Intersectional justice indicates the need to recognize racism as a structural component of the capitalist system, but not the only form of oppression experienced by people racialized as non-white. Along with race, individuals and groups may be discriminated against on the basis of gender, class, physical capacity and other visible or invisible characteristics. When they intersect, the violence is compounded and different from the individual forms of discrimination. Any vision of the future must acknowledge intersectional injustices and promote adequate responses that consider the coexistence of multiple forms of discrimination and oppression.
High dependence on imported food, the impoverishment of soil and marine ecosystems, high prices of food and high fragility in case of shocks like Covid-19 are just some of the realities experienced by Caribbean people across the region. In this way, the whole region is kept in a condition of dependency that denies people’s right to self-determination and the completion of a true decolonial project. The promotion of regional food sovereignty across land and sea, based on the principles of agroecology, human rights and accessibility, is therefore the first step towards a just future for the Caribbean region.
Advocate for policies that address social disparities and economic inequalities, ensuring that the voices of indigenous communities, black communities, women, youth, the disabled, and the elderly are heard and respected. In disaster and post-disaster situations, special attention must be paid to the needs of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, especially in disaster situations.
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Promote climate justice as an integral part of social justice, recognizing the interconnectedness of addressing social inequality, environmental sustainability, workers’ rights, the role of care labor, and the well-being of individuals and communities. This must be the case when solutions are promoted, given the risk that they reinforce conditions of intersectional injustice by not considering how specific individuals and collectives may be impacted differently than others. This approach must include policies aimed at the protection of maritime territories that may have a significant negative impact across the axes of gender, race and class.
Ensure linguistic equality and justice, protecting local languages from discrimination, and integrating traditional knowledge and practices into governance and education systems. Public policies should also be informed by the duty to recognize and safeguard ancestral ecological knowledge (of elders, women, Indigenous groups, etc.) of medicinal plants, healing practices and agroecological systems.
Showcasing stories of Caribbean organizations at the foreground of the struggle against disaster capitalism in the Caribbean. Our network of participants in the Greater Caribbean region connect, learn, share their hands on responses to the impacts of the twin threats of the climate crisis and disaster capitalism in our region.
Bernard Lodge Farmers Group
WAVE (Progressive Reform Movement)
Tèt Kole
Global Challenges Research Fund
Open Society Foundations
All Rights Reserved – strongercaribbeantogether.org 2022
All Rights Reserved – strongercaribbeantogether.org 2022
In the tumultuous aftermath of disasters, it is easy to feel isolated and alone, but you are not.
We, a network of Caribbean-wide community organizers who stand in solidarity with those affected the twin threats of the climate crises and disaster capitalism, a phenomenon that exacerbates the suffering of vulnerable communities.
We want you to know that your stories matter. We are here to listen, to support, and to amplify your voices.
We believe that together, we can challenge the forces of disaster capitalism and advocate for more sustainable, inclusive and equitable decision-making.
Join us in solidarity. Share your experiences and let’s build strong communities that thrive together.
As the wider world braces for the climate change, Caribbean communities are already struggling with its effects. Small local communities, small scale farmers and coastal communities are disproportionately affected. Political decisions, power dynamics and laws often compound the catastrophes and silence bottom up solutions.
There are ways in which you can help.