By Intersectional Environmentalist
"The Joy Report" is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality, optimism, and joy. Tune in to hear stories and updates on
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On this episode of The Joy Report, we’re discussing books and the ongoing fight for truth and inclusion in education, publishing, and storytelling.
“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. The goal of this podcast is to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”
Episode Agenda:
In this special episode, we’re talking all about books and the ongoing fight for truth and inclusion in education, publishing, and storytelling.
Topic Background Info
Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov once said, “any book worth banning is a book worth reading.” So why have more than two thousand five hundred book bans been enacted from July 2021 to June 2022 in 138 school districts throughout 32 states? During this short timeframe more than sixteen hundred titles have been removed from school libraries and one clear theme and rationale has arisen: these books are predominantly written by and about the lives and experiences of diverse, but particularly historically marginalized, people. In fact, 4 out of 10 banned books analyzed by PEN America had LGBTQ+ characters or themes, and 4 out of 10 had protagonists or characters of color.
Unfortunately, this wave of limiting students’ ability to think critically, freely, and with a heart open to difference is not new. Book banning is the most widespread form of censorship in the United States, and the practice began in the 17th century.
Children’s literature is often the primary target of censorship, prompted by the fear that young people’s impressionable minds will be improperly influenced by a book’s contents. Today, many people opposing book bans believe that teaching a more inclusive history actually harms students.
Lately, much of the controversy has centered on a framework called Critical Race Theory, coined by the prolific legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, who also coined and popularized the term Intersectionality. Critical Race Theory has been used as a catch-all for wokeness, political correctness, and leftist-indoctrination. Some other prominent reasons for challenges and bans across the country include non-traditional values, LGBTQIA+ content, indoctrinating kids, anti-police sentiments, promoting a homosexual lifestyle, white privilege, and more.
So how does book banning actually work? Generally, a book must be challenged before it is considered for banning. The initiator of the challenge must read the whole book, fill out a challenge form and explain why, how, and where in the book the offensive material takes place, and finally present a case in a hearing. From there a decision will be made on what action should be taken, with options ranging from complete removal from the library, thus completely restricting access from students, or diminished access to a book through relocation of the book to a different section of the library or the requirement of a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian before a student can check a book out from the library.
However, many book challenges come from individuals who have never actually read the books they want to be removed. Often excerpts from these texts are taken out of context to villainize the authors who wrote them and the teachers and librarians who share the books with young people. According to Penn America, almost 40% of the time parents initiate book challenges, and only about 1 percent are initiated by students.
[Recording pulled from this clip at 00:35] “I think those books… I don’t want to even see them. I think they should be thrown in a fire.” “Just cooperate with me, I’m sure I’ve got other colleagues here, I’m sure we’ve got hundreds of people out there who would like to see those books before we burn ‘em. Just so we can identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff.”
The voices you just heard were two members of the Spotsylvania, Virginia School Board discussing the removal, and even the potential burning, of any “sexually explicit” books from school libraries in the district. This uproar was spurred by a parent who was upset that her high school student was using their school library app to access and read what the parent called “LGBTQIA fiction”.
Some of you might be wondering why we’re talking about books on The Joy Report. What do books have to do with climate justice and sustaining movements? And to that questions, I would challenge: what don’t books have to do with these things?
[Recording pulled from this clip at 01:30] “It makes me furious that we, as a world, are prohibiting knowledge. How many of you have ever read the book The Giver before? It is a phenomenal book, but that is not why we are talking about it. If we continue to pull books off the shelves, we are going to end up in a world like that, where we can only see things in shades of white, gray, and black, where every single person is the same. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live in a world like that.”
That was youth advocate McCartie McPadden during a youth TEDX talk in Fort Worth Texas, who makes abundantly clear that they do not want to live in a world with restrictions on knowledge.
Regardless of where you live book bans impact us all. Censoring what and how people can learn limits the ways that we can interact and connect with one another. It limits our ability to envision a future— or present— beyond a straight, white, middle-class America. Limiting access to media increases division among those with different lived experiences because often books are a powerful means of connection. As people working toward a better world, we must recognize, honor, and uplift the voices of those most marginalized by society. Books written by these voices being ripped from library shelves can limit the ability of the next generation to understand difference and contribute to a more inclusive world. Now more than ever we need books written by these authors because we as a society have so much to learn from the rich, diverse perspectives of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other authors from from the global majority.
Author Roxane Gay once said, “Salvation is certainly among the reasons I read. Reading and writing have always pulled me out of the darkest experiences in my life. Stories have given me a place in which to lose myself. They have allowed me to remember. They have allowed me to forget. They have allowed me to imagine different endings and better possible words.”
I’m not sure there’s any better way to explain the value of books. This quote really leans into the idea of radical imagination that our last special episode was all about. If you haven’t listened to that one yet, I’d definitely encourage you to do so.
Because we believe in radical imagination and ensuring that all voices are included in environmentalism, as an organization, Intersectional Environmentalist is continuing to amplify the voices of underrepresented voices in the environmental space and make environmental education more inclusive and accessible by gifting free books to our community. This year we launched a series of intimate music and educational events that serve as an entry point into the world of environmental justice called Earth Sessions. We had Earth Sessions shows in New York and California this year with more in the works for 2023 , and during these shows we started giving out free environmental and liberation-centered books by diverse authors to attendees.
Fortunately IE is nowhere alone in this fight to work against censorship. Organizations and institutions are working against book bans all over the country, including in states where censorship is steadily increasing:
Like the group of librarians in Texas, the state with the highest number of book bans nationally with over 800 bans in 22 different school districts from 2021-2022. These librarians invited families, authors, other librarians, teachers, students, and parents to come together to share and highlight the diverse books that bring them joy, and bring the support of readers to the attention of the Texas Legislature. The organization, called Freadom, now runs monthly campaigns to support the freedom of reading and resources for those interested in getting involved. In the show notes for this episode you can find the website they’ve created with templates and guides with resources for things like how to write a letter to the editor, how to speak at a school board meeting, how to start a local group to support school board races, and so much more.
