Bangladesh is one of the areas of the world most vulnerable to climate change, with sea levels rising faster than the global rate. Estimates suggest that up to 20 million Bangladeshis in low-lying areas could lose their homes by 2050.
Badrul Alam, was elected President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation (BKF), the largest peasant federation in Bangladesh. He has served on the international leadership of La Via Campesina representing the BKF. He is also a leader of a revolutionary socialist organisation in Bangladesh collaborating with the Fourth International. The BKF are heavily involved in campaigning against climate change. They have organised a series of climate caravans to take the message out to large numbers of people both across Bangladesh itself and more widely to other parts of Asia.
Like comrades in the Philippines, a central part of that work is the promotion of food sovereignty as a sustainable alternative to agribusiness – hence their relationship with Via Campesina, the international peasants movement. They were also involved in work around the Rana Plazza disaster – many of the super-exploited women workers in Dhaka are climate refugees forced to leave the rural villages from which they come by rising sea levels and salinification.
Badrul Alam is touring Britain for two weeks at the beginning of March to talk about these issues. As extreme weather has been hitting Britain over recent weeks the tour could hardly be more timely:
Central London meeting: Tuesday 4 March
7:30 pm, 62 Marchmont Street,
WC1N 1AB, Kings Cross tube
Speakers:
Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the country’s largest peasant federation.
Ashok Kumar, recently organiser for the International Union League for Brand Responsibility in Bangalore.
Derek Wall, founder of Ecosocialist International and Green Left, International Coordinator of the Green Party.
Organised by Socialist Resistance
Oxford meeting: Wednesday 5 March
7.30 pm Oxford Town Hall
with Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the country’s largest peasant federation.
Organised by Socialist Resistance
Tower Hamlets meeting Thursday 6 March
with Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the country’s largest peasant federation.
7.30pm Oxford House, Derbyshire St, Bethnal Green
Organised by Tower Hamlets Left Unity
Manchester meeting Monday March 10
with Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the country’s largest peasant federation
7pm Friends Meeting House, Mount St M2 5NS
Organised by Socialist Resistance
Leeds meeting Tuesday March 11
with Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the country’s largest peasant federation
7pm Bangladeshi Centre Roundhay Road, Leeds LS8 5AN
Organised by Socialist Resistance
Nottingham meeting Wednesday March 12
with Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the country’s largest peasant federation
7.30pm The Sumac Centre, Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, Nottingham NG7 6HX
Birmingham meeting Thursday March 13
with Badrul Alam, President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation, the country’s largest peasant federation
7pm The Lozells Methodist Community Centre, 163 Gerrard Street, Lozells, B19 2AP
Organised by Socialist Resistance