Nurturing Environmental And Cultural Preservation
Mimi 0:00
How do you understand your relationship with nature? When you think of the natural Earth, what images, words, sounds, ideas, feelings, or emotions come to mind? These are questions that we have explored several times in our previous episodes. And while every person has a different perspective on the human/nature relationship, there has been a common theme in all the conversations that humans, as a collective, need to repair the relationship with nature by challenging the prevailing human centered narrative. Today, we dive even further into that conversation with a Colombian environmental activist who works along with local indigenous communities, the guardians of biodiversity in Colombia. Together, they're confronting climate change by not only engaging in environmental preservation, but also the cultural preservation of indigenous knowledge and ways of life. This includes the celebration of, and respect towards all the beautiful relationships and intertwined connections within nature that formed the body that is planet Earth.
[intro music]
Jordan 1:11
Hey, this is Jordan.
Mimi 1:12
And this is Mimi.
Jordan 1:13
And welcome to the Imperfect Eco-Hero podcast.
Mimi 1:16
The series that connects community, normalizes imperfections and empowers heroes.
[end of intro music]
Mimi 1:25
I am so excited to introduce our guest today. Laura Hernández is the creator and president of the NGO called Rooted Youth, which empowers young people to make a change, connect with nature, and become caretakers of the Earth. Laura has had the opportunity to live in the Colombian jungle and work with many indigenous communities around Colombia. Through their work, they connect with different ecosystems, and promote the importance of equilibrating the relationship humans have towards nature. Laura is currently working on a project called Back to Earth, which aims at bringing two concepts together: environmental and cultural preservation. The project will draw upon indigenous knowledge of working with the Earth, and will convey this through a 3D HyperReal animation image exposed by a hologram projector to show viewers the spiritual and ecological dimensions of taking care of each other, including nature. Jordan and I met Laura through Start the Wave, the organization that helped us to launch this podcast. When we were first introduced to Laura and her work on Back to Earth, we were blown away. Laura's energy, kindness, and passion for connecting to nature was absolutely inspiring. On the day we recorded the interview, Laura was even sitting outside in the jungle, right by a beautiful stream. In fact, throughout the episode, you might even be able to hear sounds of birds and other jungle noises in the background.
Mimi 2:51
Thank you, Laura, for being with us today. Do you want to start off by telling us what Back to Earth is?
Laura 2:59
Okay, yeah, I would love to do it. First, I want to thank you for creating this space where we can all talk about what we do for this world. And I will start saying, Back to Earth is a project of the foundation I started with some other young people which is called in English Grounded Generation, but in Spanish Generación Enraizada. The project aims to join the ancestral knowledge, indigenous memory, which was a culture that respects and lives, in equilibrium with nature. So what we do with this project is to bring up all these spiritual knowledge and cultural knowledge, mixing it with the importance of having ecological responsibility. And we representing these by using technology. So actually, we bought a 3D hologram projector in which we're making a 3D HyperReal image, which will be very artistic, and it's kind of joining what America means, not just North America, but America like a continent. So it represent a mother. A mother that has all its own energetical points like us, its own chakras, its own organs. And here, Colombia will play the role that according indigenous it plays, that it's the heart of the world, especially here where I am now in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. So we want to show this in a very artistic way mixing technological things.
Jordan 4:41
It's wonderful. It's kind of...it's really nice. I didn't know that where you are is considered like the heart of...of the world. Like, I don't know, it sounds so poetic. I don't know what that makes us, up in Canada. The head? [laughs] The hair?
Laura 4:59
[laughs] You have the head. It's really really beautiful because in Canada, it's the pure energy. According, like, to the indigenous culture here, and some cultures actually from North America, it's the head. So we start from the third, we will say, like, chakra, your, like, chakra here. And Canada, it's all these where mind opens. So it's, it's actually represented by the...the snow, no? The snow and all this pure color that's white, the purest energy color, we'll say.
Mimi 5:35
That's really cool!
Jordan 5:35
I did not know we...that Canada was considered like the head chakra. That's actually kind of interesting to think about.
