Planet: Critical Language and Violence | Sunil Amrith
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Dec 12, 2024 
Join Sunil Amrith, a Yale history professor and author of "The Burning Earth," as he reveals the deep ties between violence against both humans and nature. He discusses how language has been weaponized to obscure truths and perpetuate injustices. Explore the colonial suppression of indigenous languages and its impact on cultural identity and environmental movements. Amrith also connects historical violence, technology, and ecological crises, emphasizing the vital need for grassroots activism and justice in a rapidly changing world.
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Violence and Crisis
- The world is in crisis because violence warps our moral and political imagination.
- This is evident in the destruction of ecosystems and the violence inflicted on vulnerable populations.
Conquest and Violence
- The Iberian conquest of the Americas marks a turning point, linking violence against people and nature.
- Colonizers viewed indigenous people as less human due to their closeness to nature, justifying destruction.
Language and Violence
- Language is the source code of human relationships, often obscuring or justifying violence.
- A clear definition of violence remains elusive, highlighting the complex relationship between language and harm.
