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People over Plastic

People over Plastic

By People over Plastic

Are you ready to come on a journey with the most powerful BIPOC voices fighting towards an anti-racist and plastic-free future? Join our host Shilpi Chhotray as we delve into real conversations when it comes to justice and sustainability and who gets a seat at the table. This is People over Plastic.
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People over PlasticApr 14, 2022

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The Prologue featuring Arctic National Wildlife Refuge protector and Gwich’in Tribal Member, Bernadette Demientieff, Fort Yukon, Alaska

The Prologue featuring Arctic National Wildlife Refuge protector and Gwich’in Tribal Member, Bernadette Demientieff, Fort Yukon, Alaska

In our season finale, we bring your attention to the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), known to the Gwich’in Indian Nation as “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.” Hear the personal story of Bernadette Demientieff, a Gwich’in Steering Committee leader fighting to protect her Nation’s traditional lifeways.

The Gwich’in Indian Nation lives in 15 small villages scattered across northeast Alaska in the US to the northern Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada. The Arctic is their home. The coastal plain of the ANWR has been a location of intense controversy between environmentalists, Native tribes, and the oil and gas industry. The coastal plain is also the birthing and nursing grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd - the very heart of the Gwich’in people. The caribou provide food and nourishment for the Gwich’in who are deeply connected to them on a spiritual level.

If oil drilling goes forward in ANWR, the birthrate of the caribou could decrease by 40% - it would be a cultural genocide for Bernadette’s tribe.

In 1988, the Gwich’in Steering Committee was formed in response to threats of oil development in ANWR’s coastal plain. Time and time again, Bernadette has testified in front of US Congress, the United Nations, and public hearings. She has met with banks and insurance companies funding oil infrastructure, framing the drilling and desecration of sacred lands as a Human Rights issue. As the issue of oil extraction gains urgency in the US and around the world, more pressure is put on the oil-rich region of the Arctic.

Key Themes explored:

  • How does ANWR benefit or suffer from its designation as public lands?
  • What tensions lie between extractive industries and those who call the Arctic their home?
  • What are the intersections between climate justice and racial justice in the Gwich’ins’ fight to protect their sacred lands?
  • How does Indigenous spirituality inherently connect Native people to their land?
  • How do Indigenous communities leverage the Rights of Nature to stop extractive practices?

Resources:

Visit People over Plastic’s website to learn more about us.

If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our BIPOC-produced storytelling and sustains our future. Support PoP from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

Jan 26, 202327:45
Not my Mainland featuring anti-GMO activist specializing in traditional Hawaiian farming, Josh Mori, Kauaʻi Hawaiʻi

Not my Mainland featuring anti-GMO activist specializing in traditional Hawaiian farming, Josh Mori, Kauaʻi Hawaiʻi

In this episode, we dive deep into the history of and activism for traditional Hawaiian farming with Josh Mori. Josh is the founder of Iwikua, an educational and cultural resource for sustainable food production, wellness, and community enhancement for West Kauaʻi. 

Hawaii’s reliance on food imports began in the 1960s and has been further exacerbated by the locus for genetically modified (GMO) crop field trials. Kauaʻi in particular has been ground zero for GMO companies like Monsanto and BASF – serial violators of federal environmental laws. In recent years, local Hawaiians have been leading efforts based on old values and land practices to keep the islands healthy and the local population fed.

The controversies over the safety of growing and eating transgenic food are top of mind for Josh. His lived experience as an indigenous farmer resisting the agribusiness industry is a testament to his ancestral roots - shaped by a deep connection to the land, sea, and soil.

In this interview, he shares why teaching the next generation of local farmers how to cultivate the land to benefit West Kauaʻi goes beyond training and education – it’s personal.

This season, we’re honored to join forces with Prism - a nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color to go deep into the stories behind environmental racism. Our co-founder and host Shilpi Chhotray and Prism’s climate justice reporter, Ray Levy Uyeda, examine how local Hawaiians are taking back food security and culture from American colonization, and the ongoing threats of climate change, militarism, and tourism.