Diverse books also provide opportunities for adequate representation for students. Did you know that in an average classroom of 20, there are likely at least two kids who are trying to figure out their gender identity or sexual orientation? Pride and Less Prejudice is an organization that provides LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd-grade classrooms in North America to help students and teachers “Read out loud, read out proud.”
In the three years that the organization has been around, they have helped educators create more inclusive learning environments by raising over one hundred thousand dollars to disseminate LGBTQ-inclusive books to over three thousand classrooms in the US and Canada. 44 different teaching guides to accompany the donated books have also been created, and the organization has held 10 professional development workshops to help more than 400 educators.
Unsurprisingly libraries have been the biggest advocates against book bans, and all over the country librarians are going to great lengths to ensure that banned books remain on their shelves. You might even remember your local librarian, whether at school or in a local library, excitedly putting together the banned book exhibit each year. Banned Book Week, created by the American Library Association, has been bringing attention to school censorship for over three decades.
Currently, over 25 organizations have partnered with the American Library Association for their Unite Against Book Bans campaign to empower individuals and communities to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read. This coalition of advocacy groups, education leaders, businesses, and civil rights groups all believe in the principles of reading as fundamental to learning, the right of leaders to access a variety of books, and the need to work together to protect that right.
Through their Books UnBanned initiative, The Brooklyn Public Library now offers anyone ages 13-21 across the country unlimited access to the libraries eBook and audiobook collections, including banned titles. As of April, Scholastic, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan Publishers have partnered with the New York Public Library to offer anyone in the country access to commonly banned books through a free e-reading app called SimplyE.
And these aren’t the only places in New York where you can access to banned books and books from diverse authors.
Featured Story:Did you know that during the 1970 and 80s there were woman-of-color-owned feminist bookstores and radical Black-owned bookstores throughout the United States? These bookstores not only served as places to preserve and support diverse literature, but the
On this episode of The Joy Report, we’re discussing ecosystem restoration and its importance in protecting and providing for people + balancing the earth’s natural resource cycles. Centuries of irresponsible human actions have caused massive-scale environmental degradation and biodiversity loss that is contributing to current environmental harm experienced by people and the planet. Ecosystem restoration work not only has the power to protect people and preserve our planet, but it has the potential to mend cultural and historical relationships with nature.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guayaki Yerba Mate.
“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”
Episode AgendaIn this episode, we’re discussing ecosystem restoration and it’s role in protecting and providing for people and planet.
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Guayaki Yerba Mate – yes the one in the yellow can & bottle! Guayaki is more than just a yerba mate brand - they're focused on personal, social, ecological and cultural regeneration through their commitment to regenerative practices, such as partnerships with Indigenous South American communities to grow yerba mate and steward rainforests. Yerba mate is a naturally caffeinated drink that comes in a variety of formats from loose leaf to cans to bottles. Guayaki’s mate is all organic, non-GMO and sure to make you come to life with all the goodness packed inside. Visit their website linked in this episode's show notes to learn more and find it near you.
Topic Background InfoThere has never been a more crucial time to restore our ecosystems. Centuries of irresponsible human actions have caused massive-scale environmental degradation and biodiversity loss that is contributing to current environmental harm experienced by people and the planet. We are seeing this first hand all over the world, and those who have contributed least to the degradation— namely BIPOC, low-income, and other marginalized communities— are experiencing the impacts first and worst.
Ecologists in the early 20th century believed that ecological harm could be reversed if harmful practices ended. However, by the 1960s, ecologists were beginning to write about the idea that an ecosystem can be so damaged that it loses the ability to repair itself. Decades later, the news and IPCC reports are making it very clear that we are very close to reaching that point, and with recent discoveries that rainwater is now unsafe to drink due to forever chemicals like PFAS, some might argue that we’re already there. That’s why we must prioritize the preservation and restoration of ecosystems that have been destroyed and can no longer regenerate themselves.
So what is ecosystem restoration?
Ecosystem restoration is the act of giving nature the ability to replenish the Earth. Our planet has the ability to heal itself and restore balance through the water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles which distribute and balance essential nutrients to all living organisms. These complex, yet perfectly working cycles create the well-balanced ecosystems we live and thrive in. Native plants and animals, clean air, water, soil, and human respect for nature are all necessary components of a healthy ecosystem. Restoration aims to reintroduce these natural properties to ecosystems in order for the cycles to renew and self-regulate the environment. Human-caused environmental degradation in tandem with the removal of indigenous people upsets this balance to such a severe degree that ecosystems cannot restore equilibrium by themselves. The responsibility falls on humans to rectify the harm we’ve caused to nature and ultimately ourselves. The importance of ecosystem restoration not only amounts to beauty, it purifies the air we breath, the water we drink, the soil we grow our food from, and the relationship we have with nature.
Those were the words of one of IE’s research fellows, Ramsey Elshiwick (rum-zee el-shu-wick).
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, ecosystem degradation can lead to more frequent and dramatic weather events, drinking water contamination, decreases in water availability and air quality, ocean pollution, an increase of disease in humans and animals, and loss in land productivity.
In 2020, Project Drawdown released a report outlining actions that should be taken to effectively address climate change. Ecosystem restoration and preservation projects— like coastal wetland and tropical forest restoration, peatland protection, and restoring abandoned farmland— were very well represented on this list due to their ability to sequester carbon. But even without the current state of climate catastrophe we’re experiencing right now, there will always be a need for ecosystem restoration. Restoring our ecosystems can reverse air and water pollution, recover native biodiversity, preserve plant and animal species, balance the carbon cycle, increase access to green spaces, in addition to mitigating some of the impacts of climate change. Ecosystem restoration also gives us an opportunity to mend and deepen our relationship with the planet.
