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How is this representation of climate change similar to the other things you’ve read/viewed? How is different?
This representation of climate change is similar to the other thing I have viewed because it explores the effects of all the carbon dioxide being emitted into our atmosphere as well as how it becomes trapped in the atmosphere when released. As deforestation has been happening for a while, the video clearly expresses how this is a main part of climate change as well as global warming. With all the carbon dioxide emissions being let out from the trees as they are cut down is also a significant part of this video. All of the carbon dioxide that is taken in by the tree is then released back into the atmosphere, completely destroying all the work that the tree originally reduced. However, many different topics were conveyed when watching this video. For instance, this video was created with the mindset of an indigenous community. Not many videos have been created in this way, which gives an understanding to the viewer about how different communities are reacting and coping with climate change than our own. It also created many valid points, allowing possible solutions to slowly come upon our world without completely diminishing all carbon dioxide emissions, which usually haven’t been explored yet. The REDD+ organization has never been expressed to me before, and I found it very beneficial to the planet that such an organization exists where we can work on eliminating the amount of effect climate change has on indigenous peoples. Unlike most organizations, REDD+ focuses in on one specific community in order to better specify the actions coming out of the organization.
Where do you see the influence of Indigenous peoples in this video? Where is it missing?
I see the influence of the indigenous peoples throughout the entire video while the elder which is narrating the information which is being presented. This method of conveying viewers information creates a special connection between the indigenous peoples as well as the ones watching. With the perspective of an indigenous person, each individual part of the video gets drawn back to the main point that climate change is affecting everyone in this world, even those who are not contributing to the climate change themselves. This really supports the video’s main focus of indigenous people’s actions towards climate change, as we can see firsthand how action can be taken towards creating a better world for everyone. Each individual has a voice in the REDD+ organization, however is not necessarily represented to in the larger picture. Although REDD+ has been continuously working in order to get equal opinions, the indigenous have a lesser advantage. When it comes to the large companies as well as reducing the emissions of a factory, there is no background knowledge for the indigenous to contribute to the cause. As the indigenous tend to be people of their own, and belong to their own society, they most often hold less power than the government officials and representatives. Ultimately, this video was illustrating the discrepancies between the different effects climate change has on different communities across the globe and what each individual society is doing in order to help put a stop to climate change.
What solutions to climate change does this video propose?
The video proposes multiple solutions to climate change such as creating new forests as well as preserving forests that are already existent. As more and more forests are cut down, the carbon dioxide that has been conserved within the tree is released, emitting far more carbon dioxide than any other tree can take in at once. If we begin to plant trees one by one in effort to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into our atmosphere, we will gradually begin making up our carbon dioxide debt that has already been emitted. Also, the gradual replanting of new forests which soak up the carbon dioxide will help in order to restore the many forests that have been eliminated already. This video suggests that by raising the value of a single living tree higher than that if it was cut down, government will take charge in order to help sustain our forests that are being depleted at a fast rate. Additionally, it is depicted that governments are to put in laws and restrictions in order to create less carbon emissions emitted into the atmosphere each year. By creating a balance between the natural ecosystem as well as the industrial creations of our world, we will be able to achieve an equilibrium in the carbon dioxide released each year.
Do you agree with the representation of Indigenous peoples and climate change action in the video? Why or why not?
I agree with the representation of the indigenous peoples and climate change action in the video because overall, the video is bringing climate change into a whole new light. Different perspectives were taken during the video, as not much information regarding climate change has been influenced by an indigenous view. This created a completely new outlook concerning the effect climate change has taken upon each individual on this earth. With nominal influence on government issues and restrictions, the indigenous people will provide a supportive part in our reducing of climate change. By standing by the homeland that has always been free, indigenous peoples will make sure to stand by what has been preserved for so many centuries. They play a key role in making sure that the actions which larger companies take will have a positive outcome in the future. Seeing how the video was from the perspective of a village elder, this provides firsthand insight on how an indigenous person would think and act towards climate change as well as the connection that has been established between nature and themselves. The proposals put forward by REDD+ include each person from very different backgrounds in order to achieve one main goal; to eliminate climate change.
What are the opportunities and challenges in taking seriously Indigenous perspectives of climate change? Consider factors that facilitate or hinder ethical responses to climate change, including social and economic inequities, political dynamics, marginalization, discrimination, state, military/police power, etc.
The opportunities in taking indigenous perspectives of climate change entail the basic belief that the indigenous are people of their land. The land that they reside on is respected with the same level of respect that is directed towards another human being. By being the protectors of the earth, they are there in order to establish that climate change is not what our world was meant for, and cannot continue to happen if our world is to prosper and thrive in the future. As more and more people are raised to the awareness of those who live a simple life of the indigenous, people who once didn’t even understand how climate change was affecting the earth, would begin to realize what a large impact each ton of carbon dioxide has on our earth. Some disadvantages to including indigenous perspectives on climate change would be the vast differences we would need to change in our daily lifestyle in order to adapt to a suitable lifestyle which emitted no carbon emissions. This would impose very harsh restrictions on many people across the world. Jobs would be lost, such as those in the logging industries, factories, as well as many other areas where climate change is a large factor. Although completely ridding our world of climate change, we need to take into consideration all people of the world. If half of the world is completely happy with how we are taking climate change into our hands, but the other half is completely unsupportive, we would instantly run into major problems. In order to create a sustainable environment as well as living society, we must take it one step at a time. I agree with the indigenous that we need to put a stop to climate change, and even extreme precautions must be taken in order to enforce these new restrictions, however, different opinions and views will always get in the way of a major change in our lifestyle, such as this. In order to create the best possible effect on putting a stop to climate change, each person on the earth needs to be 100% committed to the cause before we can even put a dent in repairing our world.
