Tan's activism started in 2017 after meeting with indigenous leaders in her country. This made her realize that collective action and systemic change are necessary to create a more just and green society.[2]
2019
In 2019, Tan co-founded Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP),[8] the Fridays For Future (FFF) organization of the Philippines,[2] following climate demonstrations around the world.[7] Tan is the lead convener[9][10] and international spokesperson[2][11][12] of YACAP. Tan is also a Fridays for Future activist in the Philippines,[13] and spokesperson.[14]
In September 2020, Tan was part of a move to return to 'safe' climate protests.[15] In late 2020, Tan was one of the volunteers who organised Mock COP26,[16][17] an online youth-led climate conference with delegates from 140 countries and which was inspired by COP26.[18] She also gave a talk at Mock COP26 on being an activist living where activism is equated with terrorism.[19][20] Commenting on Mock COP26 Tan told The Guardian "They're making sure that the voices of the most affected areas are amplified, and making sure that we have a space and we're not just tokenised."[21] She was one of the activists to take part in the Fridays For Future 'Pass the Mic' campaign, also in late 2020, to request that David Attenborough pass on his Instagram account to youth advocates, particularly from the Global South, in order to make effective use of his platform for climate activism.[6][14][22]
In November 2020 Tan backed the Climate Live series of international concerts to be held in 2021.[23]
Tan's organisation went into action following the 2020 back-to-back hurricanes in the Philippines to help the most impacted communities, including by feeding the hungry and talking to them about the problems they faced.[24]
2021
Tan speaking at a rally in Manila, 2023.
Tan is also one of the Fridays for Future activists leading the 2021 Clean Up Standard Chartered campaign of Fridays for Future, a divestment campaign calling on Standard Chartered Bank to divest from companies involved in the coal industry around the world.[25][26]
Tan has addressed gender stereotypes and sexism that she faces in her activism, as women are often ignored or dismissed. She has also noted that climate education is typically "alienating, Western, too technical, and not empowering at all," in relation to the approach that she takes as an activist.[27] Tan has also spoken up about "red-tagging," a practice of government officials and supporters in the Philippines where activists and opposition are branded as communists or terrorists, and how it has negative effects on the participation of the youth in the climate movement in her country.[28]
Tan has provided inspiration to others, such as the Indonesian youth activist Salsabila Khairunnisa.[29]
Tan along with four other activists from MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas) countries, Eyal Weintraub (Argentina) Disha A Ravi (India), Kevin Mtai (Kenya), and Laura Verónica Muñoz (Colombia) along with Greta Thunberg (Sweden) announced a new wave of climate strikes the 2020s.[32] While announcing climate strikes Tan has called for "annual binding carbon targets and immediate cuts in emissions in all sectors of our economy."[33] She also said: "If we don't act now, we won't even have a chance to achieve those 2030 and 2050 goals that world leaders keep talking about."[34]
"United Against the Climate Crisis". nhm.ac.uk. Natural History Museum, London. February 16, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan is a climate justice activist based in Metro Manila, Philippines. She is the convenor and international spokesperson of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), the Fridays For Future (FFF) of the Philippines. She became an activist in 2017 after integrating with indigenous leaders of her country, which pushed her to realise that collective action and system change is what we need for a just and greener society.
Chakraborty, Moumita (March 21, 2020). "#DigitalStrike: The world takes the climate fight online". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist from Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, expresses, "Digital strikes are a good way to maintain momentum during this time of quarantine. ... ."
Harvey, Fiona (September 25, 2020). "Young people resume global climate strikes calling for urgent action". The Guardian. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, an activist, said: "We Filipinos are among the most impacted, ranking second in the latest global climate risk index, yet our contributions to greenhouse gas emissions are so little. ..."
Porter, Fien (September 25, 2020). "Klimaatjongeren in de frontlinie: 'Wij zijn meer dan een triest verhaal'"[Climate youth on the front line: 'We are more than a sad story'] (in Dutch). Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi is 22 jaar en woont in Manilla in de Filipijnen. Vorig jaar richtte ze de organisatie YACAP op, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, naar aanleiding van de wereldwijde klimaatbetogingen.
