Mitzi Jonelle Tan

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This 2022, YACAP has consistently advocated against the return of the Marcoses in power and is continuing to do so. The Marcos-Duterte regime spells doom for the environment. With this tandem in power, the resumption of environmentally destructive projects such as mega-dams, reclamation, and development aggression (with a private car-centric mobility plan) will continue and are expected to multiply as their track record of prioritizing profit over people and the planet prevails. In their first few months, we are already seeing how environmental defenders and activists are more threatened under this regime.

Climate reparations and finance are also in danger when the global north pays for what is due. The money that is supposedly for loss and damages, mitigation, and adaptation may end up in other anti-people and anti-environment infrastructures, or worse, their own pockets. The call for debt-cancellation as reparations wouldn’t materialize as their parents are known to be notorious debtors from international funds. Lastly, human rights violations will skyrocket. Our calls to defend the defenders need to be strengthened as we expect a dark era for human rights similar to the martial law we saw before. They’re living their lavish lifestyles without batting an eyelash about the economic and environmental impacts. They are now continuing this as they sit in power but, as in his father’s regime, the people will fight back.

As we observe the 50th year of Martial Law on September 21, 2022, only two days before the Global Climate Strike, we’ll showcase our collective struggle then and now.

“Fashion Against Fascism: Fight for Climate Justice!” is a political fashion show. As the dynamics of activism change and become more dangerous, we need to find more creative and safer ways of making our voices heard by a wider audience. We’re also seeing how the fears and taboos around activism and protesting are growing and this political fashion show aims to show that we can keep fighting and that we must.

The fashion show will be featuring merged outfits from the 70s and the present. We’ll combine them and show how we continue the struggle as we present our calls that apply both back then and now. We’ll showcase environmentally conscious wear that is repurposed from old pieces of clothing. With a gold-laced collection featuring articles with calls from different sectors such as the youth, peasant, worker, IP, scientists, women, HR, etc., we will reclaim the term “golden era”. This is our golden era of activism.

This event focuses on the calls that various sectors have been calling for then and now. Calls for the protection of environmental defenders, upholding human rights, and addressing economic crises, are shown throughout various pieces.

Different sectoral organizations will be tapped in creating their sector’s outfits to ensure that while we create aesthetically pleasing designs, we give justice to the theme and their struggle. We’ll partner with artists' organizations and clothing technology organizations to ensure the sustainability and quality of the pieces we produce. We’ll also invite different influencers, celebrities, performers, and different personalities to encourage more people to support the fashion show.

The format of the event will be hybrid in person and online with media partners to widen our online reach across the country.

yacap.org/mitzijonelle