Robin Wall Kimmerer once said, “repair of ecosystem structure and function alone is insufficient— restoration of a respectful, reciprocal relationship to the natural world is also essential for long term success. In many cases, it is not only the land that has been broken, it’s our relationship to the land that has been broken. So our work in restoration needs to heal that relationship, as well as the land.”
California State University East Bay Associate Professor, Enrique Salmon explains it this way: [0:07- 0:57, https://youtu.be/8SFzfBgJOi8]. Professor Salmon has coined the term “kincentric ecology” [0:1:19-1:58, https://youtu.be/8SFzfBgJOi8]
This concept emphasizes the fact that we as humans are keystone species to our environments. Our presence in nature significantly impacts the ecosystems of this world. Kincentric ecology can be a useful framework to understand our interconnected relationship to nature while highlighting the importance of climate justice and ecosystem restoration. To destroy nature is to destroy humanity. To restore it is to restore ourselves.
Ecosystem restoration is more than just planting hundreds of trees and hoping that will save the world alone. We’ve tried that. Most tree planting efforts prioritize the number of seedlings planted over tree maintenance, biodiversity, and working with local communities.
For example, in 1978 officials in China began a tree planting campaign to stop the rapid expansion of the Gobi Desert, which has become the fastest growing desert on Earth due to mass deforestation, overgrazing, and high winds that speed up erosion. The program, nicknamed the Great Green Wall, [aimed at planting trees along a 4,500 kilometer stretch](https://www.sciencenews.org/article/planting-trees-climate-change-carbon-capture-deforestation#:~:text=The concerns are myriad%3A There's,very different amounts of carbon.), has now involved millions of seedlings being hand planted and dropped from airplanes. A 2011 analysis showed that up to 85% of the plantings failed because the species of tree chosen were nonnative and couldn’t survive such an arid environment.
This isn’t to deter people from planting trees, but to encourage that those who do, ensure the trees planted can thrive and contribute positively to the ecosystems they will now inhabit.
Proper ecosystem restoration requires understanding the historical context of the landscape, knowing what plants and animals will thrive there, and engaging the people who live in the area.
Restoration efforts that don’t incorporate community input have an increased likelihood of failure. That’s why organizations are beginning to take on restoration projects that actively engage local communities in all parts of the process. Community-based solutions not only produce the traditional benefits of ecosystem restoration projects, but also offer the ability to center indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, address economic wellbeing within the community, prioritize individual and community wellbeing, and contribute to community autonomy, stewardship, and self-determination.
In Uganda, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is working in the eastern part of the country to enhance the resiliency of the lands and communities that depend on the lands for their livelihoods. This initiative is supporting farmer managed natural regeneration to implement forest landscape restoration. The program has trained local farmers and technical personnel in 3 districts to promote the regeneration of lands that had once been cleared for farming. Not only does this project help increase tree cover and biodiversity, but it allows residents to become active contributors to the ecosystem restoration.
Author of Wild by Design: The Rise of Ecological Restoration and Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Williams College, Dr. Laura J. Martin explains that knowing the history of ecological restoration, its pitfalls and predecessors and how the past has led to where we are today, is powerful knowledge to have in order to empower people to become, what Martin calls, “agents of political change.”
Ecosystem restoration brings back biodiversity and, if done right, has the potential to increase and evolve environmentalism to become more inclusive and intersectional.
The future needs of ecological restoration work is not simply about a shift in technological measures and applications—it also calls for a necessary cultural shift. A shift in mindset and upliftment of women, LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC, youth, and ancestral/elder voices, needs, political power, and knowledge. Embedded within the need to restore ecosystems is the need to also address and rectify social imbalances and create a more equitable future for all. Currently, only about 30 percent of jobs in the restoration ecology field are held by women, and within that 30% women of color make up less than 25% of the workforce.
As Indian scientist and ecological activist Vandana Shiva once said: [43:14-44:54, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soBLeuRGnSQ
Ecosystem restoration must include all perspectives in order to be successful. As Indigi-queer land steward Tiffany Joseph explains: [4:55-5:35, https://youtu.be/iYUo2er-jdw ]
Ecosystem restoration work not only has the power to protect and preserve our planet, but it has the potential to mend cultural and historical relationships with nature.
In doing restor
On this episode of The Joy Report, we’re discussing what energy justice is + why energy ownership must be re-imagined to overcome the current priority of profit over maintenance, affordability, and human health. A true just transition will create opportunities for people who have been excluded from the start of the renewable energy movement to become recipients of intentional investments, benefactors of job training in the renewable energy sector, and key thought leaders in this space.
“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”
Episode AgendaIn this episode, we’re discussing energy justice + working towards more decentralized energy systems.
Topic BackgroundIt shouldn’t be a shock to anyone that our current energy system is in need of a major overhaul. Our current, fossil fuel-dependent grid is owned by a small sliver of the population who have prioritized profit over people, and caused significant harm to people and the planet. But before we dive into this concept, let’s take a step back and explain what the grid is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fwh86X-G04 [1:28-2:07]
To sum it up, electric system, which includes electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, is owned by a mix of entities, including private, public, and government. Currently, about 72% of U.S. electricity customers get their energy from less than 200 companies. About 3/4 of utility consumers get their electricity from investor-owned utilities. This ownership model issues stocks owned by shareholders, and accounts for nearly 40% of energy generation, 80% of transmission, and 50% of the distribution. Unsurprisingly energy disparities arise since investor-owned utilities are always looking for opportunities to increase profits.
The current grid creates inequities in the amount people pay for their electricity, who can access cleaner, more renewable energy sources, and who experiences the health risks associated with garnering electricity from fossil fuels. The environmental impacts of electricity generation, extraction, production, and transportation can contribute to large-scale regional environmental concerns, as well as localized concerns that affect the area directly surrounding the source.
