Logo The Science Zone
× The Science Zone blog Facebook Instagram Email

Women scientists for environmental justice

Indigenous knowledge and science for a sustainable future.

Scientist pic Over the last century, humanity has seen an explosion of scientific progress and commodities production, and part of the world population have experienced an improvement of life conditions. Alas, this transformation has been happening at the expense of people and territories located far from the urban metropoles, where most of the resources are consumed. In these places, countless living organisms have adapted in equilibrium with their ecosystems, and human indigenous populations alike. Ancestral communities who thrived for centuries, living in harmony with nature, depending on it in a respectfull and sustainaible relation.

Scientist pic The abrupt changes that Earth is facing threatens the survival of these ecosystems survival and the life and legacy of indigenous populations. Because of the contemporary and exponentially increasing technological power, boosted by scientific progress, resources are extracted at extremely fast and unsustainable rates. The price to pay for such a seemingly unlimited growth is poverty and inequity for large part of the global population, together with environmental degradation, pollution and anthropogenic climate change.

Indigenous populations and rural communities living in close contact with Nature pay the highest price for contemporary development. Scientist pic They are the most vulnerable and exposed to the effects of climate change, resource predation, and unsustainable growth. These people are forced to change their lifestyles, resettle, relocate, and even migrate or die because of their homes and living source being compromised by the greed of post-industrial economical powers.

In this scenario, science can become a transformative force if used in cooperation and respect of traditional knowledge. Decolonizing science is a crucial step in the long way to environmental and social justice.

Scientist pic The following interviews give voice to women scientists and activists that work every day in close contact with indigenous populations. Their efforts aim to make science and law instruments to achieve environmental, gender and social justice. Women that live in first person the damages caused by resource predation and anthropogenic climate change. Women that fight every day from the local to the global scale for human and environmental rights to stem the extractive machine.

Introduction
Science and activism for environmental and gender justice.


Forests and supermarkets
Why is the lifestyle of indigenous populations sustainable?


Rich lands but poor people
How do extractivism and climate change threaten life of indigenous population and rural communities.


Another science is possible
Taking action on a changing Earth.


Conclusions
Pathways for sustainable futures.


All interviews have been carried out by The Scienze Zone, within the european project Boosting Green Education at School (KA2 strategic partnership). Editing and video production by Laboratorio Fujakkà.


Scienziate per la giustizia ambientale

Saperi indigeni tradizionali e conoscenza scientifica per un futuro sostenibile.

Scientist pic Nell'ultimo secolo vi è stata un'esplosione del progresso scientifico e della produzione di merci e, per parte della popolazione mondiale, questo ha significato un generale miglioramento delle condizioni di vita. Queste trasformazioni sono avvenute, ed avvengono tuttora, a spese di territori ed ecosistemi lontani dalle città e dalle popolazioni che ne beneficiano. Le foreste, i fiumi, le montagne, le praterie e gli oceani che forniscono le materie prime necessarie al benessere delle nazioni sviluppate sono le stesse che ospitano la più grande varietà di specie animali e vegetali sul pianeta. Ecosistemi che hanno raggiunto un florido equilibrio vitale e per secoli hanno offerto riparo e nutrimento a migliaia di popolazioni indigene in tutto il mondo. Ecosistemi che sono sul punto di scomparire, assieme agli esseri viventi che li abitano.

Scientist pic La potenza tecnologica moderna ha permesso di estrarre risorse da questi luoghi a ritmi insostenibili per la natura, lasciando dietro di sé un'infertile povertà e aggravando gli effetti dei cambiamenti climatici in atto su scala globale.
D'altra parte, la stessa conoscenza scientifica, se svestita dei suoi soliti abiti coloniali ed usata in cooperazione con le conoscenze delle popolazioni locali, può aiutare a ristabilire la giustizia sociale e ambientale.

Scientist pic In questa serie di interviste abbiamo parlato con scienziate e attiviste che collaborano quotidianemente con alcune comunità indigene per porre la scienza e la legge al servizio degli ecosistemi e degli esseri viventi che li abitano. Donne che vivono in prima persona i disastri ambientali causati dalla predazione delle risorse e si battono a livello locale e globale per arginare la voracità della macchina capitalista.

Abbiamo diviso questo mini documentario in 5 capitoli:
Introduction
Science and activism for environmental and gender justice.


Forests and supermarkets
Why is the lifestyle of indigenous populations sustainable?


Rich lands but poor people
How do extractivism and climate change threaten life of indigenous population and rural communities.


Another science is possible
Taking action on a changing Earth.


Conclusions
Pathways for sustainable futures.


Le interviste sono state realizzate da The Science Zone nella cornice del progetto Boosting Green Education at School (KA2 strategic partnership), montaggio a cura del Laboratorio Fujakkà.


Riferimenti tsz Laboratorio Fujakkà Boosting Green Science Erasmus+