May 12-June 16, 2022, Thursdays from 1 – 3 PM US Eastern time

Instructors: Grace Gershuny and Brian Tokar

As the world faces intersecting crises of climate, health, and multiple social inequities, movements for climate and food justice are playing a central role toward developing a community-centered grassroots response. These movements share common themes, viewing the sources of these crises in institutions of hierarchy and domination, including capitalist structures of racism and colonialism. The extraction of resources and exploitation of marginalized populations for food and energy production, especially in the Global South, are major contributors to worldwide environmental and social degradation. This course will offer a Social Ecology perspective on the background and potential of the climate and food justice movements to resist further damage from fossil fuels and agribusiness dominance, while building ecologically harmonious and equitable food and energy systems that can restore soil health, biodiversity, and climate stability.

Each segment will highlight the leadership of frontline communities in shifting the paradigm towards the fundamental principles of non-hierarchy, direct democracy, and unity in diversity. Case studies of particular projects will include video interviews and presentations by frontline advocates as well as recommended readings and other video and audio resources.

The course registration fee is $100. If you are interested in graduate or undergraduate credit through the Castleton University (VT) Center for Schools, the fee is $675 for two credits. Please inquire for more details.

Food and Climate Justice

Online seminar taught by ISE faculty Grace Gershuny and Brian Tokar