Poor and small countries are facing the ill effects of climate change [caused largely] by the rich and bigger countries. Nepal is facing a big share of the climate problems. We want to send our message to the global powers from the land of the Mount Everest that - We Are Watching you all.” –Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, Peasant Leader in Nepal

We Are Watching is a globally participative campaign that rally ‘round an enormous flag, the size of a 10-storey building, created by the Swiss artist Dan Acher. The flag features a huge eye composed of thousands of faces of people from 190 countries who join the campaign, and they are not alone. The “eyes of the world” flag tells world leaders that their citizens are keeping a close eye on their actions to limit and reverse climate change. AFA is using the flag to tell the international community that farmers in Asia are urgently asking world leaders to act against climate change.

Photo: We are Watching / Dan Acher

Seven countries in Asia raised smaller versions of Acher’s flag at local events ahead of COP26. Their campaign draws attention to the fact that smallholder farmers have been watching their leaders make promises at summits such as this one for decades. The message today is that their citizens are now requesting action.

Farmers’ organisations campaigned in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines. The discussions in Lao People’s Democratic Republic brought a diverse range of participants together from farmers to development agencies (such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD] and the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN]) to discuss climate change and its effect on farming in the region. Farmers wore t‑shirts with the image of the eye and used social media to raise awareness of the event and of their issues. In India, farmers used videos and photos to engage other farmers and government agencies in discussions about the need for climate resilient agriculture and fisheries.

What the farmers are asking for

Members of AFA are using the time leading up to COP26 to call on their national governments to seriously address climate change issues and to consider AFA’s requests such as direct climate funding, recognition of land rights, ending biased subsidies, and recognising the climate roles of smallholders, among others. Farmers, pastoralists, fisher communities and indigenous peoples want to be recognised as important partners in national and international climate change solutions.

Given the fundamental role of agriculture in Asia, the effects of climate change on crop production threaten the economic progress in the region and the welfare of family farmers and the greater population.

We’re joining the We Are Watching Campaign to call on world leaders attending the COP26 to recognise family farmers as innovators and solution providers against the negative effects of climate change. We also call on them to invest in family farmers and their organisations by establishing a Farmers’ Empowerment and Climate Resiliency Trust Fund, which will enable, among others, the scaling up of solutions.” – Esther Penunia, Secretary-General of AFA   

Photo: AFA

The original We Are Watching flag has been raised at key climate events in cities around the world to remind leaders that the eyes of the world are on them, and their citizens intend to hold their leaders accountable.

The AFA campaign in Asia is intended to let Asian leaders know that AFA members are not only watching but also ready to work toward a better future. They know that the experiences and knowledge that farmers  bring to the problems of climate change can no longer be ignored. Farmers must be included in their countries’ climate change strategies.

We, farmers in Asia, join the global call to action against climate change. We call on the world leaders attending the COP26 to recognise family farmers as solution providers and to invest in establishing a Farmers’ Empowerment and Climate Resiliency Trust Fund. We are watching you, so act now. Act now, for our future.” – AFA website

-Web story by the Forest and Farm Facility and AFA

 AFA is supported by the Forest and Farm Facility, a partnership between FAO, the International Institute for Environment and Development, IUCN, and AgriCord.