Key Themes explored:

  • What does the growing food justice movement look like in West Kauaʻi?
  • What are the intersectional links between the agribusiness industry and Big Plastic?
  • How do the historical impacts of colonization and militarism affect local Hawaiian culture and food systems?
  • Why is tourism is a major threat to the cultural and political environment?


Tune in to the latest episode, Not my Mainland, to find out. This episode was generously sponsored by the Food and Farm Communications Fund.

Visit People over Plastic’s website to learn more about us and continue the conversation by sharing this episode on Instagram and Twitter.


Resources:

If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our BIPOC-produced storytelling and sustains our future. Support PoP from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.


Dec 08, 202218:42
The First Responder featuring community advocate making advancements in criminal justice, David Heppard, Seattle, Washington

The First Responder featuring community advocate making advancements in criminal justice, David Heppard, Seattle, Washington

When it comes to the climate crisis, there is a stark divide between who is most affected due to the structural inequalities caused by the legacy of institutional racism.  In “The First Responder”, we chat with David Heppard, the Executive Director of the Freedom Project Washington - a Seattle-based organization that works to dismantle the system of mass incarceration and heal its traumatic effects. Last year, the Freedom Project shifted its priorities to meet the community's immediate needs in the face of a devastating heat wave, with temperatures reaching a record of 115°F in June of 2021.

A recent study in Nature found that in nearly every major city in the U.S., people of color are exposed to more extreme urban heat than white people. Seattle’s neighborhoods nestled in abundant green space found reprieve from the intense heat. However, the communities of color closest to highways and industrial zones faced disproportionate health impacts and significant barriers to mental health care.

David's particular experiences, as a first responder in his community, is a powerful example of community investment and transformation. The Freedom Projects' counseling services and ability to provide water, fans, and space were instrumental in offering both mental and physical support during times of intense heat.

This season, we’re honored to join forces with Prism - a nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color to go deep into the stories behind environmental racism. Our co-founder and host Shilpi Chhotray and Prism’s climate justice reporter, Ray Levy Uyeda, explore the historical significance of how neighborhoods have been shaped and built, to better understand the disparities that exist when it comes to extreme heat.


Key Themes explored:

What is the urban heat island effect and what does it have to do with systemic racism?

What is the link between redlining and environmental injustice?

Why do low-income BIPOC communities have more barriers to mental health care?

Why does the non-profit industrial complex incentivize top-down approaches to environmental and social issues?

Tune in to the latest episode, The First Responder, to find out.

Visit People over Plastic’s website to learn more about us and continue the conversation by sharing this episode on Instagram and Twitter.


Resources:


If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our BIPOC-produced storytelling and sustains our future. Support PoP from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

Nov 22, 202224:52
The Hot Seat featuring environmental justice advocate raising awareness on "Cop City," Jacqueline Echols, Atlanta, Georgia

The Hot Seat featuring environmental justice advocate raising awareness on "Cop City," Jacqueline Echols, Atlanta, Georgia

In episode 2: the Hot Seat,  we hear from Jacqueline Echols about what’s happening in Atlanta where the South River Forest - one of the four “city lungs” - is under attack. Advocates and residents are rallying against a massive police training facility set for development on nearly 85 acres of beloved green space. Dr. Echols is an environmental justice advocate for 25 years and board president of the South River Watershed Alliance, an organization working to protect the river and adjacent forest ecosystem. Her more than two decades of work to improve water quality in Atlanta’s waterways and protect the city’s tree canopy earned her the 2017 Environmental Hero Award.

The forest in Southeast Atlanta is home to wetlands that filter rainwater, prevent flooding, and help the city stay resilient in the face of climate change. As Jacqueline impassionately shares, the proposed $90 million dollar training facility dubbed “Cop City” has sparked outrage from community members, where local officials are offering a red carpet layout under the pretext of preventing crime. The closest neighborhood to the forest is 77 percent Black and still reeling from ongoing protests against police brutality and racial injustice. Its residents will feel the immediate impacts of police presence and the loss of park space for generations to come.

This season, we’re honored to join forces with Prism - a nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color to go deep into the stories behind environmental racism. Our co-founder and host Shilpi Chhotray and Prism’s climate justice reporter, Ray Levy Uyeda, investigate the symbiotic relationship between a rich ecosystem and the well-being of its community, and how “Cop City” threatens these safe spaces.