Laura 5:40
Yeah, yeah, we are all connected in America. That's what we want to show. We are one in America, and every country plays a role. But if the heart stops, then how can all the body work? So it's a very powerful energy.
Jordan 6:00
It's an interesting metaphor for climate change, considering, like, where you guys are is where it's getting hit quite the hardest, like you guys are definitely feeling the effects, some of the most in these areas. So it's actually really interesting that you said once the heart stops, the others go...like, this is kind of what we're trying to help with.
Mimi 6:18
How did you guys get started on Back to Earth?
Laura 6:22
Well, it all start when I start leaving with indigenous communities here, which are descendants of Tairona culture, which is really famous here in Colombia, one of the most ancient cultures, which had a lot, a lot of importance. They really had a lot of spiritual tribes, the way they organized the architecture, it's really amazing. And they are still alive and almost saving each culture as...as before, even if the colonization played against each. So when I went living with them, I discovered, it was another way for connection with nature. And then we can make many actions, you know, like reducing our use of plastic and being more aware in our actions that if we don't connect with the resource that gives us and keeps us alive, then we're doing anything. And that's what basically, most of all indigenous cultures say: we are one with nature, you know, and if we were bad, then we're making bad to nature.
Mimi 7:31
Yeah.
Laura 7:32
And if nature is bad...we're part of that huge ecosystem. So it all started by realizing, oh, my God, how can all these communities in Colombia, open our eyes, especially to Colombian people, who's not very related with all these environmental stuff, even if we have a lot of nature and culture, not all the people is aware of this. So we found out wow would be really cool thing, I'm indigenous, you know, I'm Colombian, but I'm indigenous. And as I am indigenous, I am nature. So it's basically where it all started.
Jordan 8:11
That's amazing. And is that kind of what you're trying to incorporate into this 3D hologram? Like that type of indigenous knowledge into this artistic way of showcasing what you guys are trying to do?
Laura 8:27
Yeah, exactly. We're basically showing America not like a continent, but we're showing it like a mother. So that's the artistic part. And the mother has its all in...indigenous aspects, no? So this is what we're trying to show, like, we are indigenous. This is all incorporated.
Mimi 8:47
Can you describe a little bit more about the hologram and like, what the goal of the hologram is and what you're trying to achieve with it?
Laura 8:55
Well, what we're trying to achieve, the main goal, it's encouraged Colombians, especially young people, our generation to connect with the identity that somehow was stolen. No? And this identity makes us connect with all our biodiversity because Colombia is the second, most biodiverse country in the world. And not just in biodiversity, but also in the amount of communities and cultural diversity we have here. So we cannot ignore that. And we have to accept that this can be really a powerful tool for fighting against all these climate and ecological problems we have now and that can make us take consciousness from the deepest part of our roots. So basically, the hologram, if we're talking about how it will be planned, as I was explaining, it's shown as America, no? A woman, a powerful woman that starts losing its power when other cultures arrived. So it's a beautiful woman, and then this will be reflected in the artistic 3D image. So it starts having problems, no? The mother, when it gets stolen, its memory. So the heart start...starts beating slower and slower. And there we connect Colombia. So what's happening in that heart, what's happening here in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta. So it's talking about all these problems that are happening here, not just in ecological terms, which will be erosion and all these monocultures. We can also include, like, illicit culture like cocaine, marijuana, that they have here. And also factory farming and all the chemical products that are being using for agriculture, and also the use of glyphosate and many things that are really affecting the ground here, and not just the ground because everything is connected. So when you affect the ground with all these chemicals, it goes to the rivers and from the rivers, it goes to the sea, and the process that comes from down to up in the snow peaks, then it's...it's being affected. Because here in Santa Marta, we're the heart of the world is...One of the characteristics that makes the Sierra Nevada has its name of the heart of the world, it's because it's the only mountain in the world that has all the five main ecosystems. So you start from the sea, and it goes to the snow peaks. So it's amazing in five hours, you just are in the sea, and then you have the snow peaks and indigenous cultures know the importance of that. As everything is connected, and as everything is joined and just in a mountain, and it has all together, the processes get affected, it's faster, and it's affecting more and more each time.
