Naveeda Khan, from Johns Hopkins, compares flooding in Houston and South Asia, discusses South-South politics and climate remediation efforts, and explores ethnographic work with riverine communities in Bangladesh. They touch on Islamic eschatology, river personhood, and loss vs. damage in climate change discourse.
The podcast discusses the different ways terms like 'shelter' and 'refugee' are used in media coverage of flooding in Houston and South Asia, highlighting the variations in their deployment.
The podcast explores the author's ethnographic work with chaura communities in Bangladesh, examining how their local thinking challenges both Islamic eschatology and northern climate change discourse.
Deep dives
Filaments of Muslim Ecological Thought
This article explores the concept of creation in the context of Islamic communities and their understanding of ecological thought. It delves into the interplay between eschatology, cosmology, and creation, highlighting the rich philosophical ideas surrounding these concepts. It also examines how Islamic communities in Bangladesh grapple with the idea of interconnectedness and the role of creation in shaping their ecological consciousness. The article emphasizes the importance of considering both loss and damage in the context of climate change and the different ways in which they impact communities. The author also touches upon the distinction between irreversible setbacks (loss) and reversible ones (damage). Through ethnographic examples, the article sheds light on the complex and often nuanced perspectives on creation and ecological thought within Islamic communities.
Exploring Climate Governance and Anthropology
This article discusses the author's experiences at various COP (Conference of the Parties) meetings and their relevance to her ongoing research on climate change and river communities in Bangladesh. It reflects on the limitations and potential of climate governance as a means to address the challenges posed by climate change. The author highlights the importance of bringing together different strands of thinking, including German romanticism and river-related philosophy, to gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between human and natural systems. The article also examines the significance of revisiting and redefining terms such as adaptation, mitigation, loss, and damage within the context of climate change discourse. Overall, the article underscores the need for a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to climate governance and anthropology.
Interconnectedness and Environmental Consciousness
This article explores the themes of interconnectedness and environmental consciousness within the context of river communities in Bangladesh. It delves into the nuanced ways in which these communities perceive and respond to climate change. The article discusses how cultural, religious, and historical factors shape their understanding of creation and their relationship with the natural world. It also examines the significance of indigenous knowledge and traditional practices in fostering a deeper ecological consciousness. By highlighting the experiences and perspectives of individuals within these communities, the article offers insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of environmental awareness in the face of climate change.
Dominic and Cymene plug low carbon leisure and pleasure and consider the world of competitive dishwashing. Then (8:49) we welcome to the podcast the amazing Naveeda Khan from Johns Hopkins. We compare the experiences and media coverage of recent flooding in Houston and South Asia, noting especially how terms like “shelter” and “refugee” are deployed differently. Then Naveeda shares her reflections on her trips to the COP meetings and explains what she learned about South-South politics and the anthrocentrism underlying international climate remediation efforts. From there we talk about her remarkable ethnographic work with chaura communities living on shifting riverine islands in northern Bangladesh. We discuss whether Bangladesh is indeed the world’s posterchild for climate precarity, how to think with rivers and about their evolving personhood, how local thinking in the riverine communities challenges both Islamic eschatology and northern climate change discourse, Bangladesh as global future, and Romanticism. We muse on Islamic cosmology, creaturely beings, and ecological thought and then close with a discussion of loss vs. damage. Listen on!
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