Environmental Racism — Incredible Bulk

How does the Black Lives Matter movement influence a small zero waste retail shop based in Cornwall?

It has educated us. Devastatingly we were part of the problem prior to this week, thinking not being racist was enough, thinking we were separate from the problems of the United States. We didn’t see ourselves as involved, how wrong we were. By being silent and dismissive we have allowed racism to continue across the globe. Racism is a global problem and it affects the planet as a whole.

This week we have learnt 8 new terms (to us):

Environmental Colonialism : The various ways in which colonial practices have impacted the natural environments of Indigenous peoples.

Environmental Racism : The discrimination of low-income and minority communities on environmental grounds, exposing said communities to degraded land, pollution and the effects of climate change.

Eco-fascism : A belief that the only way to deal with climate change is through eugenics and the brutal suppression of migrants.

Climate Barbarism : A form of climate adaptation, responding to climate issues with a view that ‘we are better, because of our citizenship, because of our whiteness, and our Christian-ness, and we are locking down, protecting our own, pulling aid.’

White Supremacy : The fact that whites maintain a structural advantage over people of colour in nearly every aspect of life. Historically, it was the belief that white people are superior to people of colour. Used to rationalise unjust rule of people and lands, theft of land and resources, enslavement, and genocide.

White Privilege : Being able to move through life without being racially profiled or unfairly stereotyped. White privilege is not the suggestion that white people have never struggled. White privilege is not the assumption that everything a white person has accomplished is unearned. White privilege should be viewed as a built-in advantage, separate from one’s level of income or effort. Having greater access to power and resources than people of colour [in the same situation] do.

Intersectional Environmentalism : an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalised communities and the Earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities and the Earth to the forefront and does not minimise or silence social inequality.

Environmental Justice : The intersection of both social justice and environmentalism, where the inequity in environmental degradation is also considered.

Racism isn’t just a problem for people, its a problem for the planet too. Which seems so obvious when you take the time to sit down, educate yourself and actually think about it.

And racism is really at the heart of why we find ourselves in this environmental mess. The economic and social systems currently in place are the root cause of our climate crisis, and these very systems were put in place by white supremacy. These systems dismissed and overruled indigenous, harmonious systems, people working with the planet, in preference for personal greed. As people who are concerned about and interested in the environment and the climate we know these systems simply don’t work, not for humanity or the planet. The time has come to dismantle these systems and at the heart of that is ending racism.

Below are resources we have been reading and exploring this week with regards to the link between racism, the environment, climate change, plastic pollution and being able to enjoy nature.

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