I am one of the London Climate Sisters, a group 12 women from Tower Hamlets who have taken part in the Women’s Environmental Network’s Feminist Leadership programme.
It’s a way of coming together with my sisters to honour the knowledge that we all have of the causes and effects of climate change. At the start of the project we were a room of strangers, but we are now a room of sisters. We all have something important to say, and support each other without judgement, which has brought a powerful sense of respect for each other and each other’s lives. We exhibited our work at the Barbican recently, where I read my poem ‘Conundrum’, inspired by our visits to London’s cultural sites and my experience of climate change on my life in Tower Hamlets. Conundrum by Shabina Ali Let’s raise our voices… and declare no more atrocities we shall bear It’s time to prepare and clean up this air So don’t despair and Let’s start with a prayer Bismillah Give up the Fast fashion And stop those Industries cash in So much damage and plunder Making the skies cleft asunder Green Tech stealing Villages screaming To Our luxuries of gadgets Open your eyes To what it’s concealing Murky waters, see the slaughters Trails of destruction and spillage Whilst ruthless bullies rampage and pillage Those in power give a grinning stare whilst showing to the world their fake care Plundering the earth producing wear and tear Families fleeing, hearts stop beating whilst big corps beaming, cheating, scheming stopping others from simply dreaming. Indigenous communities thrown down the pipe Whilst the media and leaders say what’s the hype Making it look like it’s all a load of tripe But hey, good news for those who dare Speak out today for a future green and fair Come, challenge those in power Don’t let them make us cower For united we stand By working hand in hand Let’s make a band and give Earth big hugs By getting rid of those climate thugs |