The People of the the People’s Climate March, NYC

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The People of the the People’s Climate March, NYC
The American flag has been a powerful symbol throughout years of demonstrations- timely here to consider our role in global climate change. Photo by Victoria Costa

Smell is a powerful connecting force. Walking through the 300,000+ crowd at the People’s Climate March in New York City this past Sunday, September 21st, I was comforted to smell the familiar scent of burning tree sap. The familiarity was quite jarring amidst the blinking displays and towering bank buildings of Manhattan, however, it seemed fitting as the incense is to connect and remind us at rituals around the world, including those I have been fortunate to be part of in indigenous communities in Belize and Guatemala. Our group settled in to march the many remaining blocks in the wake of the familiar smell and in solidarity with the group dancing and marching to remind us of the immediate and devastating effects of climate change on indigenous communities, who are frequently intimately connected to their natural resources for their daily livelihoods. The diversity of people and causes that fell under the climate change umbrella were inspiring and, while bemusing at first, made good sense given the broad, systemic causes and effects that feed climate change. A sensory experience, a collective consciousness and a high-profile platform, the climate march left me hopeful that it left more behind much more than the piles of plastic trash on the street corners.

Reminder that there is power in our choices, our numbers, our visibility.
Times Square was a powerful reminder of the connection between consumption and climate. #ifnotusthenwho Photo by Victoria Costa
Issues of the day were broken down to their bare elements for maximum effect. Photo by Victoria Costa
Cute vegetables with eyes has potential backfire potential for meatless mondays.
When thousands come together around the world, the hope is that climate change will move further from the margins as an issue of global concern. Photo by Victoria Costa
Many indigenous communities rely on natural resources and climate cycles for their daily livelihoods.
The crowd held a 2 minute silence for those that have suffered as a result of climate change. Photo by Victoria Costa
The American flag has been a powerful symbol throughout years of demonstrations- timely here to consider our role in global climate change. Photo by Victoria Costa
Capitalism is killing our planet and, also, dogs rule. Making the connection between economic systems, our consumption and our climate.
It is difficult not to feel the irony seeing the remnants of the consumption of those participating in the climate march. Photo by Victoria Costa
Mother earth reminds marchers and spectators of how the individual affects the whole. Photo by Victoria Costa

Kristina Baines is our resident cool anthropologist. She’s been formally trained in applied, sociocultural, ecological and medical anthropology at Florida Atlantic University (BA, MA), the University of Oxford (MSc) and the University of South Florida (PhD). She has a strong interest in corn, how what we do in our environment makes us well, and using innovative methods to make anthropology relevant and accessible to a wide audience. You can find out more about how these interests translate into projects and pursuits by perusing the rest of our site, or you can contact her directly at kristina@coolanthropology.com

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