240017 VS Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Justice (3.2.1) (2016W)

Ziele
As an applied anthropologist, working for 2 decades on these topics, I can provide the present state of discourse, present the key actors as well as the diverse strategies that Indigenous Peoples are employing, including civil society collaborations, participating in UN meetings, and social media campaigns. Students will learn how to access key information, e.g. UN documents via databases. My goal is that students interested in working on environmental/climate change issues gain an understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ unique and diverse roles, important for their work whether in an NGO, government or international organization setting.

Inhalte
Environmental Justiceis the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmentallaws, regulations, and policies. This course will explore how Indigenous Peoples, living on their lands/territories, directly dependent upon them for their livelihoods, cultural/spiritual practices, are fighting for their survival. They are on the frontlines, often the first to experience air/water pollution, desertification, rising sea-levels and the melting of the glaciers although least contributing to the causes of environmental degradation and climate change. Indigenous Peoples have become environmental justice leaders, combatting these issues locally, taking their fight to fora such as the Paris Climate Conference, as well as employing sophisticated social media-based activism. They have been embraced by global grassroots movements such as 350.org, which dedicates itself to awareness-raising of human-driven climate change. Other highly effective agencies include the Indigenous Environmental Network whose Indigenous political validity builds upon a combination of strong community ties, respect and guidance by elders and youth leadership. We will explore Indigenous Peoples’ unique roles and differing political approaches from the mainstream movements, examples including the Tar Sands. This course is designed as a practical, preparatory course, providing insight into the work and roles of NGOs, international organizations and governments. Via the combination of lectures, audio visual materials, their research, oral presentations, papers and discussions, students will become immersed in this topic.

Methoden
This course, held in English, will combine instructor lecturing, audiovisual material with the delivery of oral presentations by the students. Questions, debates and observations will be encouraged. The oral presentations of each student will be the result of independent research, analysis and students are expected to present their personal viewpoint. An independent research paper on that basis is to follow. I will be providing individual feedback on both their oral and written work.

This course will be held entirely in English.