With the passing of another Roman calendar year comes prescribed moments for reflection. 2016 brought tremendous upheaval. Ongoing slaughter
in Syria, a mounting refugee crisis, a rise in xenophobic and nationalist
movements, Brexit, demonetization and the continued politics of thievery in
India, continued murder and criminalization of human rights defenders across the globe, and
certainly not least, the election of Donald Trump.
This past year also saw the passing of an inordinate number
of cultural icons. In my own life, the significance of Muhammad Ali and Prince
must be noted. As a kid I remember my dad – who was a boxer himself in his
youth – tell me, “Whatever it is you do, remember to leave your mark on this
world – just like Muhammad Ali.”
Personally, 2016 brought more opportunities to lend my voice
in support of struggles for democratic expression, climate justice, and
community land and forest rights.
Some highlights from the year:
The arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student president Kanhaiya
Kumar on charges of sedition, and the larger debate around anti-nationalism in
India, triggered country-wide protests. In Delhi I spoke with students at JNU,
listened to rallies on campus, and participated in a march in favor of
democratic expression. The myopic
discourse on patriotism and dissent was all too familiar, reminiscent of the
days of protest and anguish after 9/11 in the US.
July
Over the past year there have been intensified efforts by local communities, activists, and civil
society organizations to implement India’s landmark – yet poorly utilized – Forest
Rights Act. It has been shown that forests
are better sustainably used, managed, and conserved when in the hands of local
communities – as compared to governments or private entities – and therefore an
effective strategy for climate change mitigation. December 2016 marks the tenth
anniversary of the FRA.
Liberia’s legislature had the opportunity to pass a new law – the
Land Rights Act – which would recognize the land rights of communities across
the country. After spending a year on the ground in Liberia from 2012-2013
collaborating with local communities to document, manage, and govern their
traditional lands and forests, it was with an open heart I returned to support
my friends and colleagues in their ongoing struggles. The Land Rights Act will
be in front of the legislature again in January 2017.
October/November
Towards the end of 2016 I had the opportunity to visit pastoral
communities in the Banni Grasslands of the Kutch region of India. The Maldharis have been organizing to have
their rights to their traditional grasslands recognized through theForest
Rights Act. My trip coincided with the annual pashu mela (livestock fair). The
result was an enriching and eye-opening journey into a unique culture
navigating their path to maintain their traditional way of life.
After much persistence from the homie Dr. Fitz, we
collaborated on a new podcast: Knife at the GunFight. The inaugural episode
features a report back from Standing Rock, where indigenous communities in the
US have been resisting the construction of an oil pipeline through their
ancestral lands, and discusses the larger struggle for indigenous and community
land rights around the world.
To new friends and old, 2017 will certainly require renewed
dedication for greater coordination, organizing, and resistance in the face of
new threats to marginalized communities at home and abroad, sexual and
reproductive rights, and the larger environment upon which we all depend. Looking
forward to seeing you out there.
Masala Justice
