Blogs
New Zealand: (4c) #Decarbonize: #Decolonize
- Connect issues of power (colonization) to climate issues, using examples from what you learned throughout the project.
We believe that colonisation was a force that divided the world; causing wars and centuries of social upheaval, damaging the economic position of nations and industrialising others through exploitation of resources, destroying cultures, changing spiritual ties with the environment and creating social issues like white supremacy and racism. To this day, descendants of colonizers make up a huge majority of governments around the world (if not all), and there is a lack of indigenous power and representation in high society. This makes it difficult for the indigenous peoples to get the general public to understand their views.
In New Zealand power is held by the policymakers in government, which is largely Pakeha (non-Maori/Europeans/colonizers). In many ways the New Zealand government has used their power to gain profits rather while disregarding climate issues. One example of this was the government passed a law in 2013 nicknamed the ‘Anadarko Amendment’, and it criminalises protesting at sea around oil exploration, with a potential fine of $10,000. This remains an obstacle to anti-deep sea oil drilling protesters, and is seen as a step backward by many people in New Zealand, both indigenous and non-indigenous, and some see it as the government abusing their power to try to protect big oil companies and stifle dissent. Protesting at sea may stop ships in order to protect people from climate change, which is being driven by the oil industry. By stopping ships blasting the sea floor, it is stopping the destruction of our climate, and the risk to our marine life and coastal communities from a catastrophic oil spill. Additionally, oil companies such as OMV, Chevron and Statoil are almost single handedly responsible for what’s happening to our climate. They're named in the list of only 100 companies in the world that are causing 71% of global emissions.
A long term impact of deep sea oil drilling, in terms of climate change, is air pollution is generated from the operation of machinery on offshore oil rigs as well as the burn-off of gases. Without factoring in the air pollution from its end product or the refinement process, the oil platforms themselves have an impact on local air quality and globally on climate change.
- What is the role of those in power (i.e. colonizers) in climate action? What are the role of the colonized in climate action? Are these roles fixed? How might we navigate these multiple roles?
The consequences of climate change impact people in different ways. Most non-indigenous people live in industrialised, developed nations and are usually the culprits of climate change, whereas indigenous people are affected in an entirely different manner. Non-indigenous people are also affected by climate change in the same way their countries are affected overall e.g. higher temperatures, extreme weather (e.g recent hurricane in Texas for example). Many indigenous communities depend on nature as their source of food and shelter, and it is also a major component of their ideals and beliefs. Their need to rely on the non-indigenous to aid their country may create conflicts on how to correctly respond to the effects of climate change (such as rising sea levels, melting ice etc.) and can compromise their values.
For those in power (non-indigenous/colonizers) it is a time for us as individuals, governments, institutions and organizations to reflect on our country’s and world’s history and support indigenous people during this time of resurgence for them. We need to accept the reality of our country’s colonial history, and accept how history erased the stories of Indigenous Peoples, and how it continues to oppress Indigenous Peoples. We should be ready to support and encourage our Indigenous groups to step forward. We must recognise that indigenous worldviews are equal to other views, and incorporate these views, knowledge and perspectives into the education system, so a new generation will grow up in unity.
For the colonized (indigenous peoples), decolonization is about changing the way Indigenous Peoples view themselves and the way non-Indigenous people view Indigenous People. Through decolonization, indigenous people reclaim and restore their community, culture, language, history and traditions of which they were stripped from by government policies designed for assimilation. In New Zealand, our indigenous people, the Maori, are reclaiming control via the Treaty of Waitangi.
These roles are somewhat fixed. In today’s society, it will be difficult for many to identify solely with one group. Additionally, some may not be indigenous peoples, but they still may be affected by larger countries and companies exploiting their resources. This creates a grey space between the colonizer and the colonized. We may navigate these multiple roles by continuing to justify every action we take in respect for our earth and our indigenous people.
- What does it mean to “decolonize” in support of climate change?
To ‘decolonize’ in support of climate change it is imperative we make changes; for the good of our indigenous peoples, for the good of our descendents, and for the future of our planet. From this project, we recognize these changes are so far being made at an individual level across all nations. For example, our case study was on the Pacific Climate Warriors, they are a network of young Polynesians who decided ‘We are not drowning. We are fighting,’ and went to bigger countries (i.e, Australia, Canada) to demand that something be done. But globally, change has proved to be a struggle at a government level. With our bilateral partner was Kenya, we came to the conclusion that both governments are blinded by money, and the struggle of indigenous people to have their voices heard highlights that our national leaders are not doing a well enough job to decrease climate change and respect Indigenous rights. This may be because Governments don’t think climate change is a problem, just because they don’t think it’s a direct problem to them (a definition of privilege). So, to decolonize in support of climate change, we need to recognise that indigenous worldviews are equal to other views, and incorporate these views into our government. Thus, we are restoring an environment where the people and the land are one, and new plans with this framework will aim to ‘decarbonise’.
- How might we participate in climate action in different contexts?
A socially and environmentally ethical response looks like good iwi/government relations. First and foremost, we need governments that are ready and accommodating for change. Instead of clambering our way upwards, why not begin at the heart of new policies and laws? We need to choose the right people for our leadership positions, or we need to be the right people for those leadership positions. To create a sustainable future, we need to establish an environment where everyone has equal passion and access to be able to make change. Though it is understandable that the government needs to focus on building revenue and reducing debt, it should not be at the cost of ignoring tangata whenua and disrespecting the treaty on which Pakeha and Maori were united. As indigenous people of New Zealand, Māori feel an affinity to the land that is hard for most New Zealanders to understand, the government holds the responsibility to consult and involve Maori in the decision making process in regards to the continuation of deep sea oil drilling.
As the youth of New Zealand, one way we could participate in this process is to ask our teachers or our principal to teach the indigenous language which is Te Reo Maori in New Zealand. We believe all secondary students should take at least one year of compulsory Te Reo Maori, and we may be able to urge our individual school to make this happen. This allows non-indigenous people to be exposed and engage with a new culture, and further unites them because of increased understanding and knowledge. With positive media coverage, other schools may implement this, and hopefully our new government will put it in the curriculum as well.
Actions taken by regular citizens can be as small or as large as:
- Residents changing water taps so they don’t run for as long, installing water tanks in our homes, and using reusable bags for shopping.
- Businesses beginning to invest in green technology
- The government spending more money spent on affordable public transport, providing compost bins, investing in scientists developing ideas for how to adapt to climate change, subsidizing solar panels for renewable energy, and making climate change education compulsory in schools.