Disparities within the current grid give rise to sacrifice zones, which are areas where a small segment of the population disproportionately bears the burden of living near an industry. Although everyone benefits from these industries, mostly low-income and BIPOC communities experience the environmental consequences
One example is the 85-mile corridor in Louisiana called Cancer Alley, where nearly 150 refineries, plastic plants, and chemical facilities heavily pollute the air and harm those who live there. In fact, yet another plastic factory that is set to be built in Cancer Alley which will discharge toxic chemicals into the already heavily polluted air and water. This is part of the fossil fuel industry’s push to turn an oversupply of fracked natural gas into more plastic, causing further harm to the people living in this area and the planet.
In the energy context, as Michele Morrone and Geoffery L. Buckley’s book titled *[Mountains of Injustice](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1j7x69w#:~:text=Mountains of Injustice,-Book Description%3A&text=Research in environmental justice reveals,power plants%2C and polluting factories.)* explains, sacrifice zones are characterized as “an unfortunate product of high demand for energy coupled with the lack of comprehensive energy policy designed to protect areas that generate the energy sources modern society takes for granted.”
In the United States, 68% of African Americans live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant, compared to 56% of the country’s white population. Living near these [types of facilities](https://surgery.duke.edu/news/despite-studies-health-effects-coal-burning-power-plants-remain-unknown#:~:text=A review of studies over,disease and other health problems.) increases death rates at earlier ages, risks of respiratory diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and other health problems. For the preservation of our planet and all its inhabitants, we cannot continue on like this.
That’s why we need energy justice and a just transition to clean, renewable, affordable energy. Here’s what Dr. Tony Reames has to say about energy justice
[insert 1:40-2:35 https://youtu.be/HwrzCMebgmg]
Dr. Reames is the Deputy Director for Energy Justice at the U.S. Department of Energy.
[insert 2:42-3:09 https://youtu.be/HwrzCMebgmg]
Changing our grid may seem like an impossible task since it’s been this way forever, right? Before the grid existed, humans hunted whales and used their oil for candles. Around the same time that whale populations began to decline from this practice, petroleum was discovered in Pennsylvania in 1852. Soon after, other fossil fuels became a more popular and reliable source of energy. By 1935, the energy grid evolved into the one we’re essentially still using today. In other words, change is possible even when it seems insurmountable. In less than 150 years we have transitioned from using whale oil to light homes to harnessing the earth’s naturally replenishing resources to provide energy to whole communities.
A better way to produce energy already exists in ways that benefit people and planet. Environmental justice advocates and scholars have been talking about the “just transition” for years now. This movement away from fossil fuel dependence is defined by the Climate Justice Alliance as a “vison-led, unifying, and place-based set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.” The transition must be just and equitable— it must redress past harms and create new relationships of power for the future through reparations.
Now is the time to reimagine energy ownership. A just energy transition must be built to create economic justice and equitable access to reliable, clean, affordable energy. We must find ways to overcome the energy sector’s current priority of profit over adequate maintenance of infrastructure as well as impacts to human and planetary health.
We need energy democracy, which is defined by Shalanda Baker as a means of opposing energy corporations on a large scale by replacing investor-owned utilities with publicly owned, democratically run alternatives. It also means creating opportunities for economic justice. This includes ensuring equal access to high-paying jobs and training in the renewable energy sector for those who have worked within the fossil fuel industry. It requires creating opportunities for equal access to energy resources and education so people can make informed decisions about what happens in their homes. Energy democracy also looks like distributed ownership of new energy production, like community solar farms.
Featured StoryLike many other industries, there has been a relatively small, homogenous group of individuals who have been benefitting from advancements in the energy sector, with a 2019 study from the Solar Energy Industries Association on diversity in the solar industry finding that 85% of senior executives in the solar sector are white and 80% are men. A true just transition will create opportunities for people who have been excluded from the start of the renewable energy movement to become recipients of intentional investments, benefactors of job training in the renewable energy sector, and key thought leaders in this space.
Fortunately, we are already beginning to see shifts toward this equitable, inclusive, just energy transition, and Black women are at the forefront.
IE’s founder, Leah Thomas recently sat down with Shalanda Baker on IG live to discuss energy justice.
IG Live convo with Leah & Shalanda: https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChIZTwHsyz4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D [21:27-20:37]
The Justice 40 initiative that Shalanda mentioned is President Biden’s commitment to ensuring that at least 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. And here’s what she had to say about getting involved and leading the charge for this initiative:
IG Live convo with Leah & Shalanda: [https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChIZTwHsyz4/?](https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChIZTwHsyz4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D) [17:57-16:10]
This unprecedented amount of attention to equity and justice issues can be seen not only in the federal government but also within the private sector. Updating infrastructure and ensuring that intentional investments are made in communities that have been historically overlooked for this type of aid and environmental protection is exactly what environmental and energy justice is all about.
Kristal Hansley Interview Audio
After attending a Black Women in Energy brunch hosted by Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy a few weeks back, I had the opportunity to sit in downtown DC on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon with Kristal Hansley, the founder and CEO of WeSolar.
Kristal Hansley Interview Audio
Of all the different types and sources of renewable energy available, why solar? Why community solar? Here’s what Kristal had to say in response to this question?
Kristal Hansley Interview Audio
It’s about access, it’s about equity.
Kristal Hansley Interview Audio
It’s about options, economic resilience, and creating opportunities for communities to regain control. It’s about energy democracy:
Kristal Hansley Interview Audio
Calls To ActionSo what can you do to support energy justice in your community?
First, educate yourself on renewable energy sources, the just transition, and energy usage structures around you.
Clean Choice Energy is a great resource for learning about renewable energy options near you by zip code.
This episode covers regenerative agriculture through an intersectional lens. While many agricultural practices have had detrimental impacts on the land, especially coupled with the impacts of climate change, there ARE practices that support a more beneficial way to grow food, repair soil, and restore landscapes.
