Page 28 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 24
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The Environment
fashion. before any field testing and at times we may need to look
Here are a couple of thoughts application. While corporate to settler and migrant cultures
about how we must approach lobbyists often critique the that have cultivated subsistence
the solutions to climate change. precautionary approach as practices rooted in local ecology
a “hurdle to progress,” this and learn from these practices
Number One: science-based guideline should to build living regenerative
Real solutions must be guided be applied to all innovations, economies purposed to heal,
by moral practice and not technologies and practices that restore and revitalize our
selfish gains. are not rooted in Indigenous relations with all life. In addition
Traditional Knowledge and to the place-based wisdom of
Real solutions must be local ecological experience. Indigenous and non-Indigenous
guided by principles such peoples, real solutions must
as those of environmental Number Two: be guided by credible, public-
justice (EJ), just transition, Real solutions must be guided interest research and science,
democratic organizing and by Indigenous Traditional namely science that has strong
energy democracy, which have Knowledge, place-based public oversight and is publicly
been articulated and vetted experience and public- funded (not influenced by
by grassroots environmental interest science. corporate dollars). Finally, to
movements around the world. be aligned with a just transition,
By providing inter-sectional To be able to look into the all colonial states need to seek
guidelines for transformative future to see which solutions approval from the leadership,
change, these principles help are most beneficial, least territorial governance and
us determine “just” pathways harmful, durable and equitable, wisdom of Indigenous Peoples,
to both “decarbonizing the we need to rely on the historical for all climate strategies. And
economy” and reducing other knowledge of humanity’s where Free, Prior and Informed
forms of environmental harm oldest living memories of how consent (FPIC) is applied as a
that have disproportionately to live in harmony, balance framework for seeking such
burdened historically oppressed and reciprocity with the Earth approval, all FPIC protocols
communities. These principles and all her children. Centering and processes should be
help guide climate strategies Local Indigenous Traditional determined by the leadership of
and solutions that break free Knowledge, wisdom and values each Indigenous Nation.
from the barriers created by allows us the clearest line of
white supremacy culture, sight for tackling the storms, Number Three:
reductionist thinking and neo- floods, fires, droughts and Real solutions must
liberal ideologies that lead diseases headed our way. Noting be holistic in tackling
us astray. In addition to these that in many parts of the world intertwined ecological and
movement principles, credible colonial rule has attempted to social harm.
climate solutions must adhere wipe out Indigenous Peoples
to the precautionary principle, and their knowledge systems, All efforts to reduce greenhouse
28 | we tell the true afrikan story
