Like so many people in our country and across the globe, we are deeply disturbed and saddened by the systemic racism that has manifested as unmitigated violence against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Last week it was George Floyd; and before him was Breonna Taylor, Jamar Clark, Philando Castile, Dreasjon “Sean” Reed, Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Michael Brown, and Trayvon Martin. And beyond these individuals, there have been centuries of senseless acts of violence against Black lives.
There is nothing like this in nature: an entire species divided against itself. We can learn from nature, recognizing that communities lacking diversity also lack resilience. Disturbed habitats and monocultures are vulnerable and (bio)diverse systems thrive. We recognize that environmental justice is social justice, and we must speak up. We stand with our Black brothers and sisters in the fight for equity and justice. This is not a time to be silent or inactive.
It is impossible to ignore that black and brown people who champion environmental justice are often excluded from natural spaces or are not allowed to be fully seen or recognized as leaders in our fight against climate change, because they are denied the opportunity and privilege to be seen. As Maya Angelou says, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” In nature, we find a common language. The Biomimicry Institute remains deeply committed to a world where everyone has access to nature’s lessons in sustainable, regenerative design.
We recognize none of us are doing enough. To that end, here is what we at the Biomimicry Institute are doing to address systemic racism, because Black lives matter.
As our first steps in solidarity, we will bring in and amplify the voices of BIPOC in our community, share their journeys in sustainability and biomimicry, and ensure there are diverse perspectives represented across all of our platforms. We are committed to deepening our own education about implicit biases we carry, ensuring diversity in our organization, and continuing to break down barriers to access.
Please stay tuned for an announcement coming about a July Biomimicry Fireside Chat focused on working toward social and environmental justice. You can also join the conversation on our social media channels where we will be centering the voices of the Black community working toward a regenerative future for all.
As we continue to educate ourselves and each other on the importance of action toward social justice, we encourage you to give to organizations locally and internationally that are diligently working to end racial violence and also promote equity, such as those recently named by President Obama:
We’ve started our work. We have a lot more to do. It’s an ongoing process of seeking diverse perspectives, and it will be a lifetime commitment to listening, to learning, to acting, and to not remaining silent. To all the nature lovers and budding biomimics in the world, we also call on you to look at the functional challenges that exist in our political, economic, and social systems.
We have many problems to tackle: how would nature solve them?
Disclaimer: The Biomimicry Institute is non-political, non-partisan, and we do not support or endorse any political candidates.
