11a. Introduction
A Global Climate Strike was held around the world on September 20-21, 2019 (in Waterloo Region it was on September 27). Part of the movement included a Sing for the Climate initiative. Watch and hear this mass singing gathering in Belgium.
Does it remind you of the Singing Revolution in Estonia from Module 8?
www11be. (2012, November 29). Sing for the Climate Belgium - Final clip. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGgBtHoIO4g
In this module we will explore concern and activism related to the environment, particularly the contemporary movement against climate change, as a peace movement. You might not automatically put the environment and peace together. I am using the broad term environmental movement because it seems to contain many concerns and campaigns directed towards the health and sustainability of the planet and the natural world, which includes both humans and non-humans.
In the previous module we talked about women’s peace movements. Certainly, women have been central players in the movement for peace in the environment. You might have noticed that the course began with a lot of male thinkers and figures in the peace movement. But we are ending (last 3 modules) with a notable rise of women in the public face of peace movement activism.
In 2019, Greta Thunberg from Sweden came to the world’s attention as a climate change activist. She was named Time magazine newsmaker of the year and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. As a reminder, here is a short video that features Greta and George Monbiot.
Guardian News. (2019, September 19). Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot make short film on the climate crisis. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q0xUXo2zEY
Does her message of fear about the planet remind you at all about the mood of the anti-nuclear movement decades earlier? Think about some of these commonalities as you move through the module.
Autumn Peltier
Cohen, 2019
Thunberg is a new voice in the environmental movement and is representative of the significant role and leadership of youth in this movement. In Canada, Autumn Peltier, from the Wiikwemkoong First Nation, addressed the United Nations regarding water sustainability in 2018. A teenager at the time, she spoke for youth and Indigenous peoples.
However, there have been individuals, groups, and organizations trying to ‘make peace with the planet’ for decades. In this module, we will explore a few of these thinkers and actors.
Image References
Ben Cohen, "Autumn Peltier, 15, to address United Nations about water issues in First Nations communities across Canada," The Globe and Mail, September 26, 2019, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-autumn-peltier-14-to-address-united-nations-about-water-climate/.