Women’s ways lead us to the solutions the planet and the people need

Peasant and working-class women in Africa bear the brunt of climate-destroying ‘development’ projects which grab, pollute and destroy their natural resources, undermine cultural and historical ties to territories, exploit their labour (paid and unpaid), and violate their bodies and health. And women form the core of struggles to defend the land, lives, livelihoods and future of their families and communities. Their struggle is one that defends a way of life and an existence that cannot be replaced. This is their development alternative. Yet, women have limited voice and authority in decision- making about development at all levels of society. We note the ways in which African peasant and working-class women care for, replenish and reproduce nature and humans.

This article by Margaret Mapondera, Trusha Reddy and Samantha Hargreaves examines the ecological and climate crisis as a critical dimension of the manifold threats facing the planet and most of its peoples today.

Read the article here