Key themes explored:

  • How does Cop City impact health issues, both physical and mental, with which the majority- Black community is already disproportionately affected?
  • Who is backing Cop City?
  • What does organizing against Cop City look like- including demonstrations, environmental analysis, and research aimed at city officials?
  • What is the link between environmental justice and racial justice?


Tune in to the latest episode, The Hot Seat, to find out.

Visit People over Plastic’s website to learn more about us and continue the conversation by sharing this episode on Instagram and Twitter.


RESOURCES:


If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our BIPOC-produced storytelling and sustains our future. Support PoP from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

Oct 27, 202216:54
Secret Sauce featuring community organizers defeating Big Plastic, Miss Sharon & Shamyra Lavigne, St. James Parish, Louisiana

Secret Sauce featuring community organizers defeating Big Plastic, Miss Sharon & Shamyra Lavigne, St. James Parish, Louisiana

In our season three opener, Secret Sauce, we’re heading to St. James Parish, Louisiana, to chat with Sharon Lavigne and her daughter, Shamyra. Sharon is the Founder and President of the faith-based advocacy group Rise St. James and a 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize winner.

Last fall, we caught up with Miss Sharon one week after Hurricane Ida blew the roof off her home as she was deep in the fight against Formosa Plastic. A year later, we are joined by her daughter Shamyra to have an intergenerational conversation about their Secret Sauce in staying resilient and grounded in the face of hurricane season, Big Plastic, and the industrial polluters of “Cancer Alley”. Shamyra, who has a background in mental health, shares the ways that youth remain engaged and proactive in their community and her vision for St. James.

Since our recording, a Louisiana court judge denied the necessary air permits for a massive petrochemicals complex to be built in St. James due to the relentless organizing by environmental justice organizers on the ground, with Miss Sharon at the helm.

This season, we’re honored to join forces with Prism - a nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color to go deep into the stories behind environmental racism.  Our host Shilpi Chhotray and Prism’s climate justice reporter Ray Levy Uyeda investigate what it’s really like on the ground and how federal agencies ironically defend the industries that exploit them.


Key themes explored:

Who is protecting the people of Saint James and who is protecting the industry that threatens to pollute it?

How did we get here and why are petrochemical industries interested in communities like St. James Parish, Louisiana?

What is the future of environmental justice organizing?

Tune in to the latest episode, Secret Sauce, to find out. This episode was generously sponsored by Beyond Petrochemicals, a program by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Visit People over Plastic’s website to learn more about us and continue the conversation by sharing this episode on Instagram and Twitter.


RESOURCES:


If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our BIPOC-produced storytelling and sustains our future. Support PoP from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

Oct 13, 202219:08
People over Plastic Season Three Podcast Trailer - with Prism
Oct 04, 202201:52
Not a Coincidence [Community Organizer Shashawnda Campbell reveals the fight of her life on toxic incinerators in South Baltimore]

Not a Coincidence [Community Organizer Shashawnda Campbell reveals the fight of her life on toxic incinerators in South Baltimore]

All air is not created equal - and nothing exemplifies this more than South Baltimore’s Curtis Bay neighborhood. When Shashawnda Campbell was just 15 years old, she co-founded “Free Your Voice,” a student-led group that worked for 5 years to shut down the largest incinerator proposal in US history set to be built less than a mile away from their school.

80% of incinerators are located in low-income communities of color - and that fact is not a coincidence. Tune in to hear Shashawnda break down why incinerators and other pollution-heavy industrial operations don’t belong in anyone’s neighborhood, regardless of race and income.

Don’t forget to subscribe/follow People Over Plastic on all major podcast apps and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @peoplexplastic, happy listening!


Resources:

You can learn more about Shashawnda’s fight in The Guardian, Union of Concerned Scientists blog, and Grist.

Check out South Baltimore Community Land Trust to support Shashwanda’s work in Curtis Bay.

To get a deeper understanding of efforts to end waste incineration around the globe, check out the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. For more information on “chemical recycling” and plastics-to-fuel technology, view the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers' overview of burning plastics as false solutions.

