Justice and Reconciliation

I have a vision for a future world where people recognize themselves as part of the ecosystem, and endeavour to serve and protect ecosystems as much as ecosystems serve us. Everybody has the right to grow up surrounded by nature and continue the cultural traditions that rely on healthy ecosystems, to foster a deep sense of identity and connection to their community. This means that protecting the environment goes hand in hand with protecting and listening to the voices of the people that live there. Including Indigenous voices in conservation efforts is critical to reverse generations of governmental neglect and has the potential to introduce new solutions by offering different perspectives. I think educating our youth on these issues is critical to encourage a new generation to not shy away from more difficult conversations that don't necessarily have an easy solution. In cases where action is needed to protect the environment that may negatively affect people's livelihoods, everybody that will be involved in the potential repercussions needs to have a say in the decision making; and the relational values of people must have as much weight and importance as the economic ones. True justice is only possible if everyone can make their case and have their perspectives respected. By encouraging respectful relationships with other humans, we are better able to look after our planet.