Internationalist solidarity system focal points
Our Internationalist Solidarity System (ISS) which responds to violations and mobilises internationalist support for threatened peoples and communities, is supported by focal points in each region.
Danilo Urrea
Latin America & the Caribbean
Danilo is a philosopher from the National University of Colombia. He has been linked to Friends of the Earth International since 2003, working on territorial research processes in Colombia and Latin America, with particular focus on the privatisation, commodification and financialisation of water and on the extractive mining-energy model. In his country and across the region, he has contributed to documenting environmental issues, running grassroots and environmental education, and strengthening grassroots and community-based communications. He has worked as an international correspondent for Real World Radio. Danilo has been the Regional Facilitator for ATALC (Friends of the Earth Latin America and the Caribbean) since 2016, and is one of two regional ISS focal points.
Natalia Salvático
Latin America & the Caribbean
Natalia is a designer and illustrator for organisations focused on environment and social economies. Since joining the environmental justice movement of Friends of the Earth Argentina in 2000, she has been involved in grassroots environmental education, defending water, economic justice, defending peoples’ rights, and feminism. She was the Chair of the organisation from 2011 to 2022. Natalia is currently one of two ISS focal points for ATALC.
Kwami Kpondzo
Africa
Kwami is a campaigner for environmental, social, gender and climate justice. He fights against extractive projects in Africa and worldwide, and works with several alliances to promote peoples’ solutions to the climate crisis. He is also involved in mobilising forest-dependent communities in Africa to share their traditional knowledge and fight deforestation. Kwami holds a degree in Management and is a specialist in Conflicts Prevention and Transformation. He joined Friends of the Earth Togo in 2011, where he works as campaigns coordinator. He has been a member of Friends of the Earth Africa’s Consultative Board (2013-2016) and Friends of the Earth International’s Executive Committee (2014-2016) where he was also Treasurer (2016-2018). He currently represents Africa in the Membership Development Team and as ISS focal point.
Theiva Lingam
Asia-Pacific
Theiva Lingam is one of two focal points co-ordinating the environmental and human rights defenders work for the Asia Pacific region through the ISS. She was previously Regional Facilitator for Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific and is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Apart from her work with Friends of the Earth, Theiva is a public interest lawyer and environmental activist. She is one of the legal advisors to Sahabat Alam Malaysia/Friends of the Earth Malaysia and the Consumers' Association of Penang.
Emma Harvey
Asia-Pacific
Emma has been the Communications Coordinator for Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific since 2017 and joined the ISS team as one of two regional focal points in 2020. She holds a BA in International Community Development and is currently completing a MSc in Environmental Studies. Outside of Friends of the Earth, Emma works for a local NGO, coordinating an urban gardening project for primary school children. Based in Melbourne, Emma is hosted by Friends of the Earth Australia.
Shenna Sanchez
Europe
Shenna has dedicated herself in informal, transformative education with civil society and frontline communities in Europe and Asia since 2005. She started in the Philippines with community organising, protesting with peoples’ coalitions and research work on the rights of Indigenous People, LGBTQI+ and peasants, then moved to Belgium for a Masteral programme. Based in Friends of the Earth Europe, Shenna is the Network Development & Solidarity Officer, the regional focal point for the ISS, and a Staff Union representative. She is building the (Young) Friends of the Earth Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) Caucus, and has coordinated the School of Sustainability within the European network. She previously served in the international Membership Development Team.
