Yusuf Baluch

یوسف بلوچ
Born| 2004 (age 19-20)

Balochistan

Occupation| Human rights activist
Years active| 2020-present
Movement| School Strike for Climate

Human Rights Activist

Yusuf Baluch (born 2004 in kech, Balochistan) is an indigenous Climate justice and Human Rights activist.[1] He started activism after experiencing the first hand impacts of the climate crisis in his community. [2] He is an organizer with School Strike for Climate[3] where he organizes with the regional chapter of Fridays For Future Balochistan.

## Activism[edit]

Yusuf has been campaigning against the fossil fuels companies and banks such as standard chartered.[4][5] He has also been vocal against the multi billion project between China and Pakistan CPEC due to its huge environmental impacts on indigenous communities in Balochistan.[6] He attended COP26 along with other youth activists from MAPA (most affected people and areas) to make sure the most marginalised voices are at the table.[7][8] He spoke at the overheated event, a six-day climate event in London presented by Billie Eillish during her Happier Than Ever World Tour.[9][10]

He participated in the UNFCCC SB58 as a youth activist in Bonn,Germany. His presence aimed to drive impactful change by urging influential leaders to take urgent action. He advocated for a complete and urgent transition away from the fossil fuel industry. Through his advocacy, he highlighted the pressing need to address climate and related issues.[11][12] He participated in the people's forum held in Basel, Switzerland, where numerous activists convened to advocate for an improved financial regulation system and to voice their protest against the Bank for International Settlements.[13]

Yusuf Baluch, together with Maria Reyes and Eric Njuguna, organised various workshops discussing climate narratives and the decolonization of the climate movement in the global north, held across Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.[14][15]

## Personal life[edit]

Yusuf grew up in a small village in southern Balochistan and then later moved to Gwadar. He lived in Gwadar before moving to United Kingdom in 2021.[16]

## Threats[edit]

Yusuf's family lost their home in a flood when he was a child and they were forced to evacuate in the middle of the night, becoming one of the thousands of untold stories in Balochistan.[17] In 2020, Baluch started Fridays For Future Balochistan and began organising weekly protests.[18] However, after few months of peaceful protests, the Frontier Corps began pressuring the youth activist to stop. Baluch and the other Fridays for Future Activists were interrogated and threatened, forcing them to stop protesting publicly within Balochistan.

[19][20] Later when Baluch started protesting weekly alone was reached out by the military again and threatened of abduction if he continues advocating for the climate and human rights.

Yusuf has been harassed and threatened several times for peacefully protesting and advocating for his rights.

Yusuf currently organises from London where he is able to speak and advocate for Climate Justice and human rights.[2][16]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Yusuf Baluch: The flood in Balochistan destroyed our home [Climate Generation-17] \- Yeşil Gazete" (in Turkish). 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
2. ^ a b "Gen Z on how to save the world: young climate activists speak out". The Guardian. 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
3. ^ "Yusuf Baluch". Yusuf Baluch. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
4. ^ "7 Young Activists Share What Made Them Join the Climate Movement". Global Citizen. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
5. ^ "https://twitter.com/fffbalochistan/status/1372880480710881280". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-14. `{{cite web}}`: External link in ``|title=`` (help)
6. ^ "Yusuf Baluch: The flood in Balochistan destroyed our home [Climate Generation-17] \- Yeşil Gazete" (in Turkish). 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
7. ^ Abnett, Kate (2021-09-25). "World's youth take to the streets again to battle climate change". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
8. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "How Fridays for Future keeps the climate relevant as other crises rage | DW | 25.03.2022". DW.COM. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
9. ^ "Overheated". Overheated. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
10. ^ "Climat : le Royaume-Uni promet une COP26 « en présentiel », malgré la pression des ONG pour le report de la conférence". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
11. ^ "Greenpeace International 🌍 on Instagram: "Break free from fossil fuel influence! 🔒✊ Oil and gas representatives must be excluded from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) spaces. There must be complete transparency, and marginalised communities must be prioritised. 🎥: @mariejacquemn . . . . #EndCorporateCapture #ClimateJustice #EFFPO #SB58"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
12. ^ "Yusuf Baluch on Instagram: "I will be in Bonn for next 10 days for UNFCCC SBs ahead of COP28. So excited to represent Balochistan alongside @dhreen._.baloch , stay connected for more updates!! @fridaysforfutureba @fridaysforfuturemapa"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
13. ^ "«Intensive Gespräche» nach Eklat – Beat Jans trifft Greta Thunberg doch noch". Basler Zeitung (in German). 2023-06-24. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
14. ^ "Yusuf Baluch on Instagram: "🌸 Join us this Sunday 18th June in Amsterdam! I @ericdnjuguna and @mar1a.reyes will be delivering an open workshop for "Reimagining narratives around climate" in collaboration with @fridaysforfuturenederland In this interactive session we will examine how narratives are powerful communication tools that can shape mindsets and shift culture. They can be used to accelerate change but also to validate harm. Together we will dive into a creative and reflective process to analyze mainstream narratives about the climate crisis and reimagine them from a justice and equity angle 🌱 🕐 Time: 13 PM 📍 Location: Pieter Nieuwlandstraat 93 93 Pieter Nieuwlandstraat 1093 XN Amsterdam Netherlands 🙋🏽‍♀️ Registration: https://bit.ly/climatenarrativesworkshop (link in bio!) There is no age nor background restriction, we welcome everyone who is will to share and reflect! 😊"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-08-21. `{{cite web}}`: External link in ``|title=`` (help)
15. ^ "Fridays For Future Stockholm on Instagram: "📢 SAVE THE DATE - SATURDAY 8TH OF JULY IN STOCKHOLM 📢 . Nästa vecka hålls det workshops i Stockholm och Göteborg. Läs mer nedan och anmäl dig! . Climate Justice Activists @yusufbaluch @ericdnjuguna and @mar1a.reyes will facilitate an open workshop for "Reimagining narratives around climate" in collaboration with @fridaysforfuture.stockholm In this interactive session we will examine how narratives are powerful communication tools that can shape mindsets and shift culture. They can be used to accelerate change but also to validate harm. Together we will dive into a creative and reflective process to analyze mainstream narratives about the climate crisis and reimagine them from a justice and equity angle 🌱 🕐 Time: 13:30 - 16:30 📍 Location: Momentum, Fryshuset, Mårtendalsgatan 2-4, Stockholm 🙋🏽‍♀️ Registration: https://bit.ly/climatenarrativesworkshop4 (link in bio!) There is no age nor background restriction, we welcome everyone who is willing to share and reflect! 😊"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-08-21. `{{cite web}}`: External link in ``|title=`` (help)
16. ^ a b Post, The Sunday. "Cop26: From every continent in the world, meet the delegates who have come to Scotland to raise a voice for change". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
17. ^ "How Pakistan floods are linked to climate change". BBC News. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
18. ^ Collins, Katie (11 January 2022). "Heartbreaking loss: Climate crisis spurs push for compensation in 2022". CNET.
19. ^ Balochistan, Fridays For Future. "https://twitter.com/fffbalochistan/status/1491751810952056836". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-14. `{{cite web}}`: External link in ``|title=`` (help)
20. ^ Redação (2021-09-24). "Jovens de todo mundo voltam às ruas contra a mudança climática". Forbes Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-12-07.

* "How Pakistan floods are linked to climate change". BBC News. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-12-07.