Julie Chapman says that despite its urgency, climate change is not high on the list of priorities for most people living in poverty in the Downtown Eastside. 'A lot of people are worrying about the basics: where they're going to get their next meal, have a shower, get clean clothes, somewhere they can sleep that's relatively safe and welcoming,' she says. Photo by Francesca Fionda.

As world leaders make potentially generation altering decisions about the future of planet Earth, people on the margins are experiencing first hand the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. A collaborative storytelling endeavour called the Climate Disaster Project - which employs a trauma-informed co-creative process - collects first-hand accounts of what it was like to survive recent heatwaves and wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. Megaphone vendor Julie Chapman writes about experiencing the heat dome phenomena last year while working as a peer support outreach worker for Sex Workers United Against Violence.

Megaphone’s Climate Disaster Project: “It’s a shame that it took something drastic to realise that people needed help”

DJ O'Brien collapsed in her building's elevator when record-high temperatures hit the Downtown Eastside last summer. 'That's how I found out I had COPD,' she says. Photo by Rob Smith.

As world leaders make potentially generation altering decisions about the future of planet Earth, people on the margins are experiencing first hand the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. A collaborative storytelling endeavour called the Climate Disaster Project - which employs a trauma-informed co-creative process - collects first-hand accounts of what it was like to survive recent heatwaves and wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. DJ is an outreach and harm reduction worker in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside who is a member of the Sts’aies Nation. She co-founded Sex Workers United Against Violence. With her naloxone training and kit, she has also saved lives. And that’s the work she was doing when the western North America heatwave hit her community.

Megaphone’s Climate Disaster Project: “It was hard for anybody to take care of themselves”

Suzanne Kilroy/Huculak felt devastated by the effects of fires and flooding last summer. 'People are dying. Everybody's tired. I'm so tired. I'm really tired. I don't want our people to suffer anymore,' she says. Photo by Sean Holman.

As world leaders make potentially generation altering decisions about the future of planet Earth, people on the margins are experiencing first hand the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. A collaborative storytelling endeavour called the Climate Disaster Project - which employs a trauma-informed co-creative process - collects first-hand accounts of what it was like to survive recent heatwaves and wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. Suzanne Kilroy/Huculak grew up in the Thompson Okanagan First Nation gathering food and fishing with her family. Later, she became a sex worker and drug dealer in Vancouver, before finding her way home again. Suzanne has a unique connection with the land, making its degradation particularly brutal. She writes about being with family during the 2021 wildfires, and the necessary evacuations that took place.

Megaphone’s Climate Disaster Project: “In order to survive, you have to be a dreamer”

In the face of poverty and climate change, Mike McNeeley tries to stay hopeful. But he likens it to being a moth trying to fly with half a wing. Photo by Amy Romer.

As world leaders make potentially generation altering decisions about the future of planet Earth, people on the margins are experiencing first hand the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. A collaborative storytelling endeavour called the Climate Disaster Project - which employs a trauma-informed co-creative process - collects first-hand accounts of what it was like to survive recent heatwaves and wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. Mike McNeeley, who now works as a photographer for Megaphone, once suffered a severe allergic reaction to the air pollution from oil refineries nearby his family home, resulting in a move. Experiencing the 2021 heat dome could have been triggering for Mike, his experience with the man made causes of climate change so vivid in his mind.

Megaphone’s Climate Disaster Project: “We were the crabs in the pot. And we were coming to a slow boil”

Peter Thompson, who is a grandfather of four, believes the health of the planet is of utmost importance. Without Mother Earth, we have nothing, he says. Photo by Sean Holman.

As world leaders make potentially generation altering decisions about the future of planet Earth, people on the margins are experiencing first hand the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. A collaborative storytelling endeavour called the Climate Disaster Project - which employs a trauma-informed co-creative process - collects first-hand accounts of what it was like to survive recent heatwaves and wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. Megaphone vendor Peter Thompson’s input in the project resulted in this story about when, in the summer of 2021, he was living in a basement suite with his brother and heard his hometown had been destroyed during the heatwave that blanketed western North America.

Megaphone’s Climate Disaster Project: “I pray for them that they all get their lives back”

Yvonne Mark recalls a 'pretty grim summer' in 2021 trying to keep cool and help others during an unprecedented and deadly heatwave that sent temperatures soaring in the Lower Mainland. Photo by Sophie Thomas.

As world leaders make potentially generation altering decisions about the future of planet Earth, people on the margins are experiencing first hand the impact of environmental degradation and climate change. A collaborative storytelling endeavour called the Climate Disaster Project - which employs a trauma-informed co-creative process - collects first-hand accounts of what it was like to survive recent heatwaves and wildfires in British Columbia, Canada. Megaphone’s Yvonne Mark, who spent summers growing up at Gray Bay running on the beaches, writes about living alone in her studio apartment during last year’s heatwave and wonders what she can do to make a difference.

Megaphone’s Climate Disaster Project: “When you’re so used to disaster in your life, you learn to go with the flow”

The International Network of Street Papers Global News Round Up is produced monthly by staff at INSP, summarizing key stories about homelessness, poverty, human rights and other topics on the radar of street papers.

International Network of Street Papers Global News Round Up (November 2022)  

A poster depicting Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (Kanaka Maoli) a Native Hawaiian teacher, cultural practitioner and filmmaker who uses digital media to protect and perpetuate Indigenous languages and traditions.

INSP has once again partnered with Nia Tero, a non-profit which works with Indigenous communities to promote their work and culture, and social art and design lab Amplifier to make available posters profiling a group of female Indigenous leaders from communities across the world in an effort to highlight their essential part in working towards solutions to tackle the alarming effects of climate change and environmental degradation.

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