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Climate: Our Right to Breathe
An anthology of essays and artistic contributions from more than 25 voices with diverse practices and backgrounds, ‘ Our Right to Breathe’ is a response to climate change and the toxic politics of today. They highlight the urgent need for collective strategies and solidarity to protect the vulnerable and marginalised communities forced to endure the worst effects of climate crises because of racialised capitalism. Opening with an introduction from the editors and ‘The Universal Right to Breathe’ by Achille Mbembe, the rest of the book is divided into four ‘Commodification, Energy & Extraction,’ ‘Land & Food Sovereignty,’ ‘Toxicity & Healing,’ and ‘Shelters.’
336 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2022
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August 13, 2023
The many perspectives in this book collect the ways communities are using poetry, food, seeds, activism, and art to respond to the intertwined problems of climate crisis, capitalism and racism. The essays are a collection from artists, activists, academics and poets from different countries and communities who consider ecological destruction through a de-colonial lens.
This pushes the conversation about the cause of climate change away from the scientific focus on greenhouse gas emissions to the hegemonic processes. Many of the authors detail how these processes have occurred through violence, force, occupation or settlement of land and pollution of water, air and soil. The authors show through various means, artistic or academic, how these processes have structurally minimized communities’ ability to propagate traditional seeds, practice low intensive farming or animal shepherding practices, or survive in the natural landscapes of their homes. The impact has caused forced migrations and divested people of their communities and nature-based livelihoods, which upend communities from their homes and cultural identities.
The authors problematize the seemingly “inescapable” dilemma and speak to the ways their own traditions offer viable solutions to the ruptures at play.
This pushes the conversation about the cause of climate change away from the scientific focus on greenhouse gas emissions to the hegemonic processes. Many of the authors detail how these processes have occurred through violence, force, occupation or settlement of land and pollution of water, air and soil. The authors show through various means, artistic or academic, how these processes have structurally minimized communities’ ability to propagate traditional seeds, practice low intensive farming or animal shepherding practices, or survive in the natural landscapes of their homes. The impact has caused forced migrations and divested people of their communities and nature-based livelihoods, which upend communities from their homes and cultural identities.
The authors problematize the seemingly “inescapable” dilemma and speak to the ways their own traditions offer viable solutions to the ruptures at play.
Displaying 1 of 1 review