The colonial roots of gendered violence and femicide in Australia run deep and have been cultivated into our national psyche over generations. A global pattern driven by an aggressive, entitled culture that seeks to have the power over another living organism, be it a human, an animal or reef is not sustainable.
As human ecosystems our wellbeing and welfare is interdependent on our natural world and each other. Our activities in technology, the economy and politics all influence this. Politicians often tell us change comes slowly, like it’s just naturally happening in a steady march of progress. They say each generation learns from the last and spares us from repeating mistakes. As if reaching retirement means you’re no longer part of society that has influence and shapes culture, that it’s time for the baton to be passed on.
Our natural world is changing so abruptly that the government talks about climate emergencies and we feel numb and powerless, a symptom of trauma I believe. I can’t see “climate refugees” taking off as that would require government accountability and policy changes that would leave them open to litigation. New laws get created to avoid integrity and real change that instead places responsibility on the individual. The underlying coercively controlling tactics are felt globally and are the heart and soul of the Australian colony.
Our system, designed to be overwhelmingly big can make us feel so small and disempowered. In the spirit of Isla, I hope we can learn to have empathy for one another in actions that support the power with one another to endure the multiple crisis to come.