February 13, 2015

CAN WHITE LIBERAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS “GET OVER THEMSELVES” IN THE INTEREST OF BUILDING DIVERSE COALITIONS AND CREATING RADICAL CHANGE? - 02.12.15

58 minutes

Guests: Nikeeta Slade and Alex Lotorto

There's a lot of talk right now about racism, sexism, classism, homophobia and elitism within the environmental movement. But too many white liberals view the term "racist liberal" as an oxymoron.

Tonight on Political Analysis, Sandy LeonVest is joined by Nikeeta Slade and Alex Lotorto to kick off an ongoing series, in which all of these issues and more will be addressed.

The conversation is the first of its kind, dealing with the critical but underplayed issue of racism in (and the "unbearable whiteness" of) the contemporary green movement -- specifically the Big Greens and NGOs.

Among other things, the program will look at the prickly (but all too real) issue of "liberal racism;" how environmentalists can go beyond PR, campaign slogans and tokenism to "reach out" to non-white communities; and how the current movement can begin strategizing for effective bridge-building. -- ie: the ways in which environmentalists can begin building deep diversity and REAL coalitions with communities all over the world, including with indigenous people (whom, after all, were the FIRST radical environmentalists).

Nikeeta Slade is a member of the International Socialist Organization and the Green Party ... She’s been involved in feminist, environmental and anti-racist organizing for several years … She’s also an editor and contributor to Red Wedge Magazine, a radical arts and culture magazine, and an editor for The Peace Newsletter, a Syracuse based publication dedicated to peace and justice.

Alex Lotorto has been an activist and organizer for the past several years – mostly around the issue of fracking. He’s been actively involved in labor organizing and union issues … Today, Alex Lotorto serves as the shale gas program coordinator for Energy Justice Network.

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By Progressive Radio Network