Earth Day: A Call for Intersectional Environmentalist Thinking

Happy 55th Earth Day! Now more than ever Earth Day reminds us that fighting for the earth means fighting against overlapping social injustices and the resulting disparities and harms that are felt by some before others. It is also reminder that for some, notably indigenous communities across the globe, consideration of the earth is a daily and minute to minute practice that cannot be diminished to a single 24 hour period.

ISWEJ invites you to review the below resources as a way to reflect on these realities, and to help invite intersectional environmentalist thinking and doing more deeply into your work. We also welcome you today to comment below with what you are doing today and everyday to support the earth and its vulnerable residents:

Intersectional Environmentalist/Leah Thomas' Homepage: The original source of the concept of Intersectional Environmentalism.

Earth Day.Org Intersectional Environmentalism Advocacy Packet: A resource outlining Intersectional Environmentalism and recommendations for actions one can take in different settings.

The Movement For Black Live's Earth Day post: A series of Facebook images outlining why advocating for Black Trans rights and lives is essential as we advocate for the earth.

The Secrets of Soil; Climate Change and AfroFutures (April 24th 6pm ET- Zoom or In Person): From the Mellon Foundation and Pace University- "Join us as Dr. Pierre explores the critical connections between soil ecology, climate change, and social justice through the innovative lens of critical ecology—a groundbreaking field that analyzes ecological processes in relation to historical and contemporary systems of oppression, colonialism, and capitalism. She will highlight in particular Critical Ecology Lab's current Caribbean project, based in St. Croix. This event will provide a unique opportunity to learn about how soil health intersects with societal structures, and how understanding these relationships can contribute to sustainable futures rooted in equity and environmental justice.

The Critical Ecologies Lab: We investigate social inequality and extractive economies as root causes of climate change and ecological dysfunction using environmental data and social theory. We use our insights to design creative solutions towards ecological reparations and sustainability solutions.

Earth Day: Indigenous Wisdom as a Blueprint for Climate Resilience: An article reflecting on the continued role of Indigenous communities in remaining resilient and combating climate change and environmental injustice today and everyday.

Lakota Law's Otokahekagapi" (First Beginnings) Reading: Tokata Iron Eyes reads the The Lakota Sioux Creation Story, as they share: "These ancient teachings remind us that we are not separate from the natural world but deeply connected to it as relatives."

What you are doing today and everyday to support the earth and its vulnerable residents?