The Future is Intersectional with Leah Thomas

Outrage + Optimism

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

- MLK (1963)

This week, we reject our flawed, siloed thinking and embrace the oneness of social justice and environmentalism as a singular, inclusive movement.

In the Summer of 2020, our guest, Leah Thomas, coined the term “Intersectional Environmentalism” with a graphic she shared to Instagram that read, “Environmentalists For Black Lives Matter” as a call out to all environmentalists to stand in solidarity with BIPOC communities that face compounding social and environmental injustices daily. The Instagram post went viral, and the pledge she introduced along with it, The IE Pledge, has reached over a million people. 

And so now that it’s 2022 and counting, how can we continue to root ourselves in that moment of clarity in 2020 and hold to the truth that you don’t have to separate race or racial justice from environmental advocacy? How can we scale climate solutions while advocating for marginalized communities all the while not making excuses for extractive industries?

We’re also joined this week by special co-host Abigael Kima, a young energy expert and climate activist from Kenya .She is the producer and host of the new Hali-Hewa (Swahili for ‘Climate Change’) podcast, which will profile African activists and climate experts airing through to COP27 on themes including a just energy transition, loss and damage, youth participation in intergovernmental processes and indigenous rights.

And —- Stick around for 3-Time GRAMMY Award Winning Artist Fantastic Negrito performing a live version of his song, “Rolling Through California”!

Enjoy the show!

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

Mentioned links from the episode:

ACT: Take the Intersectional Environmentalist Pledge

LISTEN: IE’s Brand New Podcast ‘The Joy Report’

READ: MAPS (Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary)

WATCH: How Black Lives Matter and Environmental Justice Are Connected

READ: The NAP Ministry

Thanks to our guest this week, Leah Thomas!

Leah Thomas

Founder | Intersectional Environmentalist

Twitter | Instagram 

Intersectional Environmentalist

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Website | Patreon

BUY: The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas

Thank you to our Co-Host this week, Abigael Kima!

Abigael Kima

Host and Producer | Hali Hewa Podcast 

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook 

Hali Hewa Podcast 

Website

Our musical guest this week is Fantastic Negrito!

Fantastic Negrito

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | TikTok

WATCH: ‘Highest Bidder’

READ: New Film + Album “White Jesus Black Problems” coming June 3rd 

Keep up with Christiana Figueres online:

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson:

LinkedIn | Twitter

Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

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