Petrochemicals, Plastics, and Politics
How the fossil fuel industry has taken over our lives and what it means
A 4-day workshop organized by the Centre for Financial Accountability in collaboration with Sambhaavnaa Institute
December 14-17Â
About the workshop
Why are some groups of people calling the plastic ban a false solution? Where does plastic come from? How are petrochemicals and plastics related? What do we need to do to end plastic pollution?
The workshop aims to help the participant understand what it takes to make plastics: from oil exploration, transportation of crude oil, refining, manufacturing of petrochemicals which are the raw materials for plastics, and the production of plastics.
Objectives
Understand the relationship between the oil – petrochemical – plastics industryÂ
Dive deep into the petrochemical and plastics industries – structure, financesÂ
Unpack the popular narrative around plastics being an end-of-life issue, creating false solutionsÂ
Explore real solutions and elements of a just transitionÂ
Methodology
The program shall use a variety of methodologies including interactive lectures and discussions facilitated by subject experts, live experience sharing by activists, film screenings and collective reflection, readings, and presentations, and group and individual exercises, amongst others, to enable participants to reflect on their current understanding and help deepen the same.
Who is this workshop for: This is a call to all teachers, students, activists, community mobilizers, and concerned citizens, who are deeply concerned about this state of affairs today. We invite young minds to come together, and use this opportunity to sharpen their understanding and capacities to engage with their surroundings.
Language: The primary medium of communication will be English
Resource Persons:
Dharmesh Shah: is a public policy researcher who is also a senior advisor for the Delhi-based Lawyers Initiative for Environment and Forests. He also co-coordinates the global coalition of civil society engaging with the ongoing negotiations on the global plastics treaty.
Om Prakash Singh: He is a senior advisor at the Centre for Financial Accountability
Shibu Nair: has been active in movements and campaigns related to the environment and toxins since 1991. He entered the realm of environmental activism by organizing environmental education programs for schools in Kerala. He is one of the pioneers of the zero waste movement in India and led the zero waste campaigns and programs for Thanal – in South India. He is currently the Organics Coordinator at GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives)
Swathi Seshadri – Swathi is the team lead, of the Oil and Gas Team at the Centre for Financial Accountability. She has worked extensively on issues related to development and tourism.
Soumya Dutta: Soumya is associated with the environmental movement of India and is a key coordinator of MAUSAM (Movement for Advancing Understanding on Sustainability And Mutuality) and Friends of the Earth, India. He is also the co-convener of the South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis (SAPACC), a board member of Green Peace-India Environment Trust, and a Founding member: India-Climate-Justice (ICJ).
Dates and Venue: December 14 – 17 2022, Sambhaavnaa Institute, VPO – Kandbari, Tehsil – Palampur, District – Kangra, PIN 176061, Himachal Pradesh
To know more about this workshop and to register, follow this link- https://www.sambhaavnaa.org/programs/petrochemicals-plastics-and-politics/