Podcast Summary
Age and Activism: Age should not limit one's ability to take action and make a difference, as demonstrated by Elizabeth Stern's activism against climate injustice throughout her 70s.
Age is just a number, and the story of Elizabeth Stern, a mid-70s Swiss woman, serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of defiance and perseverance. Despite societal expectations for her to retire and enjoy life passively, Elizabeth has spent her life taking action against injustices. Her journey began in her childhood home in the Swiss Alps and culminated in a landmark case against her government for their failure to act on the climate emergency. Through her determination and the support of other women, they challenged the status quo and changed the narrative. Today, Elizabeth continues to live an active life, leading hikes and advocating for change. Her story encourages us to never underestimate the power of individual action and the importance of standing up for what we believe in, regardless of age.
Impact of climate change on Swiss Alps: The Swiss Alps, once a source of water and sustenance, are now facing the reality of melting glaciers due to climate change, symbolized by the Pitzel Glacier's funeral march and memorial plaque, emphasizing the urgency to address this issue
The Swiss Alps, specifically the Pitzel Glacier, hold significant cultural and personal significance for Elizabeth, representing a picture-perfect image of her childhood filled with freedom, safety, and love. However, climate change has led to the glacier's demise, leaving only a small reminder of its former grandeur. This loss serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of climate change and the need for action. The Alps, once known as the "water castle of Europe," are now facing the reality of melting glaciers, raising concerns about their ability to continue providing water and sustenance to the region. The Pitzel Glacier's funeral march and memorial plaque symbolize the collective acknowledgment of this reality and the urgency to address it.
Climate Change Activism among Older Women: Older women, like Elizabeth, find inspiration, solidarity, and purpose through climate change activism groups, despite the overwhelming scale of the crisis, inspiring collective action and perseverance.
Elizabeth, a Swiss woman deeply affected by the loss of her home's natural beauty due to climate change, found inspiration and solidarity in the Klima Senorinnen, a group of 3,000 active older Swiss women. Despite the overwhelming scale of the climate crisis, Elizabeth saw it as an opportunity for action rather than despair. The Klima Senorinnen, who had a long history of activism, provided her with a sense of community and purpose. They had already taken legal action against the Swiss government for insufficient climate change efforts, inspiring Elizabeth to join their cause. The group's determination and resilience, despite facing dismissals in the Swiss courts three times, served as a powerful reminder of the importance of collective action and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Dismissive responses to climate change advocacy: Despite facing dismissive comparisons and frustration, advocates for climate change persist in their efforts, recognizing the importance of their cause and ultimately taking their case to higher legal authorities
The fight against climate change, especially for those most affected, can face dismissive responses and challenges. Audamoula and Elizabeth, two women advocating for climate action in Switzerland, faced such dismissals three times. Their efforts were compared to winter tourism and even the menopause, showing a lack of serious consideration. Despite the frustration and annoyance, they chose to continue their fight, recognizing the importance of their cause. This struggle is not unique to them; previous generations of women have also had to fight to be heard. The emotional and physical toll of campaigning can be overwhelming, but the determination to keep going is crucial. In the end, the decision to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights demonstrated their unwavering commitment to making a difference.
Climate Change and Human Rights: Swiss women's historic win at European Court of Human Rights recognized climate change as a human rights issue, inspiring similar cases against European countries
A group of Swiss women made history by taking their country to the European Court of Human Rights over the issue of climate change. After a long and expensive journey, they won a landmark ruling with a 16-1 vote. The women, led by lawyer Cordelia Barr, argued that the Swiss government had violated their human rights by not doing enough to combat climate change. The case gained international attention, with other groups and individuals also bringing similar cases against European countries. The ruling marked a significant milestone in recognizing climate change as a human rights issue. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, the women's perseverance paid off, sending a powerful message that individual actions can make a difference.
Climate Change and Human Rights: The European Court of Human Rights ruled that states must protect their citizens from the wider impact of climate change under Article 8, the right to private and family life.
The landmark European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in favor of a group of young Swiss activists, who sued their government for insufficient climate action, has set a significant legal precedent. Sixteen of the judges found a violation of Article 8, the right to private and family life, stating that states must protect their citizens from the wider impact of climate change. However, the victory was met with backlash, including hate speech and derogatory comments, particularly against the women involved. Despite their hopes to inspire more climate action and create a new legal precedent, the Swiss government may not honor the judgement, leading to controversy and criticism. The case serves as a warning to governments worldwide to take climate change seriously and protect their citizens from its impacts.
Swiss climate change policies, ECHR ruling: The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Switzerland's climate change policies violated human rights, sparking debate and criticism, including calls for the country to withdraw from the ECHR. The ruling, which recognized climate action as a fundamental right, is part of a growing trend of climate cases in courts worldwide.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling on Switzerland's climate change policies sparked intense debate and criticism, with some politicians advocating for the country to withdraw from the ECHR altogether. Swiss women who brought the case were disappointed that their own judges did not listen to their concerns, leading them to seek justice in Strasbourg. Despite arguments against the ruling, including financial burdens and effective climate strategies, the sexist undertones of the criticism were evident. Elizabeth, one of the women involved, found the debate emotional and dismissive of the urgency of climate action. The Swiss Parliament voted to ignore the ruling, but the government still needs to submit a plan to the Council of Europe in response. While resistance to court rulings is common, outright refusal to act is unprecedented. The number of climate change cases in courts worldwide is increasing, with recent rulings in South Korea and India recognizing climate action as a fundamental right. The ECHR alone has seven more climate cases coming up.
Swiss climate activism: Swiss climate activists remain committed to fighting for climate action despite setbacks and plan to continue putting pressure on the federal council for better outcomes. Elizabeth encourages taking action, no matter how small, and staying optimistic.
Despite setbacks, Elizabeth and her fellow activists remain committed to fighting for Switzerland's climate action. The Klima Senatden's ruling was just the beginning, and they plan to continue putting pressure on the federal council for a better outcome. Elizabeth, a senior activist, encourages others to overcome feelings of hopelessness and helplessness by taking action, no matter how small. She believes that being an optimist and continuing to fight is more interesting than giving up. The women in this fight, who have had to fight to be heard, have sacrificed their retirement by taking the long view. The Olympics podcast, "State of Play," explores how the Olympic Games change cities and the people who are affected by these transformations.