Who speaks for Nature?

Indegenous voices

Research

For

Through

About

Ecological Justice

Narrow Environmental justice

Broad Environmental justice

Mapping Indigenous Communities and Environmental Nonprofits within A New Environmental and Ecological Justice and educational Framework

Who speaks for Nature?

Mission

Impact

The most valuable part of the Sierra Club is our connection to the outdoors and the programs we have to get people outside in nature:"We’re not just focused on protecting, but also on simply enjoying the wonderful things we've been given.” - Michael Brune, Director on Green Dreamers Podcast

How do they speak for nature?

Sierra Club's legacy spans securing protection for numerous parks and monuments, advocating for crucial environmental legislation like the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, and pushing towards clean energy. Their volunteer-led trips, totaling over 15,000 annually, promote outdoor appreciation while safeguarding the environment.

Explore, enjoy, and protect wild places, advocate responsible ecosystem use, educate communities, and utilize lawful means for environmental preservation.

Secured protection for 439 parks and monuments, to won passage of the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, to put over 281 coal plants on the path to replacement with clean energy

VS

Environmental Justice

Ecologcal Justice

It is distinct from environmental justice, focusing on the interests of those unable to defend themselves in contractual situations, Non-humans (Lecuyer et al., 2018; Kopnina, 2019).

The equitable sharing of environmental benefits and responsibilities and meaningful participation in the decision-making processes that affect environmental outcomes for all people (Mohammed, M. et al., 2021)

Mission

Impact

Organic agriculture can promote ecological justice by incorporating nearness and fair trade, promoting non-certified agriculture for local sustainability, and serving as an alternative example for broader ecological justice implementation in agriculture and society. However, challenges include commodification of commons, external environmental and social costs, and growing distances in organic food systems.

How do they speak for nature?

The organization reframes the narrative around farmers, fostering collective learning through farmer-to-farmer exchanges and supporting farmer-led research. They employ storytelling to confront food system injustices and engage diverse groups to build coalitions for food sovereignty

Their vision is to "reclaim agency over our foodways" (food soveriegnity) by uniting communities.

Highlighting systemic issues, they address land inequity through the BIPOC Farmer Legal Fund, offering legal support to BIPOC-owned farms.

The Masai of EAst Africa

Maasai pastoralists employ nomadic herding practices, herding cattle across grazing lands in a rotational manner. This sustainable method allows the land to regenerate, contributing to ecosystem health and longevity. Their rotational grazing fosters biodiversity, prevents overgrazing, and preserves the ecological balance of grasslands

Central to Maasai culture is the reverence for land and livestock. They consider cattle as sacred, embodying their identity. Their beliefs emphasize harmonious coexistence with nature, rooted in their nomadic lifestyle (Asiema & Situma, 1994).

Approach and impact

Belief

The Maasai advocate for land rights and conservation efforts to safeguard their territories against encroachment. Their advocacy aims to protect their traditional lifestyle and preserve the delicate ecological balance.

How they speak...

The Sami of Northern Europe

Their reindeer herding practices, embracing transhumance, have a positive ecological impact. This lifestyle contributes to biodiversity preservation, prevents vegetation overgrowth, and maintains fragile Arctic ecosystems (Aiko & Müller‐Wille, 2005).

Sami beliefs are rooted in animism, recognizing souls in natural entities, and a reverence for the intricate balance and interconnectedness of all living beings, forming the basis for their survival in the harsh Arctic environment (Pinto-Guillaume, 2017).

Approach and impact

Belief

The Sami advocate for cultural preservation and sustainable practices. Emphasising their deep relationship with nature, they assert the importance of harmony with the planet, urging a shift towards mindful consumption and learning from indigenous wisdom (The Guardian, 2021).

How they speak...

Intergenerational Justice

Strong sustainability

Intra generational justice via Global Dimention

Nature has inherent value

Intra generational justice via north-south dimensions

Natural Limits

Environmental Injustice

Priveleliging human needs and wants with no or insuffiecient regard for the needs of non-human nature

What do we mean by:

(Ehresman and Stevis, 2010)

Ecological Justice

The Kayapó of the Brazilian Amazon

Employing shifting agriculture in harmony with the rainforest, the Kayapó understand the forest's natural cycles, allowing areas to regenerate after cultivation. They employ forest management techniques to maintain ecological balance (Posey, 1985) and their traditional agricultural methods, aligned with forest management, contribute significantly to the Amazon rainforest's biodiversity and overall ecological equilibrium.

The Kayapó revere the rainforest, perceiving it as integral to their cultural identity. They assume the role of forest guardians, emphasizing its criticality in preserving their heritage (Fisher, 1994, p. 120).

Approach and impact

Belief

TBeyond their deep ecological stweardship for nature they are actively advocating for indigenous land rights, the Kayapó resist threats posed by deforestation and large-scale development projects. Their international advocacy emphasizes the vital importance of preserving the Amazon rainforest.

How they speak...

Intergenerational Justice

Broad sustainability

Intra generational justice via Global Dimention

Systemic reform

Intra generational justice via north-south dimensions

A Focus on structural injustice

Environmental Injustice

Systemic barriers, distortions, and power disparities which impact environmental effects and access and which cannot be addressed by distribution alone

(Ehresman and Stevis, 2010)

What do we mean by:

Broad Environmental Justice

Mission

Impact

How do they speak for nature?

