Esmeralda de Belgique
on Civil Disobedience as a Force for Nature
Can you imagine a Princess being arrested?
Probably not, but “the climate crisis calls for civil disobedience.”
This Princess is anything but fictional. Her name is Esmeralda de Belgique standing proud for being arrested after attending a protest led by Extinction Rebellion: “Civil disobedience all through history has had a big impact. If it's non-violent but determined, it can greatly impact and change things.”
People sometimes say: “How can you be against the law?”
That’s when Esmeralda replies: “If the law is not right, of course, you have to denounce it!”
Her call for more people to join peaceful street demonstrations and protests has been heard. Her praise for today’s youth climate advocates, who she believes are the most effective change messengers of our times, has not been unnoticed: "Young people have done incredible work! They have put the climate at the top of political agendas and they continue with remarkable perseverance. But they can’t do it alone!"
Esmeralda de Belgique is a force of nature and for nature.
She is a journalist, author, human rights campaigner - particularly for the rights of women and indigenous peoples - an environmental activist and keynote speaker who has spoken out courageously on many sensitive issues. The rebellious Princess-Activist serves as the Chair of Friendship Belgium, the Honorary President of CARE Belgium and is a WWF Ambassador. One of her most beloved and memorable experiences was when she climbed with her daughter on Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the amazing Neema Namadamu’s HERO WOMEN RISING.
Deeply ingrained in her soul is the belief that we all have a responsibility to confront the past and build a better society in the future, a belief inspired by her late father who was one the first Europeans to visit the Xingu National Park in Brazil during the sixties and spend time living with indigenous peoples. Esmeralda is now the President of the Leopold III Fund for Nature Exploration, a fund that not only scientifically explores nature but also aims to protect it and the Indigenous communities who are the best custodians of our biodiversity.
Her profound love for the Amazon is reflected in the documentaries she co-produced with Gert-Peter BRUCH, such as “Protecting the Amazon” or “Amazonia, The Heart of Mother Earth”, a movie created with Jojo Mehta’s Stop Ecocide International, which aims to mobilize at a global level on the necessity to protect all indigenous territories in Brazil and call for the recognition of an international law criminalizing ecocide.
Read Esmeralda de Belgique’s answers for Inspirators and discover a one-of-a-kind Princess who teaches good disobedience:
Thank you, Esmeralda, for being a Rebellious Princess!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Esmeralda de Belgique
Title: Author, Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker, Keynote Speaker, Activist
LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/esmeralda-de-belgique-4078961b0
Country of origin: Belgium
Country you currently live in: United Kingdom
Your definition of Regeneration: Regeneration makes me think of the Japanese broken pottery metaphor of “Kintsugi”, the art of mending the areas of breakage with lacquer mixed with powdered gold or silver.
“Our lives are infused with fragility, setbacks and unpredictability. The bowl may be broken but it can be pieced together with more beauty.”
Our world is also broken and being destroyed but we can still repair it and build something stronger and beautiful.
Main business challenge you face: The multiple crises we are facing - climate, biodiversity, inequality, conflicts - are all interconnected but the message of extreme urgency and danger is not reaching enough people. We should all unite to pressure our leaders to act and invest massively for people and the planet.
Main driver that keeps you going: Hope in action.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: I don’t know… Maybe curiosity and solidarity.
The trait you most value in others: Emotional intelligence, moral courage, and compassion.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Being in nature. Hiking in the mountains, walking on a beach or in a forest. Reading and learning about History and different cultures. Talking to young people who challenge me, who give me energy, ideas and hope. Among them my children, of course!
The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path:
First of all, my father, who taught me so much about the environment and the importance of First Nations peoples’ history and culture.
Later, the many indigenous leaders I met, particularly women from the Amazon region.
In Ecuador: Patricia, Nina and Helena Gualinga, Mirian Cisneros, Nemonte Nenquimo.
In Brazil, Sonia Guajajara, Vanda Witoto, Puyr Tembe, Valdelice Veron, Alessandra Munduruku, Thaline Karadja and many more. They are incredibly courageous women fighting for their rights, their territories, our biodiversity and our future.
A starting point for companies or professionals that are beginning the regeneration journey: Use your brain and your heart. Connect to nature. We know that the system is not working for us humans and for nature. It is time to change radically.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: There is so much greenwashing from companies, especially from the polluters!
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: Don’t give up! This is not a sprint but a marathon and we are making progress. Action brings hope and joy.
Books that had a great impact on you / Must-Reads for any regenerative professional:
The Nutmeg’s Curse by Amitav Ghosh which explains how Western colonialism is the root cause of the climate and biodiversity crisis.
All We Can Save by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine Wilkinson.
Regenesis by George Monbiot.
Bright New World by Cindy Forde, a beautiful and inspiring children’s book
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again: “My Octopus Teacher”, “Roma”, “The Edge of Democracy”, “Life is Beautiful”.
Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently: Too many news websites. Too many social media platforms also!
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: Jazz, Latin American music, classical. All kinds of music depending on the moment and the mood.
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: The desert in Namibia and in Chile. The Brazilian Amazon forest.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow: Young activists from all over the world, indigenous and local community leaders and especially women in all those groups!
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: The power of the law. There are more and more court cases against governments or companies for lack of action against the climate crisis or for environmental damages. Nature rights laws exist now in more than 25 countries in the world and a growing number of nations are examining making ecocide a crime.
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: There is so much more awareness about the climate crisis and biodiversity loss than 10 years ago. There are so many citizens’ positive initiatives. Businesses and enterprises are also changing.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: The climate chaos is accelerating, species are disappearing and our leaders are wasting time and money on other issues. We are witnessing more conflicts and competition when we need collaboration and solidarity.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Courage, compassion and thinking out of the box.
The Inspirator you are endorsing for a future edition is:
Mamta Borgoyary
Hilda Flavia Nakabuye
O-e Paiakan Kaiapo
The quote that inspires you:
“Let every breath, every word and every step make Mother Earth proud of us." (Amit Ray)
Your quote that will inspire us:
