Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images
Listening projects have been used for decades to organize in local communities [link] Their purpose is less to gather data (although that is also a part of it), than to bring the issues to life in the minds and hearts of those being interviewed, and to generate change not by telling but by listening.
In the run up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit (COP15) a listening project was organised to bring concerns from British streets to the centre of the debate in Copenhagen. It is easy to see that Black communities in the Global South are affected first and worst by the impacts of climate change [environmental racism in workshops] when it is the predominately white people and politicians of the Global North who have generated most of the emissions. Indeed on our doorsteps in the UK, the impacts are not distributed evenly either. The expansion of Heathrow and London City Airport, two contested carbon-intensive Government plans negatively affects some of the most diverse communities in London, including the Borough of Hounslow and Newham.
The Listening project involved black and white communities and organisers discussing the impacts showing the links between social and environmental conditions. These were conversations of 'reciprocity' to understand where each community are coming from surrounding air and noise pollution to the potential for individual and community self-determination e.g. 'how does racism affect our climate change work?' and 'how will climate change affect our ability to defend our Black communities?' 'Why do we (the Asian community) have to embed our campaigns in their (white) political structures? why don't they come to our meetings? Just as social justice groups need to take environmental issues on board as common practice, those concerned about the environment must see the issues of race and equality intertwined in all our survival.' Roger, resident in Harlington, by Heathrow airport
The social impacts of climate change on Black communities in the UK does not require little bits of reform but a massive resistance. Climate Change is resulting in a massive upsurge of racism, intentional or not, not only due its impact on Black communities but peoples reaction to environmental refugees from black countries we must refocus climate justice around imperialism. It is only when the links are known that something can be done to make sure that development does not have a disproportionate negative impact on BAME groups, children, older people, disabled people or women. When we know the problem (and the social impacts) we can stare at it in the face. Take this to Copenhagen. Here's some of the COP15 outcome
Related Links
Thousands defy police to demand justice for climate refugees
Climate protesters descend on Copenhagen
"History has shown us that when there is a need for radical social change, asking those in power nicely to relinquish some control doesn't get us very far.