Jordan 12:09
I think that paints a really beautiful image, I'm, like, curious who's actually designing it. Like I like who's actually creating the visual model of it?
Laura 12:19
Well, it's really interesting, because we are all designing it. So we're giving ideas and and a friend of mine, which name is Vanessa, she's creating the design sketch in paper, and then we'll pass it to someone who knows how to design it in 3D and animate it, that it's interesting for people to see it and to connect with that, you know? Because when you have a 3D image in front of you, it creates a more close psychological effect, you know? Recognize the problematic, even close...even if it's in the heart of the world and I'm seeing it from Canada, or I'm seeing from Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. This is someone who knows about 3D hologram animation.
Jordan 13:02
I just love that you guys are doing this all together. I think that collaborative approach to trying to solve climate change is definitely one that I think is definitely missing.
Mimi 13:11
I agree. And I think working together is also like, it mirrors the way nature operates as well. Nature doesn't operate on its own, everything contributes to each other, right? So I love that you're doing exactly what you're trying to achieve, even through the process. Even...not just the goal, but the process itself. You're doing what you want to achieve.
Laura 13:33
Thank you girls. Yeah, it's really amazing because all of us are young people, like, we are five people and all of us are between 18 and 23. So we're really encouraging ourselves and empowering others to make the most they can with this project.
Mimi 13:54
It's incredible!
Jordan 13:54
That's amazing. Oh, I wish I had that when I was younger, I would have been so inspired.
Laura 13:59
[laughs]
Jordan 13:59
But it's great that you guys are trying to also focus on getting young people involved because I'm also assuming...you said that you got involved with other indigenous cultures, like the idea of, like, passing down information and then having young people also act on it, too.
Laura 14:14
Yeah, exactly!
Jordan 14:16
Like you talking to elders and like people who, who have been around a long time who have been trying to conserve the land there.
Laura 14:26
Yeah, exactly.
Jordan 14:28
Isn't that, like, kind of what people are trying to do now with trying to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate action? Is that...indigenous peoples have been the stewards of this land for thousands and thousands of years, and they've...
Laura 14:41
Yeah.
Jordan 14:42
Indigenous peoples, if I'm not mistaken, they make up 25% of...like, they live on 25% of the land on Earth, but all that 25% of the land contains 80% of, like, the Earth's total biodiversity so they actually are the stewards of the Earth. Like, they've been the ones that have been maintaining Earth in, like, the best possible way. So, it's great that you guys are also trying to learn from generations and generations of people who've actually been on those frontlines.
Laura 15:13
We have here places called shelter, indigenous shelters. So in this places an amount of indigenous people live. In this case with the shelter I'm working, it's a Kogi shelter. And what I mean with working, it's that I'm going there, and yeah talking with elders, and taking them to the sacred places that they cannot longer go to because they're private, or they need to pay for a bus, and they don't have money for. So what do we do with the foundation, it's collecting money for taking them to that sacred places in which they made something here we call a pagamento, or like, an offering, and it's like, paying and talking purity with nature and leaving something for if receiving resource, for example, for water, there are specific points where they have to pay. For example, we...we pay to the public manage of water, no? They pay to some specific ecological and spiritual points, for example, they the warming of a river, they go there, and they pray for it. That's what they do, not just physically, but also spiritual work, they go there meditate, see what the place needs, if it needs trees, and they talk with the community. So they have a very, very, very close relationship with nature, not just in terms of, "Oh, we take care of it, we take our foot from it", but they really listen to it.
Mimi 16:47
In Canada, what we're hearing, and probably globally, too, but I can only speak from a Canadian perspective, but a lot of what we're hearing is this idea of like two-eyed seeing. And the idea is that, yeah, you're using Western knowledge or mainstream Canadian knowledge in the context of Canada, and indigenous knowledge to create, either like policies, or science, or ways of living, or ways of understanding or whatever it may be. It's really interesting what you're doing, because you're kind of incorporating that two-eyed seeing and finding this balance between like, the mainstream Colombian knowledge and indigenous knowledge and...
Laura 17:22
Mixing it.
Jordan 17:23
Mixing it. Yeah, yeah.
