This block seminar is a first approach to the topic of Environmental Justice. We explore the complex intersections of environmental degradation, social inequality, and power and resistance. Using a mix of lectures, films, transect walks, podcasts, collaborative mapping, guest speakers, and hands-on activities, we engage with the foundational theory of environmental justice to learn how environmental harm disproportionately affects marginalized communities.
We explore case studies, historical and current, local and global: using the Environmental Justice Atlas, students can choose a case study of their interest to present at the end of the class. During the course, we also take a closer look at environmental justice in Bremen: we observe the design of green spaces in Bremen’s neighborhoods, as well as learning about resistance movements in Germany and beyond. Through group discussions, creative work and reflective writing, students are encouraged to develop a nuanced understanding of environmental justices, not only as a framework to action but also as an invitation to action. The course culminates in poster presentations of the selected case studies, connecting global struggles with our own positions and possibilities for co-resistance.