Keep the conversation going by sharing this episode on Social Media and following us on Instagram and Twitter.

And that’s a wrap for season 2 of People Over Plastic’s podcast series!

Over 1000 listeners and still counting have placed their trust in People over Plastic’s fearless coverage since we launched in October 2021. Unlike other podcasts, we have no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion for changing the narrative--to tell a true story, produced by BIPOC storytellers that will build power against corporations and governments invested in plastic production. But projects like ours are often under-resourced and underestimated by many institutional funders. That’s why we depend on supporters like YOU. However big or small, every contribution powers our BIPOC storytelling and sustains our future. Support People over Plastic from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW

Jun 17, 202225:06
Ropa Americana (Circular economy expert Marcela Godoy shares the hard truth behind the underbelly of fast fashion)

Ropa Americana (Circular economy expert Marcela Godoy shares the hard truth behind the underbelly of fast fashion)

In this week's episode, ‘Ropa Americana’, we’re tackling fast fashion on the move. Chile’s Atacama desert has become a fashion graveyard for the world’s unwanted clothes. Every year, nearly 59,000 tons of clothing arrive in Chile’s Iquique port from Europe, Asia, and the United States. Some of it is redistributed and sold throughout Chile, but the vast majority remains in Atacama.

Santiago-based circular economy expert Marcela Godoy shares the hard truth behind the underbelly of fast fashion and how plastic clothing is destroying the driest desert in the world.

Resources:

You can learn more about what’s happening in Atacama on Al Jazeera, BBC News, and EcoWatch. To follow Marcela’s work, check out ADC Circular and StgSlow.

The apparel industry is the second-largest polluter in the world (second only to oil) and contributes 10% of global carbon emissions. For a deeper understanding of the fast fashion industry, plastic pollution, and its impact on the planet, visit Changing Markets Foundation Fossil Fashion Series and Eureka Recycling’s Best Practices for Textile Collection.

As Marcela mentioned on the show, an organization called Desierto Vestido (Desert Dress) conducted an assessment of the brands found in Atacama - including H&M, Old Navy, and Adidas. You can watch the action on Instagram.

Over 1,000 listeners and still counting have placed their trust in People over Plastic’s fearless coverage since we launched in October 2021. Unlike other podcasts, we have no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion for changing the narrative--to tell a true story, produced by BIPOC storytellers that will build power against corporations and governments invested in plastic production. But projects like ours are often under-resourced and underestimated by many institutional funders. That’s why we depend on supporters like YOU. However big or small, every contribution powers our BIPOC storytelling and sustains our future. Support People over Plastic from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

Jun 02, 202215:56
Out of Sight, Out of Mind [Community Advocate Ken Houston gets personal about the rise of illegal dumping in Oakland, California]

Out of Sight, Out of Mind [Community Advocate Ken Houston gets personal about the rise of illegal dumping in Oakland, California]

Piling up.

Illegal dumping is skyrocketing in urban areas across the U.S. inflicting grave economic and environmental injustices on the cities' most vulnerable populations.

In this episode, you’ll meet Ken Houston, a passionate third-generation resident of Oakland, California with 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Ken’s lifelong commitment is to restore the quality of life for impacted communities, and in the process, provide jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Tune in to hear Ken’s story which takes us into the heart of Oakland and opens our eyes to the harms of illegal dumping on low-income communities of color and the unhoused.

Don’t forget to subscribe/follow People Over Plastic on all major podcast apps and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, @peoplexplastic. 


Show notes:

To learn more about Ken’s work, check out the Beautification Council. Ken’s fight against illegal dumping has been featured on ABC 7, CBS News, and KTVU.

Race and income are the greatest determinants as to whether you will live near plastic production and waste disposal facilities. These facilities are almost always near low-income households, unhoused populations, and black, Latino, and indigenous neighborhoods. The truth is, there is no safe place to produce toxic plastics or dispose of our waste. This is why community recycling advocates are working to eliminate the production of unnecessary and toxic plastics and hold producers responsible to recover their products for recycling. More resources: The politics of Illegal Dumping: An Environmental Justice Framework and Toxic Waste and Race in 21st Century America.

