The Population and Development Program at Hampshire University just released its January DifferenTakes journal. The journal looks at the anti-immigrant movement and the greening of hate. It includes a piece written by Imagine 2050 writer, Rebecca Poswolsky, titled, “Social Justice Movements Standing Strong Against Anti-Immigrant Inroads.”
The article begins with an excellent editor’s note by co-Editors Katie McKay Bryson and Betsy Hartmann of the Population and Development Program:
“January, 2011 has already proven a sobering transition into the new year and new decade. Continued political violence in Arizona, the state that entrenched discrimination against immigrants through legislation last year, and a concerted effort across fourteen states to attack the birthright citizenship guaranteed in the 14th Amendment leave many of us disheartened. Yet committed social justice activists and organizations across many different movements are standing strong against these challenges. This month, PopDev offers two companion pieces illuminating the political context of anti-immigrant scapegoating within the U.S., the growing resistance to this politics of hate and exclusion, and the road forward.”
Poswolsky’s article goes into detail about the anti-immigrant movement and attempts made to lure environmentalists into discussions that link overpopulation to restricting immigration.
“The debate around ‘overpopulation’ is consistently employed as a tactic to lure environmentally-minded people into the fold of anti-immigrant politics. Whether or not activists concentrate primarily on connecting environmental degradation to population or consumption, any discussion about the environment must authentically include the voices, knowledge and experiences of women of color and immigrants.”
Most importantly, this article addresses positive ways environmentalists can take a stand against bigotry.
“The environmental movement is taking ownership of the fact that there is no space for anti-immigrant sentiment within constructive dialogues about the causes of urgently important environmental problems and climate change.”
Click here to read the full journal article.