Regenerative agriculture covers a variety of practices— from agroforestry to ecological grazing, permaculture, and others— but the main function is to replicate how natural ecosystems work.
“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”
Episode AgendaIn this episode, we’re exploring regenerative agriculture: what it means, where it comes from, and what its role in decolonizing agricultural systems is.
Topic Background InfoNature has the ability to heal itself if we let it. While many agricultural practices past and present have had detrimental impacts on the land, especially coupled with the impacts of climate change, like droughts and excessive heat, there are practices that support a more beneficial way to grow food and sustain landscapes. Regenerative agriculture covers a variety of practices— from agroforestry to ecological grazing, permaculture, and others— but the main function is to regenerate how the landscape works.
Regenerative agriculture consists of practices and systems that nurture the land and the people who work on it. This holistic land-stewarding practice helps increase soil quality and biodiversity in farmland while producing nourishing products. Doing so avoids harm from pesticides and exploitative techniques to the landscape and those working on it.
Dr. Lauren Baker of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food explains that, “to address accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, rising food insecurity and growing inequality we need to repair the relationship between people and nature. Agroecology, regenerative approaches, and Indigenous foodways are a direct response and counterpoint to the dominant, industrial food system. The industrial food system, defined by chemicals, concentrated livestock, monoculture, and ultra-processed foods, comes with a cost we can no longer afford.”
Historically, food has been used as a way to colonize the body, mind, and physical landscape. As such, while there is no single way to be a responsible and conscious consumer, there are ways we can all work to disrupt systems that cause and perpetuate harm to people and planet. The food system is a powerful place to start.
When we have the option to do so, we should all be striving to support groups and engage in practices that care for people and the planet. Fortunately, we are witnessing an emergence of mutually beneficial agricultural practices that are deeply connected to decolonization in the mainstream agricultural system that are helping create indigenous sovereignty, and preserve our planet. Traditional, pre-colonial food systems were sustainable and regenerative. Indigenous communities worldwide have been farming regeneratively for millennia, and we’re continuing to learn and benefit from those practices.
But as Robin Wall Kimmerer explains in her book Braiding Sweetgrass, “Old-growth cultures, like old-growth forests, have not been exterminated. The land holds their memory and the possibility of regeneration. They are not only a matter of ethnicity or history but of relationships born out of reciprocity between land and people.”
Respectful stewardship of the land is an essential element of ensuring a livable future. The Landback movement— which we explained a bit about during episode 4— and other efforts to regain land sovereignty have led to an increase in mainstream access to indigenous plants, ingredients, and other natural resources. This movement has also led to an increased understanding for the need to decolonize many of the systems that are deeply woven into the function of modern society. This episode is all about the food system.
The CDC’s native Diabetes Wellness Program released a report “Traditional Foods in Native America”, which explains that a primary tenant of the global food sovereignty movement asserts that food is a human right, and to secure this right people should have the ability to define their own food systems.”
Food sovereignty, especially as it relates to land sovereignty is a key element to the restoration of landscapes and the preservation of our planet’s essential resources.
There are numerous organizations and farmers all over the world committed to engaging in regenerative agricultural practices, developing food sovereignty, and sharing their knowledge to counter the harmful practices that exists within mainstream agriculture.
Like Regeneration International, the Rodale Institute, the Soil Foodweb Institute, and the Indigenous Food Systems Network to name a few.
The author and earth steward Leah Penniman and the team working at Soulfire Farm in upstate New York puts it like this:
https://youtu.be/zvQJP8QP-Ng [5:47-6:33]
Kelsey Ducheneaux is a member of the Lakota Sioux Nation, a fourth-generation beef and cattle rancher, the youth programs coordinator and natural resource director of the Intertribal Agricultural council, and and the owner of DX Ranch in South Dakota.
https://youtu.be/1slB62EK_rg [0:31-0:49**]**
In her own words, she “helps young people realize that the wide-open spaces we call home are not just ‘the middle of nowhere,’ but instead a place to call home, full of resources and the potential to grow food to feed their family.”
https://youtu.be/I5NuxWOmAxE [0:01-1:01]
That’s the voice of Chris Newman, an afro-indigenous farmer who runs Sylvanaqua Farm in northern Virginia:
https://youtu.be/Zd2rvT5jR0I [17:54-19:09]
Featured StoryLet’s talk about bison.
Bison have been in the news quite a bit over the last year, from a recent sighting in Big Bend National Park, populations of bison being returned to tribes in Montana, and the successful reintroduction of bison populations in other parts of the United States.
Bison have deep cultural and ecological significance.
In the early 1500s an estimated 30-60 million bison roamed the landscape freely throughout North America, from Canada to Mexico, and from New York to the Rocky Mountains.
As the largest land-dwelling mammal in North America, these giant, powerful grazing animals stand at about 5-6.5 feet tall, weighing about a thousand pounds on average. They provided food and sustenance in the form of meat and marrow; and raw materials like bones for tools, hide for clothing and shelter formation/creation. Because of all the resources that could be derived from them, bison formed the basis of the economy for numerous tribes in the Great Plains region.
Bison roamed the western and central plains of Texas in large numbers; with four main herds existing within the state. By the late 1800s, after already hundreds of years of colonization, in an attempt to cause further harm and eradication to the Indigenous populations of Texas and continue Westward expansion and industrialization via the Transcontinental Railroad, the bison were hunted and killed to nearly extinction—with fewer than 1,000 animals remaining. Only through the efforts of Indigenous tribes and non-Indigenous Texas ranchers over the past twenty years, has the number of bison grown in Texas.
