OLÚFÉMI O. TÁÍWÒ on Climate Colonialism and Reparations /216
After the 15th century, only five countries in the world had not been colonized by European empires in some form or another. Today we see how the policies, strategies, and technologies intended to “address” climate change will ultimately echo colonial pursuits under the guise of sustainable development and carbon offsets. This week, we explore climate colonialism, reparations, carbon removal, and a real “just transition” with guest Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò. Our conversation doesn’t provide easy answers or solutions but rather reminds us that while climate colonialism is unfurling before us, there is a myriad of tangible ways countries and movements across the so-called global North could begin making reparations.
“Work with people rather than working on behalf of people.”
Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò by Jared Rodríguez
As a scholar of anti-colonial thought, Olúfẹ́mi details the messy, imperfect, and transformative work of navigating reparations for world-making processes like the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. How can a reparations based framework help us understand how the benefits and burdens of transition should be distributed globally? We also discuss the complexity of carbon removal and why many environmentalists remain wary of incorporating carbon capture strategies, while also recognizing that carbon removal can be a means of “rectifying historical climate injustice.” Each thread Olúfẹ́mi explores in conversation leaves us with much to dream into as we build the world we want to live in.
Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University. He studies and teaches social and political philosophy, with an emphasis on the Black radical tradition and anti-colonial thought.
His theoretical work draws liberally from German transcendental philosophy, contemporary philosophy of language, contemporary social science, histories of activism and activist thinkers, and the Black radical tradition. He is currently writing a book entitled Reconsidering Reparations that considers a novel philosophical argument for reparations and explores links with environmental justice. He also is committed to public engagement and is publishing articles in popular outlets with general readership exploring intersections between climate justice and colonialism.
♫ Music featured in this episode includes “Losing Sight of the Shore” by 40 Million Feet, “The Rattle Song” by Ulali, and “Ripple Effect” by Rajna Swaminathan.
Episode References
Identity Politics and Elite Capture by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
Our coronavirus failure will become our climate failure by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
The Green New Deal and the Danger of Climate Colonialism by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
The Case for Climate Reparations by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò and Beba Cibralic
Reconsidering Reparations: The Movement for Black Lives and Self-Determination by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
Climate Colonialism and Large-Scale Land Acquisitions by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
Recommendations from Olúfemi
Black Marxism by Cedric Robinson
Golden Gulag by Ruth Wilson Gilmore
From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime by Elizabeth Hinton
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney
Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano
Bargaining for the Common Good
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