The Right to REsist

From Trentino to Panama

“We can still see it, feel it. The gaze of Mirna, barely eighteen, her dress adorned with vivid red and blue embroidery, a newborn strapped to her back, and the anger in her voice—abandoned, unable to leave. Around her, the stench of rivers poisoned with cyanide and mercury, the acrid smell of smoke from the distance: scorched earth. She holds her chin high, her brow calm; in every strand of her ebony hair shine oceans of courage. Panama marked the final stop of "The Right to REsist": three months, 4,000 kilometres, crossing every country in Central America—Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama."

The Climate Justice Alliance defines a just transition as “a set of principles, processes, and practices shaped by a shared vision, geographically diverse yet unifying, capable of building economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative one”. In this fight, the women of rural communities, along with Indigenous women—voices often silenced even on international platforms—are key actors in resilience and resistance. They are the guardians of their territories, the pillars of their communities.

Time to stay

“We set out from my Trentino, supported by Viraçao Jangada in Trento and MUSE, a symbol of science infused with humanity, along with partnerships from RAI and Latin American broadcasters.

Thanks to Italian media, we share the reality of what we’ve seen: through reports, articles, and in-depth features that followed us throughout the journey. Upon our return, we take the stories to theatres, schools, and events— doing everything we can to carry fragments of voices and stories. We know they’re just drops in the ocean. We’ve seen so much, yet not enough. It is nostalgia, worry, and deep emotion, as our thoughts wander far away. But this is the time to stay—to walk close, while looking far ahead. I look at my Trentino and roll up my sleeves. I've seen devastation, and I’ve learned courage. I am my land, and my land needs me, too. Here and now.”

The Right to REsist is a chapter of history written by many hands. Threads woven together, telling of another possible world—a different model for human relationships. It is deep friendship, dialogue. It is roosters crowing at three in the morning. It is rice and beans, the warmth of shared moments. It is mishaps, laughter, and excitement; tears, fear, and the strength to keep going even when you feel you can’t.

Because giving up is a privilege we cannot afford.

Climate justice is nothing more than fragments of humanity refusing to be trampled underfoot.

“Together, in a hundred languages, a thousand voices, we demand our right to exist. Our right to REsist and exist.”

What we plant, how we cultivate it, how we share it—these are the roots of how we live and exist in the world.