Inspired by her work in a soup kitchen, Patricia Frankel founded Ecobolsas, a project to give youths a small income whilst promoting environmental ideas.

By now you’ve become well aware that your lifestyle could use a bit of greening up, but you’re reluctant to make the changes. Well, why not start with organic gardening?

A new apartment complex in San Isidro, or a high tech Five Star Hotel in Santa Cruz, Patagonia would seem like good places to see some of Argentina’s newest developments in alternative energy. However for one organisation, the successful implementation of alternative solar energy strategies has been helping small communities in some of the most remote parts of the country and world for over the last two decades.

There are two possibilities, according to President Evo Morales of Bolivia: “Either capitalism dies, or Mother Earth dies. We choose Pachamama, or death.” He was opening the first ever World People’s Summit on Climate Change and Mother Earth’s Rights. “The principal cause of climate change is capitalism. It seeks the highest profit possible, promoting endless growth on a finite planet.” Conference participants took part in 17 working groups from 19th to 22nd April, roughly mirroring the UN process. Groups discussed topics such as the structural causes of climate change, mitigation financing or technology transfer.