Xiye Bastida Biography: Get To Know The Climate Activist and Co-Founder of Re-Earth Initiative

Xiye Bastida is a name that has become synonymous with climate activism, particularly among youth. Born in Mexico and raised in a small town outside of Mexico City, Bastida’s upbringing in an Indigenous community and her parents’ environmentalism fueled her passion for climate justice.

This young activist has since become a prominent voice in the Fridays For Future movement, co-founding the Re-Earth Initiative and speaking at various conferences and events about Indigenous cosmology, land management, and the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities.

In this blog, we will explore Xiye Bastida biography and delve into her contributions to the climate activism movement and her efforts to make the movement more inclusive and accessible to all.

From Drought to Flood: How Climate Change Ignited Xiye Bastida’s Passion for Environmental Justice

Xiye Bastida’s upbringing in San Pedro Tultepec, a small town outside of Mexico City, instilled in her a deep appreciation for the environment. Her father, an environmentalist, taught her that humans have a responsibility to live in balance with nature and to leave everything better than they found it. This philosophy is a main tenet of Indigenous cosmology, which Bastida also learned from her father. However, Bastida also witnessed firsthand how climate change can have devastating effects on small communities like hers.

In 2015, San Pedro Tultepec suffered from extreme drought, which made it difficult for farmers to grow crops and for people to access clean water. Then, the town experienced massive flooding during the summer, which destroyed homes and displaced families. Bastida realized that the impact of climate change was not evenly distributed and that marginalized communities like hers were often hit the hardest.

Bastida’s family eventually had to flee to New York City to escape the flooding. There, she joined a high school environmental club and started speaking publicly about climate justice and Indigenous rights. She also began to mobilize other young people for the first climate strike in March 2019, which brought out 300,000 people in New York City alone.

Bastida’s personal experiences with the impacts of climate change have fueled her passion for environmental justice and her commitment to making the climate movement more inclusive and accessible to all.

The Teenage Climate Activist Who Mobilized 600 Students for the First Climate Strike in NYC

Xiye Bastida’s move to New York City marked a turning point in her climate activism. She joined a high school environmental club and quickly became one of its leaders, steering club activities from watching movies about recycling plastic to writing letters to politicians. Bastida’s passion for climate justice and her ability to inspire others soon led her to become involved in larger movements.

In March 2019, Bastida helped mobilize 600 students from her school to participate in the first climate strike in New York City. The strike was part of the Fridays For Future movement, which was started by Greta Thunberg in Sweden and quickly spread around the world. The strike brought out 300,000 people in New York City alone and was a turning point in the global climate movement.

 

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A post shared by Xiye Bastida (@xiyebeara)

Bastida’s leadership skills and ability to mobilize others have continued to make an impact. She has spoken at various conferences and events, including the United Nations World Urban Forum, the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training, and the 2021 Biden Climate Summit. She has also been named one of Teen Vogue’s 21 under 21, Refinery29’s Most Likely to Save the Planet, and one of the most influential Latinxs by Time Magazine.

Bastida’s work in the Fridays For Future movement and her advocacy for climate justice and Indigenous rights have made her a leading figure in the climate movement. Her ability to mobilize young people and speak out about the impacts of climate change on marginalized communities has inspired others to take action and has helped to make the climate movement more diverse and inclusive.

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Co-Founder of the Re-Earth Initiative and All We Can Save: Making Climate Action Accessible for All

Xiye Bastida’s commitment to making the climate movement more inclusive and accessible has led her to co-found the Re-Earth Initiative. The Re-Earth Initiative is a non-profit organization that aims to make climate action more accessible to all by providing resources and opportunities for young people, particularly those from marginalized communities. The initiative aims to create a space where young people can learn about climate change, leadership, and advocacy, regardless of their background or experience level.

Xiye Bastida biography is incomplete without mentioning her efforts to make the climate movement more inclusive has also led her to contribute to the All We Can Save anthology. All We Can Save is a collection of essays and poems by women who are working on climate change and climate justice issues. Bastida’s opening essay in the anthology highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge and the need for climate solutions that respect Indigenous rights and sovereignty.

We are in Bonn for SB 58– the UN conference that happens before COP

We want an equitable fossil fuel phase-out to be included on the COP28 cover decision 🙌🌎#effpo #ClimateJustice

📸: @David_adelmann pic.twitter.com/D8LktMOdLJ

— Xiye Bastida (@xiyebastida) June 10, 2023

Through the Re-Earth Initiative and her work with All We Can Save, Bastida is changing the narrative around climate action and making it clear that climate justice is not just an issue for the privileged few. Her efforts to amplify the voices of young people, particularly those from marginalized communities, are making the climate movement more diverse, inclusive, and accessible.

The Personal Life and Family Roots of Xiye Bastida: How Her Upbringing Influenced Her Environmentalism

Xiye Bastida’s personal life and family roots have played a significant role in shaping her environmentalism and activism. Born in 2002 in Mexico City, Bastida grew up in an Indigenous Otomi-Toltec community in San Pedro Tultepec, located just outside the city. Her parents, Mindahi Bastida, and Geraldine Bastida, are both environmentalists and have been a constant influence in her life.

In 2015, Bastida and her family were forced to flee San Pedro Tultepec due to flooding caused by climate change. They moved to New York City, where Bastida became involved in the climate activism movement. She attended Beacon High School in Manhattan, where she co-founded the school’s environmental club and began organizing for the first climate strike in New York City.

Xiye Bastida Biography. Image Source: Instagram.

Xiye is currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is studying Environmental Studies with a concentration in Policy. Her favorite classes include Environmental Ethics, Energy and Environmental Economics, Sustainable Development, and Culture in Latin America, Physics of Global Warming, Geology, and Hispanic Literature.

Today, Bastida is a prominent voice in the climate justice movement, speaking out about the impacts of climate change on marginalized communities and advocating for Indigenous rights and sovereignty. Her upbringing and family roots continue to influence her work as she strives to create a more just and sustainable world for all.

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Stubbornly Optimistic: Xiye Bastida’s Current Activism and Legacy

Xiye Bastida’s current activism is focused on building a more just and sustainable world. She continues to mobilize young people through the Fridays For Future movement and other initiatives, and she is using her platform to speak out about the importance of climate justice, Indigenous rights, and the need for global action to address the climate crisis.

Xiye Bastida biography as a young leader in the climate justice movement is already significant. She has inspired countless young people to take action on climate change, and she has helped to make the climate movement more diverse, inclusive, and accessible. Her ability to bridge different communities and bring people together around a common cause is a testament to her leadership skills and her unwavering commitment to environmental justice.

Xiye Bastida Biography. Image Source: Instagram.

Bastida’s message is one of hope and optimism, even in the face of the daunting challenges presented by the climate crisis. In a 2019 TED Talk, she spoke about the need for “stubborn optimism” in the fight against climate change. She emphasized that even though the situation may seem dire, there is still time to act, and there are still reasons to be hopeful.

As Bastida continues to advocate for climate justice and to inspire others to take action, her legacy as a young leader in the climate movement will only continue to grow. She is a shining example of how young people can make a difference in the world and how a commitment to environmental justice can change the course of history.