Over 1000 listeners have placed their trust in People over Plastic’s fearless coverage since we launched in October 2021. Unlike other podcasts, we have no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion for changing the narrative--to tell a true story, produced by BIPOC storytellers that will build power against corporations and governments invested in plastic production. But projects like ours are often under-resourced and underestimated by many institutional funders. That's why we depend on supporters like YOU. However big or small, every contribution powers our BIPOC storytelling and sustains our future. Support People over Plastic from as little as $1 - it only takes a minute. DONATE NOW


May 19, 202221:12
How The Hell Did It Get HERE? [Hear how customs official John Simon stopped 8,000 tons of garbage from being dumped in the Philippines]

How The Hell Did It Get HERE? [Hear how customs official John Simon stopped 8,000 tons of garbage from being dumped in the Philippines]

When you think about your country’s top exports, do you think of garbage?

In “How the hell did it get HERE?”, get to know the touching personal story of a Filipino customs official who has dedicated his 30-year career to ensure foreign trash is not illegally smuggled into his country. John Simon went from being an everyday customs collector to capturing the attention of international headlines for stopping the biggest waste shipment - containing 8,000 tons of garbage - from being dumped in the Philippines.

Tune in to hear John Simon’s story of courage and the corrupt business of waste.

Don’t forget to subscribe/follow to People Over Plastic on all major podcast apps and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @peoplexplastic, happy listening!


Resources:

You can find more news about John Simon’s story in the Inquirer, Rappler, ABS CBN News, and GMA news online.

John Simon received the prestigious United Nations Environment Program Award as one of 8 winners on the frontlines of protecting our planet.

To learn more about the inner workings of the waste trade and its impact on import countries,  check out: The Plastic Waste Trade Manifesto by Break Free From Plastic, DISCARDED - communities on the frontlines of the global plastic crisis by GAIA, and Plastic for Profit [Tracing illicit plastic waste flows, supply chains, and actors] by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

Over 1000 listeners and still counting have placed their trust in People over Plastic’s fearless coverage since we launched in October 2021. Unlike other podcasts, we have no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion for changing the narrative--to tell a true story, produced by BIPOC storytellers that will build power against corporations and governments invested in plastic production. But projects like ours are often under-resourced and underestimated by many institutional funders. That’s why we depend on supporters like YOU. However big or small, every contribution powers our BIPOC storytelling and sustains our future. Support People over Plastic from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

May 05, 202218:28
From Brooklyn to Chinatown [Hear the personal story of Pierre Simmons, a NYC musician and canner]

From Brooklyn to Chinatown [Hear the personal story of Pierre Simmons, a NYC musician and canner]

We’re back with Season 2 of our podcast series! First up, our host Shilpi Chhotray meets with Pierre Simmons, An NYC-based musician and canner - who shares his personal story about becoming a canner and how it’s possible to make a living from the empty glass, plastic bottles, and cans lying on the street.

Pierre goes deep into his journey and expertise as a canner to understand how this essential work, primarily done by people of color, especially from the immigrant community, shapes the way waste moves around the city. You’ll also learn about ‘Sure We Can’, a non-profit recycling center that supports the lives of hundreds of canners in a challenging local political environment.

Tune in to learn more about Pierre and how some New Yorkers are paying rent with canning.

Don’t forget to subscribe to People Over Plastic on all major podcast apps and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @peoplexplastic, happy listening!


Resources:

Pierre trades his glass, bottles, and cans for cash at Sure We Can. For several years, SWC's landlord has threatened them with eviction. SUPPORT the canning community to save the beloved community center.

You can also find out more about their work through media coverage by  The New York Times, CNN, and NBC.

To learn more about Pierre’s life watch the Story of Stuff documentary Glass, Metal, Plastic: The Story of New York’s Canners.

You can read the stories of other canners and have a visual experience of their journeys at  NYC Canners.

As Pierre mentioned, the Bottle Bill needs updating, including the proposed increase from 5c-10c. Learn more about a reimagined bottle bill here: Reimagining The Bottle Bill.

Check out Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers for more on community-based non-profit recycling in the US. 

