A/HRC/35/28 Climate Change saw the active participation of a strong grass-roots movement that is prepared to mobilize around the systemic changes needed to tackle the causes, and not just the symptoms, of global warming. 57 67. In many regions, the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources has led to community resistance through protests, for example to draw attention to injustices, foster debate about the roles and responsibilities of actors or put a stop to exploitation activities. One example is the series of protests against the Dakota access pipeline in the United States, which were led by indigenous populations whose land is affected by the project. Despite efforts by the authorities to disperse the protestors, the demonstrations drew national and international attention and constituted the largest gathering of indigenous people in the United States for a generation. Although the protest campaign did not ultimately succeed in stopping the project, it did garner the support of diverse civil society actors, including presidential candidates, environmental activists and celebrities, and led to recommendations on the effective engagement of indigenous peoples in infrastructurerelated projects.58 68. Civil society groups in Gabon and Peru have engaged with corporations from China over the financing or implementation of projects that would have violated the rights of indigenous peoples and had adverse environmental repercussions. In Gabon, corporations suspended the financing of the project until concerns were addressed, while in Peru the companies concerned decided not to pursue drilling for oil in the contested areas. 59 69. In the Philippines, farmers’ organizations have pushed an agrarian reform agenda, including land titling and the strengthening of farmers’ organizations, to help them provide direct services to farmers, such as appropriate farming technologies, and to find markets for their produce. They have also encouraged farmers to use soil and water conservation techniques.60 70. In the early 2000s, a union of informal self-employed waste pickers in Pune district in India advocated for a planned and sustainable approach to solid waste management that included the segregation of waste at source, the separate collection of non-domestic waste and recycling, among other strategies. The union also argued for a user fee-based door-todoor waste collection initiative as an alternative to the privatization of waste collection and management services. In 2008, this initiative was approved and the union, through a wholly worker-owned cooperative, now provides environmentally sustainable waste management. Just as importantly, it has also successfully defended the right to livelihood for informal workers who were previously excluded from the formal workforce. 61 71. Sustainable development must necessarily include the next generation of leaders, meaning that children and young people are a crucial constituency. In the Special Rapporteur’s view, maintaining strong civil societies — with a view to building strong and democratic States in the future — requires mentoring and inspiring upcoming generations. He is therefore encouraged by the successes of youth movements in drawing attention to pressing injustices. For example, the “umbrella movement” in Hong Kong, China in 2014, mobilized young people (as well as the general population) into political activism and participation in public affairs, including standing for elected office. Likewise, students in South Africa in 2015-2016 advocated for the transformation of higher education to correct the historical legacies of apartheid. 5. Raising awareness 72. Creating change requires a thorough understanding of a problem, as well as the appropriate skills to address that problem. Raising awareness and closing the knowledge gap between ordinary people and those with greater access to power and resources — e.g. 57 58 59 60 61 16 See www.tni.org/en/article/cop21-charades-spin-lies-and-real-hope-in-paris. See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21290&LangID=E. See A/HRC/31/60/Add.1, paras. 73-74. Contribution from We Effect (Philippines). Contribution from Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing.