Lea la versión en español aquí
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Dulcinea, I am 28 years old, I am a woman, a biology teacher and an environmental activist. I am part of the environmental NGO “Defensores del Pastizal” (Grassland Advocates), and I am proud to be from the province of Corrientes, in the northeast of Argentina. Regardless of any self-concept I may have, I am mainly empathic with my surroundings, which is trying to go through “the here and now”, with peacefulness, love, hope and respect for nature, as we are all part of it.
What inspired you to do this job? What drives your passion?
I have been fond of nature since an early age. I always looked forward to summer vacations because I used to go camping with my family. When I finished high school, I decided to study biology because I wanted to learn more about all the things I used to read as a hobby. I was particularly interested in ecology. At school, I remember being fascinated with the multiple interactions within the ecosystem, so I began to explore options to study. I made the right decision with biology and began my studies at the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (National University of the Northeast). Along this journey, I got acquainted with environmental activism when I met my fellow advocates at college. In 2019, “Defensores del Pastizal” was created due to the shared concern for the advance and steamrolling of the forestry industry in Corrientes- the grassland being the most vulnerable ecosystem for extractivist production.
My professional training as a biologist gave me the opportunity to explore my beloved province through field work, which kindled my advocacy, my desire to change the future of Corrientes. Actually, this is my main motivation and what gives me a sense of purpose on a daily basis. I am passionate about discovering my own land, my culture and the communities that inhabit those territories.
What has been the impact of your work? What do you expect for the future?
I cannot only talk about myself; if there has been a positive outcome, it has been achieved collectively. We believe that our work has an impact on the community, since we focus mainly on the dissemination of information, environmental education and the empirical support of the problem through the narrative of the communities in the territory, listening to their testimonies and contributing with our scientific expertise. In that regard, I think it is essential to get engaged with them and contribute as much as possible; after all, science should be shared for the sake of the entire planet.
Sometimes, and especially in the current Argentine context, with a far-right denialist government, it is extremely hard to feel optimistic about the future. But I have found shelter in my fellow activists, my friends and family to regain strength and imagine a better and fairer future. It will be a challenging journey, and I have two options: do nothing at all or walk along that pathway; I have decided to walk.
What challenges do you face at work? What lessons have you learned from them?
I guess neglect and lack of interest, both by the government and the population itself, which is a great challenge for our work. It is so sad to see that people are not interested in their own environment, in understanding what is embodied in it and the negative impact the forestry industry has on our province. As a team, we always decide to turn powerlessness and sorrow into concrete actions through our initiatives: peaceful demonstrations, environmental education workshops, field data gathering, exchanges of ideas and debates, among other things. We always try to integrate art in our activities, which I personally find quite moving; I feel that nature is endless art, where I discovered the most beautiful palettes of colors of the most impressive work of art, ‘life’.
Can you share your favorite ORA’s Fellowship experience?
My favorite experience of ORA’s Fellowship was, definitely, the LATAM fellowship meeting in Buenos Aires at the end of 2023. Meeting so many marvelous people during those three intense days, where we were able to exchange ideas, laugh, cry, and embrace one another. Above all, we rekindled hope in our hearts to continue with the struggles in our own territories. I became aware of the fact that we are not alone, and that I want to keep on walking along the path of solidarity, love and empathy.
What’s next? What projects are your working on now or would like to develop?
We are currently working on a documentary that gathers testimonies from those in the battlefield of the forestry industry: the dwellers of the territory. Communities that have been expelled, sold, expropriated in pursuit of the “development” of the province that only benefits the same old folks. We managed to start these interviews thanks to ORA’s Fellowship; we are currently at the post-production stage. We are looking forward to sharing this work with the entire ORA’s community.
I am highly motivated by this current project, it brings about multiple emotions, but I mainly cherish the feeling of strength and resistance of those who confront extractivism.
How do you define resilience and how do you apply it daily?
I believe that living proof of resilience are the communities in the territories we are working with through the “Defensores del Pastizal” project; these people are the ones who resist and do not hand over their properties to the forestry companies. I nurture myself through their knowledge and experience, through that relentless strength to live in peace with the environment. When I feel hopeless, I remember every single person I met during this experience, and I recover the strength to go on. I believe that the initiatives I have been undertaking over the last five years have made me resilient to the oppressive capitalist and extractivist system. I want to continue along this path, resisting in community, hoping that, in a few years, our land will be redeemed and granted the peace it deserves.