4c FINAL REPORT

Nov 5, 2017 by Badr

Colonization is the process in which a group settles and establishes control over an Indigenous group.

We have been witnessing the effects of colonization from the time we all began going to school. What we don’t tend to see in the textbooks is how colonization is still happening today in forms of corporate control and trade exports and imports.

Deforestation - Connecting the Impacts and Issues to Climate Change

What have we learned about it?

In Papua New Guinea, they are experiencing deforestation largely due to logging exports (roughly 70%) from large Australian companies, who forced Elders to sign the agreements, literally physically forced them to sign, did not know what they signed for; similar to numbered treaties in Canada, the Indigenous group did not know what they were signing as it was mis represented. The deforestation crisis that is occurring in Papua New Guinea is heavily contributing to climate change as the loss of trees also means the loss of complex ecosystems, the loss of plant life, the loss of traditional hunter/gather lifestyles. The massive loss of trees also contributes to the changing climate in and around the area. Additionally, after the trees are cut down, slash and burn agricultural techniques are often used, causing more damage to the area and remaining trees. This allows tourists, loggers, etc., to access remote areas more easily, which bring more harmful traffic to the vulnerable area.

Actions for Change?

At this time, there is no actions from the colonizers to reduce climate in deforestation, one direction that needs to be taken is discussing what the Indigenous population of that region truly need in order to help preserve their traditional ways of life, and to encourage true relationship building. Colonizers need to preserve and respect the ways of life, through discussions and teachings from the Indigenous group at risk. Another area for further discussion and action are having the youth of that area involved and to begin not only learning, but understanding the lasting effects of colonization and ways to solve the issue. How do we decolonize? Awareness, more awareness to these issues, and tying the issues to students at a global level is what will being the movement of change and decolonization.

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