As once-in-a-century climate events happen at heightening rates, now feels like as good a time as any to talk about the climate crisis. However, the arrest of Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old Indian woman, shows us that we need to address the social implications surrounding the issue in addition to the environmental effects.
Ravi became an environmental martyr on February 13 when her activism landed her in jail. Her persecution came when she shared a document outlining ways to aid Indian farmers who have been protesting government agricultural regulations for months. The “toolkit” outlined in the document was created by famed environmentalist Greta Thunberg. The Indian government has labeled Ravi’s efforts in collaboration with Thunberg’s resources as dangerous to the country as a whole, and this response is not unlike the demonization of environmental regulations seen in the United States. Americans are surely not being arrested for sharing a Google Doc, but the outcome is generally the same. The people are deterred from doing anything, the government skirts responsibility, corporations remain at large, and marginalized groups suffer. Ravi’s arrest was highly criticized on social media platforms since it was reported, and for good reason, but this suppression of those who are fighting for a better future is not new, and it is not foreign.
In America, addressing climate change is a deeply partisan issue with nearly half of Democrats, who are more receptive to finding a solution than Republicans, seeing this as a secondary issue. The Pew Research Center shows that these views are not skewed by differing levels of understanding or education overall, but are a direct result of political affiliation, and after some more diving, it starts to make sense.
America and India respectively produce the second and third highest carbon emissions in the world, preceded only by China, and the people in America who should be creating legislation to address the crisis are being paid by those who benefit from the allowance of high emissions.
Not only are American politicians remaining complacent, but there is a direct attack on the production of green energy, which is being showcased in live time as Texas remains without power. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has received immense backlash over his controversial Facebook post and interview with Sean Hannity in which he blamed the Green New Deal for leaving the Lone Star State without power or heat. He was joined by other Republicans in these false claims that have been disputed as wind power, the largest scapegoat for climate change deniers, has been responsible for less than 15 percent of power outages.
So, why is this? We’re all living on this planet, so if climate change is a real, pressing issue, wouldn’t politicians have a personal interest in fixing it?
Ultimately, it comes down to privilege. The largest factor at play is wealth as climate change is expected to impact the economy dramatically. With increased flooding and rainfall, the livelihoods of agricultural workers are at stake as their main source of income is at risk of being completely decimated by our unstable climate. Additionally, by the end of the century, over $880 billion worth of real estate will be destroyed due to rising sea levels, which will leave those who are unable to relocate without a home and accumulated generational wealth will be obliterated. The 117th Congress is composed of mostly millionaires, and the prospect of losing their home or being unable to afford clean water, two basic human rights, are not on their radar from a personal standpoint.
Disha Ravi is a devastating example of governmental persecution, but the outcomes are the same in industrialized countries with complacent politicians. The oppression does not need to be aggressive for it to still be happening.