Arkin, Fatima (December 10, 2020). "Mock COP26 calls for rapid action on climate change". SciDev.Net. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, co-founder of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, an alliance of young climate activists, ... "I'm here not anymore because of anger and fear, but because of love for the people and the environment, knowing that with the youth and the marginalised sectors of society fighting together for a better future nothing is impossible," she says.
Subingsubing, Krixia (September 21, 2019). "Philippines joins global wave of climate protests". INQUIRER.net. INQUIRER Group of Companies (IGC). Retrieved February 19, 2021. "The world is on fire anSchool strike for climated we refuse to inherit its ashes," said Mitzi Jonelle Tan, lead convener of the Youth Advocates for Climate Action in the Philippines (Yacap) that led the strikes in UP [University of the Philippines].
Cabico, Gaea Katreena (September 25, 2020). "'No Planet B': Filipino climate protectors want leaders to act immediately on climate crisis". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved February 19, 2021. "Typhoons, droughts, rising sea levels, we experience these every day. We are the second most vulnerable country in the world to the climate crisis, yet our contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions are so little," Mitzi Jonelle Tan, international spokesperson of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, said.
De Vera-Ruiz, Ellalyn (September 29, 2020). "Environment advocates call for PH climate emergency action plan". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, international spokesperson of the leading climate strike group Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines said "the declaration of a climate emergency shouldn't stop at just stating the obvious that there is one."
Kia, Kara (November 18, 2020). "Greta Thunberg, David Attenborough, and Environmentalism's White Saviour Problem". Popsugar. Group Nine Media Inc. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Comments on behalf of Fridays For Future were provided by Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Youth Advocates For Climate Action Philippines), Ina-Maria Shikongo (Friday's For Future Windhoek, Namibia), Ayshka Najib (FFF Digital), Flora Beverley (UK), Sofía Gutiérrez (FFF Colombia), Disha A Ravi (FFF India), Chelsea Webster (Canada), and Helena Bennett (UK).
Goering, Laurie (September 18, 2020). "Climate strikers plan 'safe' return to protests, Greta Thunberg says". Reuters. Retrieved February 19, 2021. "We need to put people over profit and any politician that cannot prioritise this needs to step down now," urged Mitzi Jonelle Tan, an activist from the Philippines.
Murray, Jessica (November 10, 2020). "'We want real action': young activists aim to fill void on climate with Mock Cop26". The Guardian. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a volunteer from Manila in the Philippines, also found the approach of Mock Cop26 refreshing. "They're making sure that the voices of the most affected areas are amplified, and making sure that we have a space and we're not just tokenised," said the 22-year-old. "Being able to connect with 141 countries and build real relationships and connections – that's what I'll take away from it."
KJØLLESDAL, BENTE (November 27, 2020). "Unge aktivistar arrangerer klimatoppmøte: – Dei vaksne kan kopiere heimeleksa vår"[Young activists arrange climate summit: - The adults can copy our homework]. Framtida.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved February 19, 2021. Vi kan ikkje vente eit år til, fordi klimakrisa ventar ikkje eit år til, seier Mitzi Jonelle Tan på e-post til Framtida.no. 22-åringen frå Filippinane er ein av dei mange unge klimaaktivistane som reagerte med vantru då årets klimatoppmøte i Glasgow vart utsett til november 2021 grunna koronapandemien.
Hughes, Eleonore (December 8, 2020). "Young climate activists adapt to pandemic world". the japan times. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Tan's activities in the Philippines are normally face-to-face, including going to classrooms to give talks about climate change.
Benjamin, Patrick (November 10, 2020). "Mock COP26: the young activists staging their own climate summit". Dazed Digital. Jefferson Hack, Rankin. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Phoebe Hanson: ... Personally, a highlight for me at our event will be the Philippines activist Mitzi Jonelle Tan, she has sent us the most incredible talk about what it's like being an activist in a country where being an activist is seen as an act of terrorism.
Westwater, Hannah (November 23, 2020). "Young people take charge of climate crisis talks with Mock COP26". The Big Issue. Big Issue Company Ltd. Retrieved February 19, 2021. COP26 president and UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma was scheduled to speak at the opening of the youth conference, ... Mock COP26 will direct attention to the countries most at risk from the climate crisis. That includes a talk from 22-year-old Mitzi Jonelle Tan, an activist based in the Philippines where a new anti-terrorism law described as "dangerous" by human rights campaigners puts climate activists at risk.
