Climate Justice, Y'all

Climate Justice, Y'all

By Michael HansenSociety & CultureDocumentaryNewsPolitics
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Climate Justice, Y'all episodes

  • S5E7: Solidarity Across Borders (Part II) with Ren Martin & Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos
    The US is not necessarily in good standing on the international stage, and many young people feel that domestic and global climate policy do not represent their interests. There’s a need for leaders to take courageous action to address these challenges. A frequently asked question by politicians and leaders is “how can youth get involved in the climate and environmental justice movement”.
    In this episode we bring Youth Climate Policy Council founders Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos and Ren Martin to discuss centering youth in policy advocacy, not just in the US South, but globally. 
    “When we say the “youth is our future”, we are not only in the future but we are in the present. We deserve decision making power now."
    53 min
  • S5E6: Southern Solidarity Across Borders (Part I) with Alex Easdale, Michael Malcolm, Susannah Tuttle, & Natalie Lucas

    This is Climate Justice, Y'all!, a podcast dedicated to lifting up and centering the climate and environmental justice movement in the South. Climate Justice, Y'all

    The Global South (AKA the global majority or folks typically south of the equator) and the US South have more in common than people think. Today, we’ll examine how extraction, suffering, and the powerful elite have shaped our warming planet, and dig into what grassroot advocates are pushing for to secure a fair and livable future—from demands for “loss and damages” to global climate equity campaigns like ShiftUS. We’ll also reflect on what it means to keep fighting for climate justice under a new administration hostile to climate action.

    Hear Alex Easdale, Executive Director of the Southeast Climate and Energy Network, Reverend Michael Malcolm, Executive Director of the People’s Justice Council, Susannah Tuttle, Director of Eco-Justice Connection with the North Carolina Council of Churches, and Natalie Lucas with the US Climate Action Network as they discuss some of these pressing challenges and what folks are doing to combat them.

    The post S5E6: Southern Solidarity Across Borders (Part I) with Alex Easdale, Michael Malcolm, Susannah Tuttle, & Natalie Lucas appeared first on Climate Justice, Y'all.

    52 min
  • S5E5: Environment and Entrepreneurship with Tamara Toles O'Laughlin
    In a world impacted by climate change and uncontrolled growth and extraction, actions and careers that deal with moving money, building businesses, and expanding nonprofits, at first glance, feels counterintuitive to acting on climate change. However, there are many people, especially those representing marginalized groups, whose entrepreneurship is dedicated to building up communities and stewarding quote, “an ecosystem of opportunity”.
    In this episode, we hear from Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, President and CEO of the Environmental Grantmakers Association as she talks about what it means to be an environmental entrepreneur in today's climate.
    “Lets build things that outlast us, and communities are the best invention we’ve got" - Tamara Toles O'Laughlin
    38 min
  • S5E4: Health and Environmental Justice with Anne Mellinger Birdsong
    When we talk about climate change, a lot of people picture melting ice caps, heat waves, or rising sea levels. But one major piece of the puzzle often gets overlooked—our health. The same pollution that’s driving climate change is also impacting our bodies in ways we might not even realize. From lung disease to learning disabilities, from asthma attacks to mental health.
    In this episode we’re talking with Dr. Anne Mellinger Birdsong, Health Advisor with Mothers & Others for Clean Air, about how pollution is affecting public health, why the South is particularly vulnerable, and what we can do to protect ourselves and push for change.
    “The same greenhouse gases that impact the climate include dirty air and pollution. Air pollution affects people of all ages, and causes health effects such as learning disabilities, lung/asthma problems… and even mental health problems.” - Dr. Anne Mellinger Birdsong
    25 min
  • S5E3: Artificial Intelligence and Climate (Part II) with Sarah Houston
    In a climate changed world, we must address that challenges that AI data centers bring and support local organizations like Tennessee’s Protect Our Aquifer that are fighting for our communities. In this episode, we hear from Protect Our Aquifer's Executive Director, Sarah Houston, about some of the challenges they're facing related to AI data centers.
    NPR states that the average AI data center consumes 300,000 gallons of water a day, and there aren’t clear regulations to stop mega companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, or Elon Musk’s xAI from draining our water resources. 
    “Working in coalitions and in community means that we get to see everybody’s strengths, and this [AI fight] is the perfect opportunity to show the skills off” - Sarah Houston
    29 min
  • S5E2: Artificial Intelligence and Climate (Part I) with KeShaun Pearson
    In this episode, we’re bringing in Memphis Community Against Pollution director KeShaun Pearson to reflect on the renewable source of people power against injustice.
    Artificial Intelligence, or AI, requires massive data centers, and the data centers require massive amounts of energy and water to function. AI data centers are popping up all over the US, including Virginia, Texas, and Tennessee, and there’s little existing regulation that holds them accountable to the communities they occupy. 
    “The only way to take down giants is through community. And the only way to engage with the community is that you have to show up.” - KeShaun Pearson
    41 min
  • S5E1: Funding Climate Adaptation with William Barber III and Katie Thomas
    Welcome back to Climate Justice, Y'all! In this episode we're kicking off season 5 with a conversation with William Barber III from the Rural Beacon Initiative and Katie Thomas from the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center as they talk about climate justice and federal funding.
    Federal efforts are illegally disrupting promised financing to everyone from the Department of Education and FEMA, to local community organizations. In this episode, we will bring in two experts to discuss the impact of federal funding and “direct pay” credits for climate adaptation projects, outline the current landscape we're dealing with from a top-level, and suggest avenues we can take to continue our work and accomplish our goals.
    William Barber III is the founder and CEO of the Rural Beacon Initiative, a North Carolina-based social enterprise that offers private and public consultancy, strategic convening, and deployment of models for practical, scalable community based solutions in order to help businesses address the triple bottom line.
    Katie Thomas is the Director of Energy and Environment Programs at the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center. The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPC Center) works to ensure that frontline communities have the strategic insight and tools to shape public policy and they utilize policy and process knowledge in order to educate partners, foster cross-movement solidarity, and demystify government.
    42 min
  • S4E4: When Disaster Strikes: Hurricane Helene with La’Meshia and Sanja Whittington
    Welcome to the season finale! 
    In this episode, we’re highlighting the incredible work of Democracy Green, an Afro-Indigenous-led conservation organization based in Western North Carolina. Hurricane Helene devastated Appalachia months ago, and while many are still rebuilding, Democracy Green’s dynamic duo, Mama Sanja Whittington and her daughter La’Meshia Whittington remind us that neighbors and networks are the first responders in times of crisis. Their approach is rooted in relationship-building, cultural understanding, and a commitment to healing both the people and the land by way of climate consciousness.
     