Earlier this year, five buffalo were reintroduced to Lipan Apache lands in Texas to join their existing herd, through a program by the Nature Conservancy which has given 270 bison back to Indigenous nations throughout the country.
https://youtu.be/FL_JMK94IvA [1:16-1:26]
Restoring bison populations can help restore prairie ecosystems while improving issues of food insecurity and food sovereignty for indigenous communities, while also helping to mitigate the adverse impacts
https://youtu.be/FL_JMK94IvA [0:39- 0:50]
The Texas Tribal Buffalo Project is one of many organizations working to restore bison populations. The project is dedicated to healing the generational trauma of the Lipan Apache descendants, as well as other tribes in geographic proximity, with the ultimate goal of returning the bison to Texas.
https://youtu.be/FL_JMK94IvA [1:28-2:05]
Calls To ActionHow can we as individuals support farming practices that protect and nourish people while restoring the planet?
First, be thoughtful and conscious of how and where you’re purchasing your food. When you can, buy local, since it’s often a lot easier to find out where and how things you’re buying are produced.
Find a regenerative farm near you. Buy food from them, get to know the farmers, take advantage of volunteer days.
Learn about where your food comes from and different production systems. Help get the word out about the benefits of regenerative agricultural practices.
Get involved in a community garden if you’re able to. Contributing to greening the place you live, especially in a way that’s focused on producing food for your community is an incredibly powerful experience.
One great resource to help you find a farm near you can be found by googling “regeneration international” and searching for the farm map on their website. We’ve also linked the website in the show notes. There are tons of different filters to help you find the right farm for you. (https://regenerationinternational.org/regenerative-farm-map)
Support tribal and indigenous led agricultural organizations whenever you can.
If you have the means to do so, support organizations focused on developing, expanding, and teaching about regenerative agricultural practices.
Spend as much time as you can outside. Build your own relationship with the land around you. Developing an individual relationship to land and the food you eat makes supporting regenerative agriculture and practices a no-brainer. As Robin Wall Kimmerer once wrote: “Restoring land without restoring relationship is an empty exercise. It is relationship that will endure and relationship that will sustain the restored land.”
Positive News StoriesHere’s some positive climate news you should also know about:
On July 28th, the United Nations Gen
The Joy Report team wanted to take a moment to invite you all to radically imagine a better future with us, because doing so might be the exact antidote we need right now.
“As an organization, Intersectional Environmentalist is working on being the change we hope to see, by contributing to the larger movement of individuals radically imagining a better future. We want to hold space for art, joy, rest, and community, and invite anyone interested in joining us, to do so.” - @kiana.kaz
“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”
Episode AgendaIn this special episode, we’ll be diving into the ways we can radically imagine a better future
Topic Background InfoTo be honest, it’s been incredibly hard to be joyous lately. The climate crisis has been impacting us in ways we’ve never experienced before. Not a single person can deny the extreme heat, excessive flooding, wildfires, and other abnormalities plaguing our planet right now. And on top of that, rights are being stripped away and governments are not taking sufficient action to protect people or the planet.
Fortunately, as people trying to create a better world we aren’t required to be joyous all of the time. We must give ourselves grace and time to process our feelings, then think about solutions in a pragmatic, optimistic way. From the words of Intersectional Environmentalist’s Executive Director, Diandra Marizet [Diandra reading Instagram caption from 2020]
Truman State University professor of psychology Yuna Ferguson has explained that positive thinking and optimism are predicators of resilience that can initiate action and commitment to goals, and help us more effectively cope with stress.
For these reasons and so many more, The Joy Report team wanted to take a moment to invite you all to radically imagine a better future with us, because doing so might be the exact antidote we need right now.
Some of you might be asking: what does radically imagining a better future actually mean?
One of the simplest ways to understand radical imagination is thinking to yourself, What would our world look like if we actually got this right?
A section from ecofeminist Susan Griffin’s essay “To Love the Marigold” sums this up beautifully when she explains:
Like artistic and literary movements, social movements are driven by imagination… Every important social movement reconfigures the world in the imagination. What was obscure comes forward, lies are revealed, memory shaken, new delineations drawn over the old maps: it is from this new way of seeing the present that hope for the future emerges… Let us begin to imagine the worlds we would like to inhabit, the long lives we will share, and the many futures in our hands.
And IE’s founder Leah Thomas recently shared what radical imagination means to her during our first ever Earth Sessions show in Brooklyn this April: (25:02-26:01 - https://youtu.be/4onJGlhQP50).
Physician and children’s book author, Dr. Sayantani DasGupta, once explained that in order to deal with all the social, emotional, and environmental injustices in our world, we need radical imagination. It might even be beneficial to tap into our child-like wonder and remember a time when we were unrestrained by the limitations placed upon us by society.
[Insert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTbMjVqoWxs 3:14-3:24]
Kids approach the world with a sense of play and curiosity. They ask big questions and believe that the world can and should be better than what it is. Throughout the pandemic, Nivi Achanta, the founder of a digital platform aimed at helping zillenials learn and do more to help our planet called Soapbox Project, realized that spending more time with her children helped joy become a fundamental core value in the work she does. In a June 2022 article she recalls a time when her now eight year old was learning about climate change and coming up with ideas like, “what if we have a big kitchen where everyone goes to get their food?” Or “what if a train comes to pick everyone up at their house?” That’s the type of imagination we need to fix the biggest problems in our world. And to those questions we have to ask ourselves: why not?
Radical imagination is not just a passive action or something that simply exists within us. It’s active, it is something that we do, that we use, that we exercise and bring into existence outside of our physical being. And a large part of radical imagination is joy.
Comedian, actor, and organizer Dallas Goldtooth once said,
[“It’s so easy for us to get stuck in the pits and fully submerge ourselves with climate anxiety. In order for us to radically imagine a different future, we have to imagine and allow ourselves to experience the joys of this world and see ourselves being happy in the future. That can only manifest if you start now, if you find joy in the moment, and you use love for the land, love for our lives, and love for our people to drive us forward — as opposed to anxiety, anger, and frustration driving that.”]
