Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society.
Compassion and a strong moral compass are essential to a democratic society. SDG 16 promotes commitments to peace, global justice, and strong and inclusive institutions. EUC researchers are dedicated to building more inclusive and peaceful societies for sustainable development in Canada and around the world through their anti-violence and environmental injustice work.
32nd Eco-Arts and Media Festival takes place March 2 to 6
Since 1994, the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) (formerly Faculty of Environmental Studies) has been hosting and coordinating the Eco-Arts and Media Festival, an annual week-long event that acknowledges, shares and appreciates environmental and social justice perspectives through creative lens. This year鈥檚 theme, What We Carry with Us, invites us to reflect on the stories, memories, and objects that shape our sense of place and belonging. Through diverse artistic practices, the festival offers a space for artists, scholars, facilitators, and engaged community members to gather, witness, learn and imagine how what we carry guides how we respond to and transform the world around us.
History and politics of race, immigration, and the border in US fascism and empire
EUC recently welcomed Professor Alexander Avi帽a as a scholar-in-residence from the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University (ASU). His research focuses on 20th century Mexico, with an emphasis on revolutionary movements, the Mexican Left, state violence and terrorism, immigration, and the history of narcotics production and trafficking. As part of his residency at EUC, he presented a seminar on 鈥Notes on the Palestine-Mexican Border鈥 where he discussed the long-running wars on migrants and refugees 鈥 robbing them of the right to stay home 鈥 as well as discussed with Professor Gabriel Rockhill from Villanova University the 鈥Intellectual World War Trilogy: Western Marxism, French Theory and the Culture of Empire.鈥
The right-wing attacks on the academic left in India
According to , a spectre is haunting the world 鈥 the spectre of right-wing or fascistic authoritarianism. The authoritarian right-wing regime in India has a strong relationship to the fascistic RSS whose long-term goal has been the establishment of a Hindu nation. To significantly enhance the chances of success of the fight against right-wing hyper-nationalist authoritarian political regimes such as the one in India, Marxists, including Marxist academics, must engage in an ideological and political fight for these democratic rights on the basis of a united front as a part of their fight for socialist democracy and for a peaceful world.
Investigating the unconscious in the politics of development
has a new co-authored book on (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024) with Gavin Fridell, Professor of Global Development Studies at Saint Mary鈥檚 University, reassessing the politics of development psychoanalytically and investigating its unconscious. EUC work-study student Xinyu Mei interviews him on the importance of the book and its contributions to the ongoing debate about the politics of development amidst various factors and challenges in the policy arena.
Achieving Indigenous environmental justice
Indigenous peoples continue to face injustices in Canada. 鈥檚 collaborative project Indigenous People and Environmental (In)Justice is addressing key environmental issues of concern to Indigenous peoples in Canada. The project offers support to communities currently fighting environmental injustice, provides resources to teachers and schools interested in educating students about environmental justice, and creates a place for inclusive dialogue on how to move toward universal wellbeing.
Oral history, food justice and music making
In Jane and Finch, lack of access to affordable, fresh, and nutritious foods has long been identified as a systemic justice issue. Approximately 28.9 percent of Black households in Canada have precarious access to healthy food. This Oral history, food justice and music making project shares the creative labour of unsung community members who are addressing this issue in through diverse practices. These include urban farming, the distribution, preparation and consumption of food and the sharing of intergenerational ideas about food justice.
Climate Justice and Participatory Research
has edited a new book titled (University of Calgary Press, 2023). The book offers ideas and inspiration for climate justice action by describing the work of activist scholars in the Majority World whose research is contributing to livelihood commons and community-based climate resilience. It brings together articulations of the 鈥渨hat, why, and how鈥 of climate justice through the voices of energetic and motivated scholar-activists who are building alliances with community-based organizations across Latin America, Africa, and Canada.
Institutions, conflict, and water
Inclusive and just institutions can transform local and international experiences. 鈥檚 recent research examines what happens when institutions lack transparency and interest in the common good. Her case study consists of a dam conflict between energy corporations and conservationists in the remote Ays茅n region of Chilean Patagonia. This research shows how private property can affect collective responses and informs the building of more accountable and participatory institutions.
Investigating unequal geographies of land, resources, and infrastructure
has dedicated her research career to building more inclusive and peaceful societies for sustainable development in Canada and around the world through good governance, peace and justice-based initiatives. She is particularly interested in the experiences of marginalized groups whose way of life brings them into conflict either with their neighbouring communities or the state. In particular, her work investigating Indigenous-settler legal relationships with the land demonstrates the necessity to confront history to shape better futures.
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