    We will explore their innovative model of mutual aid, powerful stories from the frontlines, and their vision for a world where corporations are held accountable, and communities are equipped to thrive amid climate change and disasters.
    La'Meshia Whittington- Cofounder and Board of Green Democracy 
    Sanja Whittington- Executive Director of Green Democracy 
    For more, check out season 1 episode 8 "When Disaster Strikes Part I with Michael Esealuka" and season 1 episode 9 "When Disaster Strikes Part II with N. Teresa Ramos."
    41 min
  • S4E3.5: Revisiting Nina Morgan on Climate & Environmental Justice in Alabama
    Abigail and Marésha sit down and talk with Nina Morgan, former climate and environmental justice organizer for GASP. Nina is a graduate of UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) where she studied Anthropology and Sociology. Nina mapped over 3,000 trees on campus using GIS and served as a decathelete in the 2017 DOE Solar Decathlon competition.
    Nina is also a co-founder of the Magic City Youth Initiative, where she works to uplift and support a youth-led movement for social justice in the Greater-Birmingham area. As a Black, Southern, working-class person, Nina is committed to creating a world in which people and planet are cherished, protected and liberated. Sit back and enjoy the conversation!
    37 min
  • S4E3: Southern Environmental Justice with Nina Morgan
    Welcome four the fourth season of Climate Justice, Ya'll!
    We're revisiting the conversation with Nina Morgan from season 1 episode 7 "Nina Morgan on Climate & Environmental Justice in Alabama" After listening to this episode, go listen to the first part of the conversation. Whether you're a new listener, or have been with us for a while, it's a great conversation to revisit.
    Environmental justice (EJ) is the principle that everyone deserves clean air, water, and land no matter their background, location, or income. Environmental injustice refers to a set of actions, intentional or otherwise, that places the burden of pollution on marginalized communities. Birmingham, Alabama, like many communities across the south and the nation, is negatively impacted by environmental pollution.
    In this episode, co-hosts Mareshah Malcom and Abigail Franks catch-up with local organizer Nina Morgan, where they revisit past lessons from their previous conversation and integrate new wisdom about the intersectionality of environmental justice, social justice, and a livable climate future for southerners and international citizens.
    40 min

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Climate Justice Y’all: It’s real, it’s here, it’s about time.