Joy is an indispensable force. It can strengthen our resolve, help us uncover creative solutions, and bolster our resilience. It’s a statement to ourselves and the world that we are still here, undefeated.
When we do things that bring us joy, the brain releases neurochemicals that can relax our muscles, increase oxygen flow into our bodies, and make us feel excited, peaceful, or anything in between. A 2005 study published in the Review of General Psychology explains that while 50% of our happiness is determined by our biology and genetics, the other 50% is based on our intentional activity and our life circumstances. Of the parts of this equation, intentional activity has the highest chance of changing our happiness levels. The small things we do every day to make ourselves feel good like exercising, eating a nourishing meal, meditating, or working toward a personal goal can have a significant impact on our overall health, our wellbeing, and our joy.
Featured StoryWe’ve already spent a full episode discussing how joy enhances and sustains movements, but it’s important to note how essential tending to our individual wellbeing is in ensuring that we can stay involved in movements without getting burnt out. We need everyone involved. There’s so much work to do.
[****https://youtu.be/9hE3kJQgnBE,**** 0:41-0:58]
The voice you heard was that of climate justice activist Vic Barrett. We had the privilege of showing their whole short film, titled “Reclaiming the Earth” during our second Earth Sessions concert in LA in mid-July.
Another critical element of radical imagination, and the future we hope to create with it, is community. In her book Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change, Pema Chodron wrote, “We’re all in this together, all so interconnected that we can’t awaken without one another.”
We have to take time to stop and listen to the human and nonhuman world around us. What’s needed? What’s a problem that you individually can start to work toward? How can you connect with people already doing that work?
During our Brooklyn Earth Sessions show we also heard from Tony Hillery, who started a youth-centered food justice organization with a mission to inspire young people to lead healthy and ambitious lives called Harlem Grown, who provided us with a perfect example of this in practice: [ 26:21-26:39 https://youtu.be/4onJGlhQP50]
Art plays a critical role in radical imagination. Social movements depend on communication and the conveyance of a message. This is a prime space for artists and their work to thrive. Art has the power to bring alive a collective voice through activating all the senses. It also reinvigorates those on the frontlines and behind the scenes doing the work. Participating in artistic practices can be healing and rejuvenating to the body, our emotional wellbeing, and our imagination.
As an organization, Intersectional Environmentalist is working on being the change we hope to see, by contributing to the larger movement of individuals radically imagining a better future. We want to continue holding space for art, joy, rest, and community, and invite anyone interested in joining us, to do so. One way we’re doing this is through hosting earth sessions: our intimate, community-driven climate justice concerts intended to foster joy and advocate for people and planet. Our Programming Director Kiana Kazemi explains it this way: [Kiana speaking to Earth Sessions]
Social movements need radical imagination. The text “The Radical Imagination: Social Movement Research in the Age of Austerity” informs us that “without it, we are left only with the residual dreams of the powerful and, for the vast majority, they are experienced not as dreams but as nightmares of insecurity, precarity, violence, and hopelessness.”
Without radical imagination we’ll be so weighed down by the enormity of the problems we face that we might risk being stunned into inaction. And that’s the complete opposite of what we need right now.
Topic-Related Calls To ActionAfter hearing all this, some of you still might be wondering how to actually put this information into practice, so I’d encourage anyone who wants to tap into their radical imagination to write down a single word that will act as the pillar for the future you hope to see: maybe it’s abundance, or imagination, or freedom. Then, spend a few minutes brainstorming how you intend to hold yourself or others who share your vision accountable to that pillar. These accountability measures should be tangible, realistic, and ideally something you can integrate into your daily or weekly routine. When you’re comfortable doing so, share this goal with a person you trust and love. Then, encourage that person to engage in this same practice of writing down a single word and building on it to envision a radical, more beautiful future, and urge them to do the same to someone else. Slowly you may be able to create your own gathering of chosen-community who are holding each other accountable to practices that will help create the world we hope to see.
I would also encourage you to find and engage with one of the many organizations and resources specifically dedicated to radical imagination, or community resilience building, since the two go hand in hand.
Rapid Fire Positive News Stories</Nature is nurturing. As we cope with an unraveling of an imperialist governance structure + reimagine what a liberated future looks like for us all, it’s only natural to seek solace + grounding from nature. We need to keep natural spaces accessible to all. Tap in to the 6th episode of The Joy Report to learn about the organizations and heroes fighting for equity + inclusion in the outdoors
"The Joy Report" is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality, optimism, and joy. Tune in to hear stories and updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct, accessible way by Arielle King (@ariellevking), an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education.
“Welcome to The Joy Report, a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality and optimism. Tune in to hear updates on all things climate, social, and environmental justice explained in a succinct and accessible way by me, Arielle King, an environmental justice advocate and attorney passionate about environmental education. This podcast aims to give you the tools you need to stay informed and take action to protect the planet.”
Episode AgendaIn this episode, we’re discussing inclusion and accessibility in outdoor spaces, whichever form they take.
Main TopicMalcom X once said: “Revolution is based on land. Land is the basis of all independence. Land is the basis of freedom, justice, and equality.”
For millennia, human beings have thrived by connecting with nature in ways that feel right for them. With the rise of industrialization + globalization, the relationship between humanity and the outdoors was fissured, in a very intentional way. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, on average, Americans spend 87% of their life inside buildings and 6% of their lives in automobiles.
Nature is for everyone and as people, it’s our duty to protect our collective home and maintain its accessibility to all. Humans’ symbiotic relationship with nature has lasted for millennia; if it were any other way, we wouldn’t be here. With everything going on in our world over the last few weeks, spending time outdoors is probably one of the most nurturing and restorative privileges we can tap into right now. We all deserve the appropriate time to rest and process all that we’re seeing in the news and scrolling past on our feeds. We have every right to be angry— but our energy can’t stop there. Advocacy is a mindset. Remaining optimistic amidst calamity is a choice.
