Citation

Ahmad A, Pratt V, Gougsa S. BMJ 2022; 379: o2790.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmj.o2790

PMID

36414270

Abstract

In their editorial on the COP27 climate change conference, Atwoli and colleagues "call for urgent action to ensure it is the COP that finally delivers climate justice for Africa and vulnerable countries. This is essential not just for the health of those countries but for the health of the whole world."1 This call overlooks that climate crises with catastrophic health effects are occurring within communities, not borders. The editorial does little to serve justice in terms of recognising the role of indigenous knowledge in supporting the world's vulnerable communities from the effects of climate change.

We conceptualise two major observations about mental distress from environmental change and land rights issues--land trauma and land based violence. These concepts reflect ways that the communities we are working with (including the Ogiek in Kenya and the Batwa in Uganda) experience transgenerational and contemporary traumas and violence that have targeted their lands and the wellbeing of those who identify their self to be part of the land. Should the land be negatively affected by environmental change, the land is felt to be harmed.

We need to integrate definitions of violence, including understanding that violence can be committed against the land as well as people. Then, we can begin to understand the plights that communities worldwide are fighting to be seen, heard, and acted on. It is not simply that "wealthy nations must step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present, and future impacts of climate change." The story is greater than this and should be told and shared by those who are living in or displaced from lands traumatised by the violence of others...

Language: en