Over 1000 listeners and still counting have placed their trust in People over Plastic’s fearless coverage since we launched in October 2021. Unlike other podcasts, we have no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion for changing the narrative--to tell a true story, produced by BIPOC storytellers that will build power against corporations and governments invested in plastic production. But projects like ours are often under-resourced and underestimated by many institutional funders. That’s why we depend on supporters like YOU. However big or small, every contribution powers our BIPOC storytelling and sustains our future. Support People over Plastic from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

Apr 22, 202222:45
Season 2 Trailer

Season 2 Trailer

Welcome back to Season 2 of People Over Plastic. We invite you on a journey to hear how waste moves throughout our world, across oceans and continents, through organized crime and black markets. Join our host, Shilpi Chhotray, as she meets with courageous individuals around the globe to learn what’s really happening when it comes to the business of waste. People Over Plastic presents "Waste Mafia".

Apr 14, 202202:12
Still in My Backyard [featuring Filipino environmental activist Von Hernandez, climate justice campaigner Yvette Arellano, and Indonesian lawyer Tiza Mafira]

Still in My Backyard [featuring Filipino environmental activist Von Hernandez, climate justice campaigner Yvette Arellano, and Indonesian lawyer Tiza Mafira]

Welcome back for our season 1 finale, ‘Still in My Backyard’ As we’ve underlined throughout season 1, the exclusion of BIPOC voices in mainstream narratives on both the climate and plastic pollution crisis has majorly hindered efforts to build a more just and equitable world. For many of us, when it comes to multi-layered issues linked to environmental racism, it’s difficult to grasp what this actually means in the day-to-day. For instance, imagine learning that petrochemical pollution is hindering your ability to start a family. Imagine if your city was used as a literal dumping ground for foreign trash. Imagine living with the daily anxiety of watching your kids grow up near a river you loved as a child, one that’s now choked with plastic pollution.

In ‘Still in My Backyard’, our host Shilpi Chhotray gets personal with three incredible leaders from different parts of the world who spend a lot of time on the intersections of plastic, climate, health, and environmental justice.  Our guests include: Von Hernandez, the Global Coordinator for the Break Free From Plastic movement based in Manila, Philippines. A Goldman Environmental Prize awardee, Von is one of Asia’s leading environmental activists and made history in 1999 when he helped make the Philippines the first country to ban waste incineration.

You’ll also hear from Yvette Arellano from Houston, Texas. Yvette is a foremost environmental justice campaigner addressing the impacts of petrochemical production. After decades of working with communities on-the-ground, they recently founded Fenceline Watch which is dedicated to ending the multigenerational harm of communities living on the fenceline of industry.

And last but not least, Tiza Mafira from Jakarta, Indonesia. An environmental lawyer by profession, Tiza works to mobilize governments and industries to ban the plastic bag throughout Indonesian supermarkets. Her organization Plastic Bag Diet Movement (IDDKP), is  pushing for a nationwide ban on plastic bags.

Von, Yvette, and Tiza are featured in the Emmy-award winning documentary: The Story Of Plastic.

Don’t forget to subscribe to People Over Plastic available on Apple and Spotify! Stay tuned to our season 2 drop.

Follow People Over Plastic on social media at @peopleXplastic on Instagram & Twitter.

Resources:

Story of Plastic - link to watch the full documentary

Tiza in New Security Beat: Aiming for A World Where Everything Is Circular: Q&A with Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet Cofounder Tiza Mafira

Yvette in the New York Times: In the Shadows of America’s Smokestacks, Virus is One More Deadly Risk 

Von in South China Morning Post: False promise of disposable plastic recycling obscures firms role in global waste crisis 

About Break Free From Plastic movement: website

About Fenceline Watch: website

About IDDKP: website

Feb 10, 202230:52
Reprogramming the Root (in conversation with Indigenous Leader Frankie Orona and Bangalore-based artist and TEDx speaker Shilo Shiv Suleman)

Reprogramming the Root (in conversation with Indigenous Leader Frankie Orona and Bangalore-based artist and TEDx speaker Shilo Shiv Suleman)

People and the planet are not two different operating systems and no one understands this better than indigenous communities. In this episode, we will dig deeper into the role of Indigenous culture and traditions and how pivotal it is to acknowledge their leadership in the fight for justice and against climate change.