As Sherri Mitchell wrote in her book Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change, “thankfully even in the darkest night, we can anticipate the coming of a new dawn. What we are seeing now is only part of the story. In order to see the larger picture, we must once again expand our vision. We must be willing to step back and look at the long view of conscious evolution. When we do, we begin to realize that what appears to be a time of darkness, descent, and destruction is a time of new birth.”
In the midst of chaos, we can ground ourselves and expand our perspectives around what a liberated and equitable future might look like if we take time to unplug and step outside. Nature is nurturing. Spending time outside has countless benefits— from increased endorphins to reduced irritability and lowered blood pressure. Being outdoors has also been found to keep stress and feelings of loneliness at bay. It’s no wonder so many of us spent time outside the house— in whatever ways we could access the outdoors — during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when the pandemic was at its peak. Let’s rewind a bit here, though. Almost three quarters of people who spent time participating in traditional outdoor activities in 2020 were white.
Are we surprised? Most recreational and preserved outdoor areas historically exclude Black, Indigenous, and other non white communities. In 2020, it was found that low-income communities and nonwhite communities have a higher chance of living in areas that are nature deprived, with little to no access to parks, paths, and green spaces.
The historical legacies of structural and systemic racism uphold a huge disparity in access to safe, healthy outdoor spaces for many people of color. A 2020 study commissioned by the Hispanic Access Foundation and the Center for American Progress found that the United States has fewer forests, streams, wetlands, and other natural places near communities that are predominantly Black, Latino, and Asian American. And in another report released that year, the Outdoor Foundation explains that adults who were not exposed to outdoor recreation as children are far less likely to participate as adults.
Redlining, forced migration, and economic segregation are just a few of the ways environmental racism has been institutionalized to further disconnect BIPOC communities across the US from access to clean, healthy outdoor areas. Until the mid twentieth century, many state and national parks posted signs that read “for whites only.” Not to mention the vast majority of beaches and public swimming areas such as pools, creeks, lakes expanded the gap in accessing nature for recreation and joy. The legacy of these policies, and subsequent status quo, has left longstanding reverberations in communities of color.
Inevitably, mainstream environmentalism has traditionally excluded people of color from leadership or any involvement in the movement to preserve our planet. In many cases, the ways in which excluded groups of color view, understand, and practice connectedness with the Earth, can differ from the standard practices being taken today. By listening to communities of color and supporting them in leading the fight to preserve our planet, we can shape more holistic ways of protecting the planet, while advocating for the needs and perspectives of those most impacted by the climate crisis.
Scientists are urging policymakers to protect at least 30% of U.S. lands and ocean areas by the year 2030 to address the climate crisis. Let’s pause for a moment. These pushes to preserve natural areas generally fail to mention preserving access to these landscapes for all people. In pushing for conservation policy, we must make sure these policies ensure equitable access to nature for all people, regardless of their race, ability, socioeconomic status, or proximity to what we consider traditional outdoor recreational spaces.
Unfortunately, when marginalized people do spend time outdoors, discrimination, violence, and intimidation are constant threats to their peace and joy. Those who spend time participating in outdoor activities risk being targeted, stereotyped, or even harmed for enjoying nature or trying to protect it. Thankfully, there are many people and organizations working tirelessly to change this narrative and reclaim our rightful place within a safe and accessible outdoor environment.
For this episode of the Joy Report, we’re spotlighting dynamic individuals who have dedicated their careers to making the outdoors accessible for all, so we can restore and heal our relationships with nature, and nurture ourselves by being in nature.
Featured StoryThroughout history, pioneers of all races, ages, and abilities have achieved tremendous feats in the outdoors.
In 1990, Bill Irwin hiked the Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine over the course of 8 months. He was the first blind person to complete the hike.
Betty Reid Soskin is the Nation’s oldest park ranger. She retired at the age of 100 back in March of this year after leading public programs at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond, California.
Evelyn Escobar, who founded the California-based organization, Hike Clerb, recently explained in a New York Times interview that “there are so many people around the country who just want to feel a sense of belonging and be able to tap into the healing energy of a collective space outside.”
This sentiment has been seen and felt over the last few years as we’ve watched the emergence and expansion of organizations with the common intention of making the outdoors more inclusive, diverse, and accessible:
Let’s take Jaylyn Gough for example. They created Native Women’s Wilderness, an organization aiming to elevate indigenous perspectives in the outdoor industry by sharing stories, and learning from one another through exploration and celebration of the wilderness and their native lands.
Syren Nagakyrie’s organization, Disabled Hikers, advocates for autonomy and representation for the disability community in the outdoor industry. The organization has developed a series of trail guides and a rating system to help disabled hikers anticipate what they’ll encounter before they begin hiking.
Or the founder of Color Outside, Nailah Blades Wylie. Her organization helps women of color harness the power of the outdoors to create the joy-filled, balanced lives they crave through coaching, workshops, and one-of-a-kind retreats.
What about Haroon Mota + their organization Muslim Hikers. They support Muslim people finding joy in the outdoors.
Or Pinar Sinopoulos-Lloyd, the co-founder of Queer Nature, a trans-run nature-based/naturalist education project serving mostly LGBTQ2+ people.
Some people used the unrest and uncertainty of 2020 to propel deeper commitments to ensuring the outdoors are inclusive, diverse, and accessible:
Like Kai Lightner, a professional rock climber who in 2020 launched Climbing for Change, an organization that provides role models and funding assistance to young climbers, with the goal of contributing to greater representation in all parts of the climbing and outdoor industries.
Or take Teresa, for example
And what gap exactly is she talking about?
[Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker— explaining the issue with diversity in the outdoors]
That gap.
[Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker]
You’re listening to the voice of one of Intersectional Environmentalist’s first council members, Teresa Baker: [Unscripted interview with Teresa Baker— personal introduction]
The I
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