We Are LaCH

Chris and Heather are joined by Julianna Gwiszcz, MSSW, PhD to explore what this moment means for professionals like her working in or across the education, climate and sustainability, global health and related fields, and why this matters.

We consider the mental health and wellbeing implications of it all and ways we can better navigate these challenging times together through cultivating hope in place of fear, reclaiming our individual and collective agency, and leaning into and lifting up community however and wherever we can.
 
As a justice-oriented leader, educator, scholar-practivist, social worker/healer, strategist and engagement steward (among other things), Julianna has devoted 15+ years to catalyzing transformations and weaving unlikely connections across divides. She works at the intersections of higher education and experiential (lifelong) learning, international sustainable development and climate action, global health and human rights, social change and systems change, youth/leadership development, healing art, design and communications, and social impact innovation and philanthropy.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this episode are those of the hosts and guest alone and should not be taken to represent any present or former institutional affiliations they may have.
Wellbeing Economy Alliance

Climate Mental Health Network

Collective Change Lab

2023 Report on “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community”

Another shorter and more digestible resource on this “epidemic of loneliness and isolation”

An older but just-as-fitting-for-today article on “Finding Hope in Hard Times”

The Greater Good Science Center, which has some amazing resources on the “keys to well-being” and “bridging differences” among other things

The Interaction Institute for Social Change, which has (or had!) an upcoming workshop on “Moving Through Chaos and Complexity: Network Weaving for Social Healing in Times of Great Change”.

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⁠⁠⁠Find more from Lavinia, Chris, and Heather⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠Listen to our positionality introduction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you to Alex and the Wonderland for the theme song: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Climb Aboard⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

As promised, Chris and Heather are back with a (maybe weekly) podcast, drinking in the news. Here is the first episode of Morning Tinto. Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts as we won't keep sharing it to this feed.

In this episode, we discuss the banning of DEI/EDI in the US. And can you guess who Heather's poem is about??

Show notes:

Executive Order and news article from today

Lavinia, Chris, and Heather speak with María Lucía Luna Borda (yes, relation) about the recent Biodiversity COP held in Cali, Colombia. We talk about biodiversity, the concept of “peace with nature”, community knowledge, nature as a victim of armed conflict, and the need for healing and justice.

María Lucía is a sociologist and researcher specializing in the impacts of armed conflict and socio-environmental issues on Nature and Territory. María Lucía has worked extensively on territorial dispossession, community resistance, and resilience, including her contributions to the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth and her current role at the National Center for Historical Memory in Colombia.

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⁠⁠Find more from Lavinia, Chris, and Heather⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Listen to our positionality introduction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you to Alex and the Wonderland for the theme song: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Climb Aboard⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Heather, Chris, and Lavinia discuss ecofascism. Where does the word come from? What does fascism mean? How are we vulnerable to fascism? The importance of an anti-oppression lens in climate activism is emphasised. Heather recounts her experiences with Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, highlighting the structural power dynamics and the risks of associating with far-right elements. Heather explains how fear and urgency are weaponised by eco-fascists, advocating for relationship-building and systemic understanding. The conversation also touches on the systemic injustices behind climate migration and the need for grounded principles in climate responses, critiquing simplistic solutions and the potential dangers of socialist approaches.

Show notes:

Heather's ⁠videos on ecofascism⁠ and her own ⁠podcast episode.⁠

⁠A Linktree from antifascists friends⁠ More articles

⁠Just Stop Ecofascism⁠ Open Letter to Just Stop Oil

⁠What is happening in Louisiana prisons⁠ article

⁠The Rise of Ecofascism⁠ book

⁠Ejeris Dixon’s podcast on fascism⁠: The Fascism Barometer

⁠Bad Faith: Briahna Joy Gray and Dr. Fadhel Kaboub on African Development⁠

Militarised Green Party in Germany:

⁠https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/11/18/wrdm-n18.html⁠ 

⁠https://www.cjfp.org/for-germanys-green-party-the-50-year-dream-to-end-nuclear-power-ends-in-a-nightmare/⁠

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⁠Find more from Lavinia, Chris, and Heather⁠.

⁠Listen to our positionality introduction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you to Alex and the Wonderland for the theme song: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Climb Aboard⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Chris, Heather, and Lavinia discuss the place of vision when it comes to sustainability. What are some steps we can take from here to there? Heather argues that the election results reflect basic needs not being met rather than differing visions. Chris emphasises the need to envision positive futures beyond mere resistance. Lavinia highlights the role of hope and the importance of diverse, local visions. They explore the concept of visioning, the role of principles, and the challenges of achieving collective vision. The conversation touches on the need for safe spaces, the complexities of leftist movements, and the importance of community and solidarity in envisioning and working towards a better world.

Show notes:

Vidhya Shanker

Nonviolent Global Liberation

White Supremacy Culture Patterns

Vison Mobilisation

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 ⁠Find more from Lavinia, Chris, and Heather⁠.

⁠Listen to our positionality introduction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you to Alex and the Wonderland for the theme song: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Climb Aboard⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Chris and Lavinia interview Heather. She was the Project Coordinator for Education for Sustainable Development for the Higher Education Academy in the UK between 2005 and 2012. They discuss:

Reference:

⁠Campuses Are Pulling Out All the Stops to Crush Palestine Solidarity This Fall⁠

You can find more from Lavinia, Chris, and Heather at ⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠.

Listen to our positionality trailer⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠.

Thank you to Alex and the Wonderland for the theme song: ⁠⁠⁠Climb Aboard⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Heather and Chris interview Lavinia and talk about all things fashion. From generic greenwashing to Global South shaming. We share our insights and perceptions on the global industrial fashion system and the many intersections.

We ask questions like: What are the hidden sides of greenwashing in fashion? Where do discarded and donated clothes end up? How is clothing waste perceived? What would it be like if clothing culture were not influenced by Western clothing styles and production methods? What is green whining? 

Correction: At minute 22:25, Lavinia states there are enough clothes on the planet to dress humanity for the next six years, but the correct figure is six generations.

References

Textile & fashion industry in Palestinian occupied territories: USAID, Business Human Rights, Ruby Veridiano, Kohan

Call to Action: Anti Sweatshop Activists against Apartheid

Fashion brand’s complicity with Israel  

Global South shaming as a layer of greenwashing:

Why second-hand apparel is not the solution: The Conversation and UNECE

There are enough clothes on the planet right now to dress the next six generations of the human race

You can find more from Lavinia, Chris, and Heather at ⁠Linktree⁠.

Listen to our positionality trailer⁠ here⁠.

Thank you to Alex and the Wonderland for the theme song: ⁠Climb Aboard⁠.

Heather and Lavinia interview Chris about his newsletter entitled, “The flying elephant in the room," which was written in late June 2024 to describe the difficulty of the aviation decarbonisation challenge. Chris draws upon his almost 15 years doing domestic and international aviation environmental policy analysis and regulatory compliance.

In the conversation, the three discuss:

You can find more from Chris, Heather and Lavinia at Linktree.

Listen to our positionality trailer here.

Wherein Lavinia, Chris, and Heather give their bios and positionality. Find out more about us at our LinkTree.

Thank you to Alex and the Wonderland for the theme song: Climb Aboard.