How many of the heroes are white? And how many criminals and villains are played by people of colour? And did you know, in the last year only 5% of published children’s books featured children of colour as the main character. It’s a problem across all of society – we see the same lack of positive representation in the media, arts, business, academia, fashion, theatre, movies, sports (yes – including snowboarding and surfing) and more.įor example, think about all the popular movies you’ve seen as an adult and as a child. This isn’t just an issue for the environmental movement. White people meanwhile are represented and celebrated in society as heroes, leaders and change-makers. Instead, what we see and hear in movies, news, and culture is people of colour being represented as victims and criminals. © Pete Speller / Greenpeace Heroes, leaders and change-makers With women from around the world on the Arctic Sunrise in Punta Arenas in Chile, on International Women’s Day. The result is that the positive and powerful contributions of people of colour are erased. This involvement itself is usually temporary and tokenistic, and the problem or issue stays unresolved. Often, when people of colour are given platforms, it’s because a white person or organisation has got involved, and the media deem it worthy of attention. And people of colour aren’t invited to engage and contribute using our own thoughts and language. People of colour aren’t awarded the same privileges (without fear of disproportionate repercussions) around taking bold, peaceful direct actions. People of colour aren’t recruited in our sector. People of colour don’t have access to the same education opportunities. People of colour aren’t given the print space by our publishers. People of colour who are leaders and change-makers aren’t given the air time by our broadcasters. So, if there are a plethora of people of colour in this movement, why don’t we hear from them or see them? It’s because of these connections to the earth and nature that people of colour have such critical perspectives to add to the environmental movement and to the solutions for a green, just, and peaceful world. And for centuries, people of colour all over the world have been leading movements to protect their environment and their rights – both of which suffer at the hands of corporations and governments driven by greed. So many communities of colour have a deep sense of respect and a spiritual connection to the earth and to nature, which is expressed through our culture, traditions and religion. Spiritual connection to the earth and to nature In fact it couldn’t be further from the truth. The suggestion that people of colour don’t care about nature or climate change didn’t quite wash with me. But I was pretty much always the only person of colour. I was always amongst a huge team of inspiring people including other activists, campaigners, comms teams, legal teams, scientists and more. Of course, I didn’t do any of this alone. The UK’s environmental sector has a lot of work to doĪs an activist with Greenpeace UK I’ve joined many peaceful actions against irresponsible companies causing harm to people and the planet.ĭemanding Coca Cola reduce their enormous plastic footprint in London’s Piccadilly Circus, London. It took me a long time to find my way to Greenpeace where I now take action for a more equal, just, and green world. I had to find my own way, answer my own questions, and be my own role model. ![]() I had access to opportunities that no one in my family had ever had, and I was able to share these opportunities with them.īut after 15 years of witnessing how companies drive excessive consumption, and how little people care about the environmental and social impacts of unsustainable production, the urge to realise my imagined future returned. My imagined future was somehow replaced by an incredible career that involved snowboarding and surfing around the world. Role models that made me think, ‘Yeah! That’s what I want to do too!’ Eventually, any hopes and dreams of my imagined future fizzled away.ĭon’t be sad. ![]() Role models who helped me to realise my dreams. Role models who looked like me, sounded like me, and with shared values like mine. Lost without role models that I could relate to. As a child, I remember feeling lost in the playground.
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