Grassroots for Sustainability Workshop 1 April

March 26, 2024 admin

Grassroots for Sustainability Workshop

Monday 1 April 8 am – 12:30 PM

The research group Grassroots for Sustainability is a group of researchers from Sweden, Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania and Nicaragua.

In their research they explore how grassroots networks, initiatives and practices, initiatives, networks and practices promote grassroots resilience, and contribute to reduce both the adverse impact of cities on climate and environmental change on community, city and societal levels.

Last year they had a conference in Zanzibar and researchers from Zanzibar Universities and recyclers were present.

This conference is what inspired us to start a waste pickers, recyclers and up-cyclers association and that is why we organized the Environment waste pickers, recyclers and up-cyclers conference in November 2023. To get to know each other and to know about each other’s activities, achievements and challenges.

This week 2 researchers of the team will be back in Zanzibar, they will be joining us on the beach clean-up and then give a presentation at Kawa followed by a discussion and brainstorm session about how to move forward.

In this workshop we will analyze the results of a rapid plastic brand exercise in Stonetown as the starting point to discuss waste governance instruments in Zanzibar as well as measures to support a just transition and the protection of the human rights of the communities working with plastic collection and recycling following the guidance of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers.

You are welcome to join us at 8 am at Maisara for the beach clean-up, to identify what we find on the beach, from there we go to Kawa for the presentation, discussion and brainstorm session. It will end no later than 12.30 (mid-day)

You are welcome to join us, but you need to reserve your seat in advance so we know how many chairs we will need. Since it s Ramadhan we will not offer any refreshments this time.

Program of the day:

8:00 am meeting point Maisara – start clean-up and waste separation

10:00 am Presentation, discussion and brainstorm session

12:30 pm closing time

More information about the workshop:

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Zanzibar is a global water outlet linking marine waste with other oceans across the globe including Dar es Salaam and Europe. High plastic water litter is produced along the coast due to increasing coastal tourism, and other ocean and beach activities related to the blue economies. Despite considerable efforts of local grassroots initiatives addressing the plastic pollution challenge there is a need for a stronger integrated waste governance systems that takes in consideration these grassroots initiatives.

At a global level, the Global Plastic Treaty (GPT) is under negotiation. Through the endorsement by 175 nations of a UN resolution for an internationally legally binding agreement, the GPT is set to change how plastics are designed, produced, and recycled. One important principle of the Global Plastics Treaty is that a plastic-free transition has also to be a just, involving the local grassroots’ practices and interests in its solutions.

Initiatives such as #BreakFreeFromPlastic are demanding massive reductions in single-use plastics and calling out for holding corporations accountable for the waste they generate through e.g. plastic brand audits carried out by local communities worldwide. A brand audit is a participatory science initiative that involves counting and documenting the brands found on plastic waste to help identify the companies responsible for plastic pollution.

Patrik Zapata, Professor in Public Administration, School of Public Administration, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

María José Zapata Campos, Associate professor, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden