Read on Twitter
On the back of this I just wanted to talk about a couple of things real quick.
Firstly, everything Charlotte said
Now I just want to make a quick thread on some of the issues caused by classism in the climate movement, so bear with me
https://twitter.com/ElmGrace/status/1338112538077224965
Firstly, everything Charlotte said
Now I just want to make a quick thread on some of the issues caused by classism in the climate movement, so bear with me
https://twitter.com/ElmGrace/status/1338112538077224965
1) Domination. Many facets of the movement are really dominated by middle class people. XR is nearly all white, middle class, etc. And in the spotlight and at the centre of Fridays For Future, it's basically usually white, European middle class activists - I'm not >>
<< hating on them specifically but this is a huge issue.
This is due a lot to those people being in a better position to actually do activism in a way that gets them recognized. This could often lead to working class people feeling there is no place for us in the movement.
This is due a lot to those people being in a better position to actually do activism in a way that gets them recognized. This could often lead to working class people feeling there is no place for us in the movement.
2) Opportunities. Leading on from my next point, let's talk about how many opportunities are only really available to middle class activists (especially abled and white ones).
Firstly, for any huge climate summit, any working class activist who doesn't live literally really >>
Firstly, for any huge climate summit, any working class activist who doesn't live literally really >>
<< close to the location is going to struggle to get there due to the costs of transport - public transport in many countries is very expensive and climate activists might not feel like they should fly or drive (not to mention that both those options will also be >>
<< too expensive for many).
This automatically means that all those places where people get speaking ops, interviews, to take part in discussions and join large protests, are not very open to working class people (especially if they are disabled and/or BIPOC). This >>
This automatically means that all those places where people get speaking ops, interviews, to take part in discussions and join large protests, are not very open to working class people (especially if they are disabled and/or BIPOC). This >>
<< also goes for most protests which tend to focus on big cities, as rural working class people will struggle to get to these (note: I'm using working class as a general term for those who have to work and are struggling (basically, poor) rather than just those who are >>
<< actually able to work, so forgive me for the generalisation).
There are so many opportunities which require money for transport and accommodation which are impossible or very difficult for working class activists.
There are so many opportunities which require money for transport and accommodation which are impossible or very difficult for working class activists.
3) Shaming. Some of y'all really need to listen to this one
STOP SHAMING ACTIVISTS FOR NOT MAKING INDIVIDUAL CHANGES!!!
For many working class people, giving up flying is hard or even impossible due to it being one of the cheapest transport options. For me, with a father >>
STOP SHAMING ACTIVISTS FOR NOT MAKING INDIVIDUAL CHANGES!!!
For many working class people, giving up flying is hard or even impossible due to it being one of the cheapest transport options. For me, with a father >>
<< in France, it might be that sometimes the only way I can see him is to fly. And feeling shame about that because middle class activists have told me I should feel it is not going to help environmental causes or my own mental health.
Veganism is also too expensive >>
Veganism is also too expensive >>
<< an option for some (and can also be inaccessible to disabled people or people in certain countries or cultures).
And other things, like making sure your house is insulated in an "eco" way and so on, are just too expensive for many of us to actually invest in. Not to mention >
And other things, like making sure your house is insulated in an "eco" way and so on, are just too expensive for many of us to actually invest in. Not to mention >
<< that people who rent, like me, can't make changes to their house easily without permission from a landlord/lady/person (?). Which in our case would not be given because landlords (etc) are mostly capitalist assholes who don't give a fuck about tenants.
4) Free work/volunteering.
Work with most environmental orgs is unpaid. This is okay for some, including myself at this point, but for others, they won't be able to do advocacy because they will have to work. If they could get some level of payment for working with groups >>
Work with most environmental orgs is unpaid. This is okay for some, including myself at this point, but for others, they won't be able to do advocacy because they will have to work. If they could get some level of payment for working with groups >>
<< they might be able to do more speaking up and less working their butts off to make ends meet.
This especially applies to BIPOC and other marginalised people, and @Leahtommi has a bunch of good tweets on this. Leah's group is also an exception to basically everything >>
This especially applies to BIPOC and other marginalised people, and @Leahtommi has a bunch of good tweets on this. Leah's group is also an exception to basically everything >>
<< in this thread, which is amazing!
5) time.
Off the back of my last tweet: people who have to work full time or really need to study for a job they HAVE to get are not going to be able to devote as much time to activism. Fact.
Off the back of my last tweet: people who have to work full time or really need to study for a job they HAVE to get are not going to be able to devote as much time to activism. Fact.
6) Capitalist attitudes.
Of course being non-partisan is okay, in that all the parties are fucked up anyway.
But many climate activists just won't come right out and say that capitalism is shit. Some will even try to suggest that we can fix it and keep capitalism >>
Of course being non-partisan is okay, in that all the parties are fucked up anyway.
But many climate activists just won't come right out and say that capitalism is shit. Some will even try to suggest that we can fix it and keep capitalism >>
<< intact.
Well that's all right for some. But I live in rented accommodation where my landlord thinks he doesn't have to do anything for my family. Our house isn't properly insulated, it's damp, and we've had a load of issues, and I'm still luckier than many. My mother >>
Well that's all right for some. But I live in rented accommodation where my landlord thinks he doesn't have to do anything for my family. Our house isn't properly insulated, it's damp, and we've had a load of issues, and I'm still luckier than many. My mother >>
<< works as a catering assistant for the minimum wage and is now being threatened with redundancy or massively changing her hours and the way she works, under the thumb of a capitalist corporation. Benefits are essential to us being able to have a roof over our heads.
So no, for me, capitalism is not a sustainable solution.
And that's even truer for those in even worse circumstances, for BIPOC, for disabled people.
This angle is not helping us, it's hurting us.
Capitalism and solving the climate crisis can never go hand in hand.
And that's even truer for those in even worse circumstances, for BIPOC, for disabled people.
This angle is not helping us, it's hurting us.
Capitalism and solving the climate crisis can never go hand in hand.
In conclusion, the climate movement has a lot of issues w/ classism, often also tied up with race/ability issues.
You're not any more an activist if you can afford to go to events and to sail there rather than fly, and we can't solve this through capitalism or shaming. End of.
You're not any more an activist if you can afford to go to events and to sail there rather than fly, and we can't solve this through capitalism or shaming. End of.
Thanks to @charlotte_lasto for tweeting about this which have me the kick I needed to make this thread I've been wanting to make for ages
If any other working class activists would like to share your thoughts on this and/or experiences of classism within the movement I will add them to this thread, anonymously or otherwise!
