April 22 is Earth Day, and in 2017, women and men took over the streets of Washington, D.C. as part of the “March for Science” in recognition of the need to address climate change. For many women around the world, however, Earth Day truly is every day. Because land is often passed down from father to son, and because land rights are so closely tied to economic empowerment and independence, women are keenly aware of the opportunities that accompany land rights. Not only that, but in many parts of the world, land is also deeply tied to ancestral knowledge and culture. These are only some of the reasons why women are leading powerful movements for land and women’s rights. Bai Bibyaon of the Philippines, Ana Sandoval of Guatemala, and Melania Chiponda of Zimbabwe are just a few of the women leading the resistance against environmental destruction by mining companies across the world. For these women and for women everywhere, land is about dignity and justice. Illustration credit: Maria Maria Acha-Kutscher
