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Instagram Pages Dedicated to the Wellness of People + the Planet

by Nathalie Peña

Wellness involves more than our individual self-care practices. Intersectional environmentalism sums up that the wellness of people is inextricably linked to the wellness of our planet. There are countless voices who are sharing wisdom, art, and facts to prove that taking care of all people contributes to a healthier earth. The following Instagram pages are just a glimpse into environmental justice that will hopefully help you approach wellness differently. 

@intersectionalenvironmentalist

Hands down my favorite resource right now! Intersectional Environmentalist blossomed into a grassroots organization with over 100K followers in just a couple of months after the founder, Leah Thomas posted her viral, “Environmentalists for Black Lives Matter” post. This page has been a great example of a group of young environmentalists (many of them are part of the BIPOC community) taking their passion, culture, and knowledge to consistently educate the public. From sharing news updates, to calling out industries that are not inclusive of BIPOC, to hosting Q&As on the topic of intersectional environmentalism, this page is leading the charge in the conversation. 

@generation__green

Generation Green recently launched as a Black youth-led community fighting for environmental justice. White activists have always been showcased as the faces and voice of the climate movement, even though communities of color have led the charge for hundreds of years and environmentalism is already heavily ingrained in their cultures. This page is an important look into the Black environmentalists who are making positive changes in their neighborhoods and how up-and-coming Black leaders can continue to have their voices amplified. Black spaces are needed and should be respected as thought leaders in the environmental space.

@queerbrownvegan

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Stop using the climate crisis as an excuse to perpetuate anti-immigration. There are people in this world that believe that preventing immigrants from entering countries is a way to control the climate crisis. Anti-immigrant ideology is rooted in white supremacy. Modern conservationism in the United States has upheld anti-immigration ideologies by spewing the rhetoric of protecting pristine wildlife areas while also preventing Indigenous communities from being in their land. Eco-Xenophobia is a harmful ideology that argues that population growth is an issue and that "Latino immigrants,  in particular, destroy nature" (Guardian). Eco-Xenophobia is not only rooted directly towards Latines, but many eco-fascists/ white supremacists who believe that immigrants are a threat to pristine nature continue to advocate for anti-immigration policies. Research studies have shown that there is "no correlation between US immigrant communities and pollution," and in fact, they are the ones that are most disproportionately affected by environmental racism. – – While the environmental movement advocates for the protection of the planet, it is important to note that eco-fascism and eco-xenophobia are intertwined and instilled in the values, which is why many people recognize the importance of climate justice. As the climate crisis continues to harm BIPOC communities, this further perpetuated anti-immigration rhetoric towards climate refugees. For example, in El Paso, Texas, where a white supremacist who murdered 22 people said in his manifesto that Hispanics were invading Texas and, he called for the reduction of Hispanics. Many of these eco-fascists believe that immigrants are creating an "environmental warfare" and allowing them into America would cause a threat to the environment. Let us not forget that America isn't the only country that perpetuates Eco-Xenophobia, and it's rooted in white supremacy. What do you think of Eco-Xenophobia? – – #ecoxenophobia #ecofascism #ecofascists #environmentalracism #environmenaljustice #climatejustice #climatecrisis #climatechangeisreal #deepecology #brownenvironmentalist #intersectionalenvironmentalist #intersectionalenvironmentalism

A post shared by Isaias Hernandez (@queerbrownvegan) on

Just when you think you know everything there is to know about environmental justice, the founder of @queerbrownvegan, Isais Hernandez, posts about a completely new term. EJ is far from being a surface-level topic and amazingly affects every single industry — which this page shares in a colorful and accessible way. This page and the others mentioned also emphasize that the climate crisis has greatly derived from the work of capitalism and big corporations. This is important considering that the industry is filled with people shaming each other for not recycling — it’s much deeper than that. Education is a huge part in learning about what part of our everyday lives falls under EJ, how we can make individual changes, and the changes we need to make as a capitalistic society. 

@nicolecardoza

Nicole Cardoza is the founder of one of my favorite newsletters, Anti-Racism Daily. Newsflash: there is no environmental justice without racial justice. So consistently educating yourself on the ways racism plays a part in everyday circumstances is a necessary practice. Topics from gentrification to the connection between air pollution and COVID-19 in communities of color are interesting ones to dive into. This resource is for everyone. As an Afro-Latina, I’ve learned so much more about incorporating a racial lens on all facets of life, including when it comes to environmentalism. 

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I encourage you all to explore these pages (and so many others that are out there!) and educate yourself on the intersection of the wellness of people and the planet. 

I'm a matcha-loving, yoga-doing, environmentalism nerd who enjoys anything that makes me feel cozy inside. I do digital comms for a climate and social justice nonprofit and do some freelance wellness writing on the side.
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