Leah Thomas

How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet

The Intersectional Environmentalist

Karolina

Social injustice and environmental injustice are fueled by the same flame: the undervaluing, commodification, and exploitation of all forms of life and natural resources, from the smallest blade of grass to those living in poverty and oppressed people worldwide.

But philanthropy is colonial and reinforces racist and patriarchal power structures, charity is self-congratulatory, and aid comes with impossible conditions and is often coercive. We should instead be focusing on solidarity, coalition, justice, empathy, and reparations.

Racism is killing the planet. Coloniality leads to an ideology that casts most humans as disposable. If humans can be disposable, is it such a leap to assume the natural world is disposable also?

Emiley Jones

What was the key goal of the second wave feminist women's rights movement? I think a fair answer would be the equality of women in all sectors of life. This is an admirable goal, but if those who are setting these goals aren't representative of all women, all women won't be equally protected as a result. Even if everyone is united by the common thread of being women, there is a danger when what's being considered a universal women's experience is only reflective of those who are privileged in other crucially defining areas in society, like race, class, and sexuality.

With complete knowledge of our past, we have a better shot at improving the outcomes of our future.

The Intersectional Environmentalist quotes

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