Earthjustice's essence lies in defending the environment as a fundamental right for all. They align with clients standing on the frontlines for a healthy environment, engaging in local battles to effect national change. Their localised efforts combat toxic algae blooms, oil spills, and other environmental threats, ensuring resonance on a larger scale.

The earth needs a good lawyer : they embody Earth's legal stewardship, empowering the planet as its advocate.

With over 200 expert lawyers they ensure justice and environmental welfare. Landmark victories: the Palila case and shutting down toxic emissions from industrial operation loopholes and diesel pollution.

Mission

Impact

How do they speak for nature?

NATIFS emphasizes the restoration of Indigenous food sovereignty by nurturing heritage, community well-being, and land reverence, aligning with their mission to rekindle Indigenous food systems. establishes Indigenous Food Lab satellites in multiple locations, including Bozeman, Rapid City, and Anchorage. They organize events like Indigenous People’s Day and culinary expos, gathering Indigenous knowledge and cuisine for wider dissemination.

Rekindle Indigenous food sovereignty, emphasizing heritage preservation, community nourishment, and reverence for the sustaining land.

Indigenous Food Lab Market, supporting over 30 Indigenous purveyors. ollaborations the USDA's Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative and US senators to influence in policy shaping for tribal communities

Education through the environment enhances investigation and communication skills, promoting knowledge development and a holistic approach to learning. Students are encouraged to apply low-carbon living in their schools, fostering a sustainable future. (Phang et al., 2016)

Purpose

Methods

• Labs, developing their service, practical exercises in nature like planting
• Cleaning actions: parks, rivers, recycling the garbage from touristic roads
• Practical lessons: the influence of different external factors of influence.
• Creativity: Create from garbage some state-of-the-art fashion, arts painting, or design architecture.

(Boca & Saraçlı, 2019)

Education through the environment

Mission

Impact

As Washington, et al. (2018) establish , to effectively safeguard life on Earth, ecojustice must be prioritised in conservation. This involves refuting the idea that ecojustice is "antihuman," as well as pushing for a framework for integrating ecojustice into conservation activities. In addition to discussing how to reconcile social justice and ecojustice, they contend that distributive justice can also apply to nature, including an ethic of bio-proportionality, and that ecojustice must now be prioritised in order to ensure successful conservation.

How do they speak for nature?

One Tree Planted advocates for nature by facilitating global reforestation, emphasizing ecological justice through tree planting to stabilise climates, restore habitats, and create sustainable livelihoods worldwide.

Emphasizes simplicity in environmental conservation by enabling tree planting, thereby restoring forests, fostering biodiversity, and creating a positive global impact.

Since 2014, One Tree Planted has significantly increased tree plantations annually, collaborating across 80+ countries and planting over 92.7 million trees by 2022

I have combined the linearity of the first Table, mapping evolution/progression and the second model mapping methods. See it as a journey to the centre of the ven diagram. But that is not to say we cannot move back and forth between each section, with environmental advocacy progress is rarely a simple straight line!

The Framework explained

Indigenous peoples are people descending from the original inhabitants of an area taken over by powerful outsiders, with distinct languages, cultures, and religions. Over 300 million indigenous peoples live in over 70 countries and inhabit various climate zones. They have a great diversity in language, culture, dress, religion, and habit. At least 5,000 indigenous groups can be distinguished by linguistic and cultural differences or geographic separation. They seek intellectual property rights for their knowledge about natural resources and view themselves as experienced environmentalists with a role in environmental protection and conservation.

Ask yourself my guiding questions:

Stay critical during research

• Are environmental nonprofits clear about where their funding comes from on their websites and social media?
• How might this affect their goals and independence in advocating for nature?

• Do environmental nonprofits showcase and value diverse perspectives online?How does this show their commitment to fairness and representing different views?

• How do environmental nonprofits handle criticisms about their advocacy online?Does their response affect how believable and effective they are in speaking up for nature?

It's important to consider the legitimacy of information sources. For the Non-profit organisations, i have deliberately utilised their website and social media pages to select their advocacy methods and understand their missions. This is because it's the most accessible information and i intended this piece to be utilised by those outside of academia too.

Its a more holistic approach: encouraging behaviors and actions that support the well-being of the environment. (Boca & Saraçlı, 2019)

Methods

Purpose

Education For the environment

Students are encouraged to investigate their personal responses to and relationships with the environment and environmental issues. This is related to the growth of attitudes and values, which includes the component of human knowledge and actions required for the creation of enduring and compassionate interactions with the environment. (Phang et al., 2016)

Intergenerational Justice

Weak sustainaiblity

Intra generational justice via Global Dimention

Environmental policy Economic growth

Intra generational justice via north-south dimensions

Environmental burdens and transfers

Environmental Injustice

The mal-distribution of environmental burdens and benifits and decisionmaking authority

(Ehresman and Stevis, 2010)

What do we mean by:

Narrow Environmental Justice

Methods

• Deep discussions, critical comparisons, and training on environmental issues.

• Case studies, mass media presentations, disaster prevention strategies,

• Online group activities, cross-cultural evaluations, collaboration between universities for stainability.(Boca & Saraçlı, 2019)

Purpose

To develop knowledge and understanding, and, consequently, shape students values and attitudes. (Phang et al., 2016)

Education About the Enviroment