LifeMosaic

LifeMosaic supports indigenous peoples in the humid tropics to get their voices heard, and to access the information that they need to make informed decisions about their futures (www.lifemosaic.net)

LifeMosaic supports indigenous peoples to defend their rights, territories and cultures, by producing popular education resources for indigenous communities, and by facilitating the widespread distribution of these resources. Projects focus on the impacts of large-scale land-use changes, and on self-determined strategies for development. Projects are demand-driven, useful to a wide number of communities, and developed in partnership with communities, indigenous peoples organisations, and other movements for positive social and environmental change. Resources are primarily based on community testimonies; they present complex issues in an accessible and engaging way; and support indigenous peoples right to free, prior and informed consent. Grass-roots dissemination approaches ensure that resources reach thousands of communities, and inform critical conversations, and land-use decisions.

LifeMosaic also develops and disseminates resources for use in international advocacy bringing voices from the grass-roots to decision-makers.

LifeMosaic was founded on a mandate from indigenous leaders and local, national and international NGOs attending a 2004 World Rainforest Movement meeting on oil palm and pulp and paper plantations in Jakarta, who requested that more NGOs empower communities through their campaigning by:

• Developing ways for community experiences to be shared between communities as well as helping communities to develop greater awareness of national and international issues which affect them.
• Bringing community concerns directly to international audiences (media, governments, companies) and ensuring that community concerns are integrated into international campaigning.

Projects
'Fever - A Video Guide' (see trailer) consists of 4 short films for indigenous communities to raise awareness and build knowledge about the issue of climate change and how it relates to indigenous peoples, cultures, rights and territories. In these films we hear the stories of indigenous peoples from communities in Ecuador, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Indonesia. Dubbed in 6 languages, ‘Fever’ is designed to inform and empower indigenous communities across the tropics and to be a tool for grass-roots facilitators, helping strengthen local movements in their awareness raising and advocacy work on climate change and indigenous peoples rights. The films have been well received and demand is high and they are being used extensively in communities sparking discussions and further action. Other ways that the films are being used is at training's and workshops, festivals and in policy discussions. The films are available free of charge to relevant groups.  (See below to watch films)Other film topics include Climate Change advocacy films, REDD, oil palm, pulp and paper and community organising.

LifeMosaic is a UK-based not-for-profit company limited by guarantee no. SC300597, and registered as a Scottish charity no. SC040573.