Renowned Indian author Amitav Ghosh explores the link between colonialism and the climate crisis, discussing the historical exploitation of the nutmeg tree and the Bandanese genocide. He unpacks the climate crisis from a colonial perspective, emphasizing the need to address it in a historical and geopolitical context.
Colonialism's historical impact led to the climate crisis, connecting European dominance with present planetary challenges.
Amitav Ghosh provides a unique global South perspective on the climate crisis, highlighting geopolitical roots and critiquing Western-centric narratives.
Deep dives
Colonialism's Role in Climate Crisis
Colonialism's historical impact on the climate crisis is explored, linking European dominance and resource extraction to present-day planetary challenges. Amitav Ghosh discusses the exploitation of the Bandanese people by Dutch colonizers, highlighting the violent consequences of European greed for resources like nutmeg. The narrative reveals how colonial ideologies transformed environmental gifts into curses, reshaping landscapes and cultures for colonial gain.
Geopolitical Perspective on Climate Change
Amitav Ghosh provides a unique global South perspective on the climate crisis, contrasting it with mainstream Western views. He emphasizes the geopolitical roots of the planetary crisis, focusing on historical precedents like Dutch and British colonial contests over resources. Ghosh critiques Western-centric narratives and highlights the varying perceptions of the climate crisis between the global North and South.
Terraforming and Colonial Impact
The concept of terraforming is discussed as a form of landscape engineering that reshapes environments according to colonial desires. Ghosh connects colonization to terraforming, highlighting how European settlers sought to transform foreign landscapes in the Americas to mimic their homelands. The narrative explores the destructive consequences of terraforming on indigenous populations and the lasting impact of colonial interventions on global ecosystems.
Did climate change start with the industrial revolution, or was it earlier than that? And how can the story of an everyday spice help us better understand the climate crisis gripping the planet today? Renowned Indian author Amitav Ghosh on the link between colonialism and climate change and how his perception of the crisis differs from that of most Western experts. Originally broadcast July 2023.
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