From my point of view, i think western climbers around the globe need to go through a process of decolonisation.
Climbing has a _very_ deep colonialist streak to it, British, German, French colonial/wwII left overs?
... as the only indigenous climber on this continent that i've ever met (hmu if your out there!), i don't think many of you realise how much of a middle class, elitist and inaccessible pursuit climbing is to poor and black/indig people around the world.
From how Sherpas are treated and economically exploited in Nepal, is interlinked with Cartzen's Pyramid (or the Freeport mine) and the genocide taking place in West Papua, to the commercialisation of Thailand, Latin America and other 'third world countries', is also intersectionally entwined with indigenous cultural heritage rights here.
These self-entitled attitudes really need to change.
Indigenous people have a right to protect their cultural heritage and history.
Racist behaviour is learned and often subconscious due to indoctrination by the nation-state education system.
IE: cRaptain cRook...
Using greater numbers to exploit the inherit flaws and institutionalised racism within representative capitalist democracy, to oppose and reverse those hard won rights by indigenous people is extremely oppressive, white supremacist and a form of genocide. (Yes, go read up on your UN declarations and international laws about this!)
I'm glad this little storm in a tea cup has caused a few of you to think and revise your initial campaign from something reactionary and regressive, into something that is starting to look a _little_ more progressive. |