Commons, climate and regeneration: “This forest has taught us how to walk lightly”

Earlier this month, I read an open letter from Nemonte Nenquimo, a Waorani woman, a mother and leader of her people. The letter was addressed to the presidents of the nine Amazonian countries and to all world leaders that share responsibility for the plundering of the rainforest. She begins:

“The Amazon rainforest is my home. I am writing you this letter because the fires are raging still. Because the corporations are spilling oil in our rivers. Because the miners are stealing gold (as they have been for 500 years), and leaving behind open pits and toxins. Because the land grabbers are cutting down primary forest so that the cattle can graze, plantations can be grown and the white man can eat. Because our elders are dying from coronavirus, while you are planning your next moves to cut up our lands to stimulate an economy that has never benefited us. Because, as Indigenous peoples, we are fighting to protect what we love — our way of life, our rivers, the animals, our forests, life on Earth — and it’s time that you listened to us.”

It was an incredibly powerful letter, and although it might have been intended for world leaders, it holds us all accountable; you can read it in full published in The Guardian here.

Waorani leader Nemonte Nenquimo shows evidence of crude oil contamination in the northern Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. Photograph: The Guardian / Mitch Anderson / Amazon Frontlines

According to Silke Helfrich and David Bollier in Free, Fair and Alive, Commons are “living social systems through which people to address their shared problems in self-organized ways” where “a distinct community governs a shared resource and its usage. Users negotiate their own rules, assign responsibilities and entitlements, and set up monitoring systems to identify and penalize free riders.” What Nemonte shows us is that, at the centre of these systems of commoning, must be a deep love and respect for the Earth. “Love in the deepest sense, as reverence. This forest has taught us how to walk lightly, and because we have listened, learned and defended her, she has given us everything: water, clean air, nourishment, shelter, medicines, happiness, meaning.” There are people living this way the world over, working in harmony and balance with the Earth, but those of us with the most power are set to destroy it all, for everyone on planet and future generations. We must listen and learn.