Meet Frankie Orona, Indigenous leader and Executive Director of Society of Native Nations, an organization founded by a small group of Native people in Texas. In our conversation with Frankie, he emphasizes the need to end bank financing of extreme fossil fuels as a way to call out the systems that keep communities of color in cycles of harm.

Similarly, you’ll  hear from Shilo Shiv Suleman, a Bangalore-based Indian animator, illustrator, and visual artist. Shilo’s craft which focuses on the intersection of magical realism, art for social change and technology led her to founding the Fearless Collective - a movement of participative storytelling. During the recently held Unilever-sponsored COP 26 in Glasgow, Shilo’s mural “At the Root” gave deep homage to indigenous elders who continue to be sidelined to the point of erasure. Frankie and Shilo’s stories signal the call to reprogram our roots as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Don’t forget to subscribe to People Over Plastic available on Apple and Spotify!

Follow People Over Plastic on social media at @peopleXplastic on Instagram & Twitter.

Resources:

Ending bank financing of extreme fossil fuels: Press Release quoting Frankie

Shilo’s 2018 TED Talk: A woman’s journey to fearlessness 

At the Root at COP 26: in the Glasgow Times

Shilo's wearable brass temple: Sotheyby's

Society of Native Nations: website

Fearless Collective: website

Dec 16, 202130:26
Bag Bans and Border Wall (in conversation with river protector Tricia Cortez and Malawian environmental activist Gloria Majiga-Komoto)

Bag Bans and Border Wall (in conversation with river protector Tricia Cortez and Malawian environmental activist Gloria Majiga-Komoto)

To truly understand environmental justice, we need to better understand its relationship to social justice and racial justice. As we learned in episode two of our show, decisions are being made about people of color and indigenous communities, with very little understanding about their lived experiences. Challenges with racism, socio-economic struggles and geopolitical realities are at the crux of environmental justice. On “Bag Bans and Border Wall”, we're going to dissect the concept with two incredible women in very different parts of the world who are fighting the plastics industry head on.

First we’ll meet fierce river protector Tricia Cortez, Executive Director of the Rio Grande International Study Center. In addition to leading a decade-long fight against plastic bags in Laredo, Texas, Tricia fought and won a groundbreaking battle against the Trump administration on plans to build a 30-ft steel wall through her hometown. You’ll also hear from the 2021 Goldman Prize Awardee, Gloria Majiga-Komoto. Speaking to us from her home in Malawi, Gloria shares her story of a 4-year battle against the plastic industry in support of a national ban on thin plastics. Her passion and dedication to her community is evident, as she shares her struggle against political corruption, sexism, and industry intimidation.

Tricia and Gloria's courage, organizing power and relentless will to protect their community demonstrates how important it is to define leadership by those who stand the most to lose.

Don’t forget to subscribe to People Over Plastic available on Apple and Spotify!

Follow People Over Plastic on social media at @peopleXplastic on Instagram & Twitter.

Resources:

It’s Over! The Border Wall in Laredo is Officially Dead: EarthJustice Press Release 

Fund Our Future campaign

2021 Goldman Environmental Prize winner for Africa: Gloria Majiga-Kamoto

Gloria in NPR 

Dec 02, 202133:41
Community Lunchbox (in conversation with food delivery entrepreneurs Zuleyka Strasner and Ritesh Andre)

Community Lunchbox (in conversation with food delivery entrepreneurs Zuleyka Strasner and Ritesh Andre)

When considering solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, you’ve probably seen the famous zero-wasters on social media proudly flexing their latest plastic-free purchases. With cult-like followings, they often share tips and tricks with fancy products for greener living. The fact is, zero-waste is not a new concept and has deep roots in ancestral practices in communities of color. It did not start on Instagram by the millennial elite.

In this episode, hear from two innovative entrepreneurs who are decolonizing mainstream thinking about zero-waste. As their stories demonstrate, zero-waste actually started thousands of years ago in communities with origins in taking care of the earth and understanding that reciprocity.

