Green Dreamer: Seeding change towards collective healing, sustainability, regeneration Danel Ruiz-Serna: Living territories and the ecological violence of war
Jul 27, 2023
Daniel Ruiz-Serna, an anthropologist and ethnographer, dives deep into the intertwining realms of ecological and political violence in Colombia's Bajo Atrato region. He explores how war impacts not just the environment but the very relationships among species and their territories. Highlighting territories as living entities with spirit, Daniel critiques current legal frameworks and outlines the necessity for new understanding in justice and reparations. He emphasizes the importance of listening to nature and staying grounded in wonder, inspiring listeners to reframe narratives of harm.
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Autonomy Born From Alluvial Gold Labor
- Afro-Colombian communities in Bajo Atrato formed autonomous settlements after buying freedom from alluvial gold work.
- That autonomy fostered distinct cultural institutions but also left the region marginalized by the state.
Territory As Living Webs
- Territories in Bajo Atrato are living webs of relations, not mere resources to exploit.
- Daniel Ruiz-Serna ties ecological harm to ruptured relationships among humans, animals, spirits, and land.
Ecological Violence Goes Beyond 'Collateral' Damage
- 'Ecological violence' names harms that exceed environmental damage by including other-than-human suffering.
- Ruiz-Serna argues war routinely transforms relations that sustain life, so damage is not merely collateral.