Dear ReWilder,
“The erosion of the Soil is the erosion of the Soul”
The climate narrative is often a global and overarching story of human experience. Within these narratives, it is increasingly important to recognise the ways in which these realities are experienced differently and from diverse perspectives. This newsletter focuses on the theme of Gender within Climate Crisis conversations. Women are disproportionately impacted by the effects of Climate Change, and this highlights how important it is to consider our positionality and privilege when we speak about climate realities. We are all diverse bodies, with different experiences of the world and shining a light on these stories helps us all to locate individual experiences within the global narrative of climate change.
“Participation of girls and women is about telling your story, the way you experience it, not the way it is written” - Sibongile Mtungwa
Women and men do not experience climate crises as the same reality. Gender inequalities and gender-based violence globally affect the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt. The short film above is part of a series we produced for the African Climate Reality Project and Action 24. In this short film, Sibongile describes the gender-based violence associated with often having to walk long distances to fetch clean water. Escaping an abusive marriage, Sibongile rediscovered her connection to the land and began a small-scale subsistence farm which slowly grew to be a cornerstone of the community and education for young women.
Building a constituency of empowered women is key to a Just Transition 🤝🏽
“Working with girls, for me, is to build a constituency of a younger voice that is different from mine. When I think of the future of the earth, it needs citizens like that, citizens that are going to embrace life as a whole. The gift to protect and to co-create something better.” Sibongile believes that positive action comes from awareness and education. Sibongile’s training and education program for women and girls is part of this, she says:
“What I would really like for the girls is to understand that when they protect the environment it is not about something that is abstract and out there. It is about protecting themselves, their identity, and who they are.” Sibongile speaks about the benefits of bringing boys into this space too; how when you are working in a garden or testing water, something awakens, and that reconnection to the land helps to reinforce positive gendered relationships.
Sibongile highlights how a blended approach of climate science and traditional practices helps to make this knowledge useful, relevant, and culturally sustaining. Marrying these different knowledge systems is key. Again and again, we see women proven to be leaders in just transitions and sustainable solutions. Recognizing women’s expertise and important contributions as educators, innovators, stakeholders, experts, scientists, and decision-makers, is key to successful and durative climate resilience and wellbeing.
Women are the primary farmers of the world 👩🏽🌾
Gathering and producing food, collecting water, gardening, and sourcing fuel for heating and cooking has long been considered women’s work in many cultures. This deep relationship with the earth and diverse landscapes makes women in these contexts environmental scientists and researchers in their own right. As Sibongile says: “The time to plant, and the availability of water tells us that things are not the same, and are not going according to what we know.”
Women have a wealth of knowledge and understanding, passed down from woman to woman, of what is needed to mitigate and adapt to changing climates. This vital role that women around the world play is an untapped resource. As the IUCN writes:
“Restricted land rights, lack of access to financial resources, training and technology, and limited access to political decision-making spheres often prevent them [women] from playing a full role in tackling climate change and other environmental challenges.”
For too long women’s voices, marginalised voices, and indigenous voices have not been heard in climate science conversations; the time to change this is now.
The future of women in just transitions is bright 👩🏽🤝👩🏻
At ReWild, we advocate for better education for women, more women in leadership positions, greater influence in agriculture and land management, and protecting and promoting the indigenous peoples’ rights. We advocate for more value to be placed on the work that women do, as experts, professionals, scientists, farmers, carers, educators, mothers and decision-makers. We believe that we can only see a just transition if women are empowered and leading the way.
“To address climate change, we must make gender equity a reality. And in the face of a seemingly impossible challenge, women and girls are a fierce source of possibility,” - Katharine Wilkinson
News from ReWild 🐾
ReWild has been collaborating with the Society for Ecological Restoration Conference this week. It is inspiring to see so many individuals and organisations making waves at the cutting edge of climate science with innovative and creative solutions to complex problems
We’re looking for freelancers to assist us with some up and coming projects throughout Africa, if you know any passionate filmmakers, editors or storytellers, send them to our FreeWilders freelancer ecosystem here.
Learn Biomimicry has turned 1 (and a half) years old! We’re so incredibly proud of the growth, and with over 924+ courses taken part, we’re now looking to celebrate the 1000th!
If you know of a solutionary that is making a positive socio-ecological impact and needs their story told, reach out to us here.
Read more on Gender-Based Violence in South Africa here.
Take Action 10 ways you can help end violence against women, even during a pandemic