Meet Zuleyka Strasner, founder and CEO of Zero Grocery - a platform that offers next-day delivery on 2,000+ plastic-free goods for everyday people. You’ll also meet Ritesh Andre whose great grandfather founded Mumbai’s famous Dabbawalas network. This robust 130-year old system delivers plastic-free meals on bicycles without any technology. Hear how Zuleyka and Ritesh are scaling their innovative models while adjusting to current socio-economic realities and social norms.

Don’t forget to subscribe to People Over Plastic available on Apple and Spotify!

Follow People Over Plastic on social media at @peopleXplastic on Instagram & Twitter.

Resources:

Nov 18, 202124:45
If you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu (in conversation with environmental attorney Patrice Simms and zero-waste activist Froilan Grate)

If you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu (in conversation with environmental attorney Patrice Simms and zero-waste activist Froilan Grate)

When we think about solving the plastic pollution crisis, we often think about beach cleanups and recycling - and for those of us that come from more privileged backgrounds, we strive to fit all our plastic waste for the year into a mason jar. The overarching thread here is problematic for two major reasons: we are marketed to believe plastic pollution is OUR fault as consumers, and that everyday people must clean up the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. The culture of convenience may be at the root cause of the plastic pollution crisis, but who is behind creating and marketing a society hooked on plastic?

In the second episode of People Over Plastic, we zoomed into some core elements of environmental justice - like what it is and why it matters. Hear from Patrice Simms, an environmental attorney at EarthJustice who explains why it's critical to change the way decisions are made about individuals who are most impacted by them, especially Black communities who fall prey to industrial polluters. You’ll also hear from Filipino activist Froilan Grate of GAIA Asia Pacific who has a lot of experience exposing the failures behind the global recycling system and corporations’ double standards. Like Patrice, Froi raises the crucial perspective that people of color can create the space and seize the power that allows their voices to be heard.

Don’t forget to subscribe to People Over Plastic available on Spotify, iTunes, Anchor!  

Follow People Over Plastic on social media at @peopleXplastic on Instagram & Twitter.

Resources: 

From EarthJustice: How Big Oil is Using Toxic Chemicals as a Lifeline – and How We Can Stop It

Break Free From Plastic's Brand Audit 2021 Report

GAIA's report on Discarded: Communities on the Frontlines of the Global Plastic Crisis 

Nov 04, 202132:12
99% (in conversation with Artivist extraordinaire Von Wong and Community Organizer Miss Sharon Lavigne)

99% (in conversation with Artivist extraordinaire Von Wong and Community Organizer Miss Sharon Lavigne)

It’s 2021: We’ve seen the videos, the nightly news clips, and the headlines that plastic pollution is a major threat to our planet. We unequivocally understand that we are drowning in a man-made material that pollutes our air, water, soil, and wildlife. But did you know that making plastic - cups, straws, bags, cutlery, styrofoam, pouches, polyester sweaters and yoga pants... is directly linked to the climate crisis and locks in cycles of harm to communities of color around the globe? 99% of plastic comes from fossil fuels and plastic production is a major driver of keeping the fossil fuel industry afloat. In order to tackle both the plastic pollution and the climate crisis, we must hold the fossil fuel industry to account.

In our inaugural episode, you’ll hear how fantasy-like art is transforming the cultural landscape of how we quite literally view plastic pollution. Artivist Von Wong’s latest project is a 30-foot levitating tap to remind governments and corporations that the plastic crisis needs to be front and center in decision-making. You'll also hear from Sharon Lavigne, a retired special ed teacher who recently halted Formosa Plastics from coming into her hometown. If built, the industrial complex would triple the levels of carcinogens in her community. Sharon lives in the heart of Louisiana's Cancer Alley, a region of the US which is already blighted by racism and exorbitant cancer rates from industry polluters.

Follow People Over Plastic on social media at @peopleXplastic on Instagram & Twitter.

Resources:

Oct 21, 202122:16
People Over Plastic: Coming Soon

People Over Plastic: Coming Soon

Are you ready to come on a journey with the most powerful BIPOC voices fighting towards an anti-racist and plastic-free future? Join our host, Shilpi Chhotray, as we delve into real conversations when it comes to justice and sustainability and who gets a seat at the table. This is People Over Plastic.

Oct 12, 202101:50