One Earth: People of Color Protecting Our Planet

by Anuradha Rao

Overview

★ “The activists’ stories are extraordinary...It’s a powerful answer to Rao’s framing questions: ‘Who is an environmental defender? What does she or he look like? Maybe like you. Maybe like me.’”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “Thought-provoking reading for young people figuring out their own contributions. This valuable compilation shows that Earth’s salvation lies in the diversity of its people.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

One Earth profiles Black, Indigenous and People of Color who live and work as environmental defenders. Through their individual stories, the book shows that the intersection of environment and ethnicity is an asset to achieving environmental goals. The twenty short biographies introduce readers to diverse activists from all around the world, who are of many ages and ethnicities. From saving ancient trees on the West Coast of Canada, to protecting the Irrawaddy dolphins of India, to uncovering racial inequalities in the food system in the United States, these environmental heroes are celebrated by author and biologist Anuradha Rao, who outlines how they went from being kids who cared about the environment to community leaders in their field. One Earth is full of environmental role models waiting to be found.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459818866
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	690,547
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	1050L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Anuradha Rao is a conservation biologist, writer and facilitator born and raised in the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and currently based in unceded Coast Salish territories. She has worked on research, conservation, restoration, planning and stewardship projects with communities and organizations on the coasts of Canada and in 12 other countries. Her worldview and approach to science are heavily influenced by teachings from her Indian heritage and from Indigenous knowledge holders.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Chapter 1 Getting People Involved 11

Gathering Young Voices: Brandon Nguyen, Canada and United States 13

Speaking the Language of Sustainability: Nana Firman, Indonesia and United States 21

Getting Your Outdoor Afro On: Rue Mapp, United States 31

Treasure Hunting: Ismail Ebrahim, South Africa 41

Chapter 2 Defending Lands and Waters 49

Protecting Ancient Relationships: Flávio Santi Ayuy Yú, Ecuador 51

Saving Giants: Ken Wu, Canada 61

Uniting for Clean Water: Willi Nolan-Campbell, Jamaica and Canada 69

Chapter 3 Cleaning Up The Mess 77

Spreading Spores: Daniel Reyes, United States 79

Preventing Cancer: Dr. Clotilda Yakimchulc, CM, Canada 87

Restoring Ancestral Waters: Richelle Kahui-McConnell, New Zealand 95

Chapter 4 Respecting Wisdom 105

Mapping Knowledge: Ghanimat Azhdari, Iran 107

Preserving Forest-People Relationships: Kendi Borona, Kenya 117

Understanding Fisheries: Saul Brown, 'Hazil'hba, Canada 125

Chapter 5 Saving the Animals 135

Discovering Dolphins: Dipani Sutaria, India 137

Living Vegan: Sameer Muldeen, Canada 145

Coexisting with Carnivores: Nitya Chari Harris, Canada 153

Chapter 6 Showing a Better Way 161

Feeding the Food Desert: Dominique Edwards, United States 163

Working in Balance: Lucassie Arragutainaq, Canada 171

Bridging the Gap: Nancy Huizar, United States 179

Finding the Source: William Padilla-Brown, United States 187

Glossary 196

Resources 199

Index 203

Acknowledgments 206

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/09/2020

In this series of profiles, Rao, a conservation biologist who notes that “at work, I’ve usually been the only one with a brown face,” centers the stories of 20 environmental activists, all people of color. Rao’s prose is plain, but the activists’ stories are extraordinary, from Dipani Sutaria’s quest to encourage the study and protection of India’s Irrawaddy dolphins, to Ghanimat Azhdari’s use of mapping as a tool for empowering Iran’s nomadic tribes, to Lucassie Arragutainaq’s work using traditional Inuit and Cree knowledge in environmental assessments. Throughout, the activists’ culture and backgrounds are presented as invaluable assets that have given them authority to act and the ability to bridge differences. Photographs, facts, and calls to action enliven the text; bolded terms (“social justice,” “unceded”) appear in a glossary. Taken together, it’s a powerful answer to Rao’s framing questions: “Who is an environmental defender? What does she or he look like? Maybe like you. Maybe like me.” Ages 12–up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Hopeful and uplifting...An excellent non-fiction addition to a high school classroom."

Canadian Children's Book News

Rao shines a light on the too often unacknowledged role played by People of Colour in the green movement. This is a book to be celebrated and shared!

Elizabeth May

One Earth will challenge assumptions while educating readers...All readers, regardless of ethnic origin, religion and national origin will find some accounts that speak to them.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

One Earth is so important today because it acknowledges the diversity of our environmental defenders and warriors and reminds us that the environment has no borders. Thank you, Anu, for identifying these amazing eco-champions. Their experience and dedication to making sure the environment is our number one priority is an invaluable gift to Canada and the world.

Winnie Ming Yue Hwo

Features, and boxed quotations enhance the inspiring accounts.

The Horn Book

An excellent resource that, placed in the hands of a budding environmentalist, will inspire action, whether large or small. An important representation of the contributions made by people of color and Indigenous people—and a beautiful celebration of diversity.

Booklist

This book not only has the ability to inspire youth that identify as BIPOC, but all young people, who can look up to the many youth and teenagers featured here and their incredible stories of perseverance and innovation.

Green Teacher

An outstanding collection of profiles…Writing makes clear the passion of these extraordinary people and how truly global this movement is.

The Globe and Mail

04/01/2020

Gr 5–8—The author, a Canadian-born conservation biologist of Indian and Indigenous descent, uses her background as a source of knowledge and strength to defend Earth from harmful and destructive practices. Rao highlights 20 other people of color who are actively working to protect or restore various parts of the environment—wildlife, soil, water quality, forests, and other elements. Each person explains how their identity (race, language, culture, etc.) gives them a strong knowledge or background to address their environmental issue. The text mentions several Indigenous people from North and South America working to protect Native land and waters. By profiling 20 people in less than 200 pages, the book is a little choppy. There are few transitions between people and categories. Some biographies abruptly end, leaving the reader to wonder if the person has been successful or not. Nonetheless, it is refreshing to read of these activists' enthusiasm and determination to change our physical world for the better. VERDICT For larger libraries or libraries looking to expand their potential career offerings, this is a good choice to show how anyone can defend our world.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

School Library Journal

★ 2020-01-07
Conservation biologist Rao introduces 20 "environmental defenders" who are black, Indigenous, and people of color, inspiring young readers and environmentalists.

When Rao entered the environmental field decades ago, she didn't encounter many people who looked like her. But, she writes, "my culture and my passion for the earth are linked," and she shows how that is the case for the defenders she interviewed for this book. Indonesian Muslim urban designer Nana Firman had limited results talking about "sustainability" and "conservation" with communities; when she identified Islamic foundations for stewardship, she found language that connected people to the cause. Oakland native Rue Mapp founded Outdoor Afro to connect African Americans to nature by holding space for the histories of injustice and exclusion black Americans have experienced in outdoor spaces and using a social justice lens to create safe and welcoming outdoor experiences. These environmental defenders hail from all over the world and vary greatly in ethnicity, culture, age, and religious background. The ways in which they protect the Earth vary too, but their messages echo each other with hope in what can happen when people come together and make small changes that add up. Each short biography, enhanced by attractive color photographs and engaging sidebars, also illustrates how the defenders came to their chosen paths—thought-provoking reading for young people figuring out their own contributions.

This valuable compilation shows that Earth's salvation lies in the diversity of its people. (glossary, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews