, people at your school, and the news talk about&nbsp;climate change. This is because&nbsp;climate change&nbsp;is one of the biggest problems facing the Earth today, affecting all the people, plants, and animals living on it. Including you and me!

She also advocates against monocultures. Monocultures. A single crop planted over a wide area. Pros. Efficient and easy. Good for making a lot of the same plant. Cons. Damages soil quality and the environment. Needs a lot of chemicals. Destroys homes of different plants and animals. Polycultures. The simultaneous cultivation of several crops or kinds of animals. Pros. Strong against pests and weeds without chemicals. Keeps the soil healthy. Provides an environment for all sorts of plants and animals to exist happily and healthily. Cons. costs a little bit more. Many indigenous tribes, including Soreng's, use this method to keep the earth healthy.

Permaculture - Mono vs Poly

Currently, there are not a lot of young people in decision-making spaces. However, young people's futures are going to be affected by climate change. Soreng wishes that young people be recognized as the biggest allies for the future of our planet and that we can all work together.

However, this was a turning point for Soreng. As part of the young generation in her tribe, she thought that it was her responsibility to fight for her tribe's rights and learn and teach&nbsp;her tribe's practices. She especially focused on Kharia's environmental practices.

“Both my parents, my father and my mother had been part of the tribal rights movement, and told me that if you really want to make a change in society, you have to enter into&nbsp;policymaking. That is what stayed with me forever and that is what has inspired me,” said Archana Soreng.

Archana advocates against&nbsp;greenwashing, especially calling out companies and political organizations that claim to use greener methods. In reality, they are spending more money on public relations to&nbsp;appear&nbsp;sustainable and are not making any meaningful change. Greenwashing. A deceitful tactic that companies and organizations use in order to mislead consumers (like you and me!) who prefer environmentally-conscious brands. Companies that use&nbsp;GREEN WASHING&nbsp;are spending more time and money to pretend they care about the planet while they continue to pollute the earth.

Everything You Need to Know About Greenwashing

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