Rosane, Olivia (November 19, 2020). "Young Climate Leaders Launch Mock COP26 To Push for Climate Ambition". EcoWatch. Remedy Review LLC. Retrieved February 19, 2021. "They're making sure that the voices of the most affected areas are amplified, and making sure that we have a space and we're not just tokenised," 22-year-old volunteer Mitzi Jonelle Tan from Manilla in the Philippines told The Guardian.
Davies, Sophie (November 11, 2020). "Climate activists urge Attenborough to pass the mic on Insta". Reuters. Group Nine Media Inc. Retrieved February 19, 2021. "The campaign focuses on making sure that youth activists, especially from the Global South are empowered and able to share their stories in their own way," Mitzi Jonelle Tan, from Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Homewood, Ben (November 20, 2020). "Climate Live international concert series announced for 2021". Music Week. Future. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, 23, convener of Youth Advocates For Climate Action Philippines, added: "We have just experienced four typhoons in the span of a month. ... This is the climate crisis, ... we desperately need more people out on the streets if we want to see change. Climate Live is the perfect way to do that."
"Young climate activists demand action and inspire hope". UNICEF. January 18, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, an activist from Manila, has been campaigning for climate justice. As the Philippines was hit by two back-to-back hurricanes in 2020, her organization sprang into action – feeding the communities left hungry and asking them about their problems and how they felt after the storm. "This isn't just about the weather and the environment. It's about justice."
Taylor, Michael (December 9, 2020). "No such thing as 'sustainable' palm oil, says Indonesian youth activist". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Khairunnisa, who is inspired by other climate activists such as Sweden's Greta Thunberg and Mitzi Jonelle Tan in the Philippines, said Jaga Rimba has advised student campaigns against deforestation on Sumatra island, in Kalimantan and Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua.
"In nome della solidarietà climatica, ritornano i Fridays for Future"[In the name of climate solidarity, Fridays for Future are back]. MO.be (in Italian). Wereldmediahuis vzw. September 25, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2021. Mitzi Jonelle Tan, un'attivista dei Fridays for Future di 22 anni, ha denunciato il governo delle Filippine per non essere riuscito a proteggere le persone sia dai cambiamenti climatici, sia dalla pandeia: "Danno priorità ai ricchi piuttosto che ai poveri, non stanno ascoltando la scienza".
Rocha, Laura (December 17, 2020). ""Luchando por nuestro presente, no sólo por nuestro futuro": jóvenes retoman las huelgas globales por la crisis climática"["Fighting for our present, not just for our future": young people take up the global strikes for the climate crisis]. infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved February 19, 2021. Los jóvenes agrupados en los movimientos de #FridaysForFuture de los países del MAPA (personas y zonas más afectadas, por sus siglas en inglés), Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Filipinas), Eyal Weintraub (Argentina), Disha A Ravi (India), Kevin Mtai (Kenya), Laura Verónica Muñoz (Colombia), se unieron a Greta Thunberg de Suecia para anunciar una nueva ola de huelgas climáticas mundiales ...
Queally, Jon (January 13, 2021). "Youth Climate Movement Announces Next Global Strikes". Truthout. Ziggy West Jeffery. Retrieved February 19, 2021. If we don't act now, we won't even have the chance to deliver on those 2030, 2050 targets that world leaders keep on talking about," said Mitzi Jonelle Tan from the Philippines, one of the group's organizers. "What we need now are not empty promises, but annual binding carbon targets and immediate cuts in emissions in all sectors of our economy.
Redazione (Editorial Staff) (January 22, 2021). ""Politica continua a tradire le nuove generazioni", il 16 marzo sciopero contro la crisi climatica"["Politics continues to betray the new generations", March 16 strike against the climate crisis]. Genova24.it (in Italian). Edinet Srl. Retrieved February 19, 2021. "If we don't act now, we won't even have a chance to achieve those 2030 and 2050 goals that world leaders keep talking about," said Mitzi Jonelle Tan from the Philippines.
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