Laura 17:26
Yeah. It is really interesting.
Mimi 17:30
Just curious, going on to a little bit more how you think, but what...what do you think of when you hear the term climate change?
Laura 17:38
Well, when I hear the term climate change, what I think of the first it's about your responsibility, and ambitiousness of people, you know, of companies that are abusing of resources that are not really paying to the mother, what they're using for. They're just abusing and taking and taking, and somehow, we are all part of climate change, whether we like it or not, because we have to survive. To buy these products that some companies produces, and when they do this process of producing it, they increase these effects of climate change. And we're also doing it because we were buying these products, and we, we won't stop being part of climate change, until we don't change our lifestyle. That's when I think about indigenous culture as we...as well regarding climate change, because we were taught to live in a certain way, in a very occidental way, with a lot of necessity. So to have a smartphone, to have a lot of things that are really not necessary if you look into other cultures, like indigenous culture. So I think when we integrate into what we really need, then all these systems that are we...that we are feeding day by day with what we buy, will stop creating these climate change effects. But we, first, the people who make these effects possible need to change our lifestyle. So that's what I think we are all in the same in the same ship.
Jordan 19:18
Do you guys actually have a word for climate change? And I only asked this because a friend of mine was saying in a course that she took on indigenous knowledge, is that...it, at least in Canada, that they don't actually call climate change "climate change". They just refer to it as...as what they're seeing happening to nature that, like, exact term climate change is currently like a colloquial...western...one of those...I'm just curious if you guys down at Columbia actually call it climate change, or do you also call it what you're seeing?
Laura 19:50
Yeah, no, we Colombians, we know about what climate change is, and we experience it day by day with how sunny days are and then the other days, we have a lot of rain. But indigenous communities, they just regard it as what we were talking about. So everything is connected, you know. And this is what I mean that with our actions are connected to that as well, not just the biggest companies are creating these, but also our actions. So this is what indigenous understand. The fact that one river just stops or getting water of it, it will affect others and others and others. So, it's a domino effect. So this is how I will think they understand it, from the wholeness they see in nature.
Jordan 20:39
And it's interesting that it kind of falls in line with I guess what is also, like, taught here in Canada, as well from indigenous communities, like you said, it's all about how everything is kind of interconnected. So you notice when, you know the river dries up, and how that, like you said, affects X, Y & Z, and so yeah. It's an interesting way of looking at the problem, because I definitely think of climate change more on a...on a people front and on, like, this huge...like, my actions, not to the planet in particular, but like, like, eating, eating meat or buying a lot of products. I don't actually think about...because I guess because I don't see it on a day to day basis, is that I don't see that, I don't think about climate change, like you said.
Mimi 21:26
Yeah, and I think Jordan, what you also just said, makes a lot of sense to me, because I think a lot of the way that, like, mainstream colonial thinking is, like, thinking of climate change, thinking about anything really in very, like, in, like, strict category. So like, this is what's happening to the rivers. This is what's happening to this, this is what's happening to that. And like not necessarily seeing, like, the whole picture. But Laura, what you're talking about is, like, taking a very, like holistic approach and that everything is interconnected.
Laura 21:56
Yeah, exactly. Everything is connected. And I think, somehow I...our mistake as humans thinking that we are individuals, and that our process are really separated from nature. But if you realize that the Earth is a whole biosphere that regulate itself as our body does, then you will understand every ecosystem, every little cell. And I consider myself a cell in nature, working for a bigger biosphere. We are all together in a process of the regulation of a bigger organism. Not just the forest are working in this and not just the sea, but they're working together. They're whole...they're in a wholeness. And I think it's easier for Kogis or Taironas, communities that live here in the heart of the world. Because they...they have all this panorama from the sea to the snow peaks. So it's easier for them to know all that relationship.
Jordan 22:53
Following that, how do you understand your relationship to nature? Like you already talked about how it's all interconnected, but has that always kind of been the relationship you've had since you were born? Or is that something that you've learned now working with Back to Earth?
Laura 23:08
Yeah, it's something I start learning when I start going to nature, when I start cultivating my own food, when I start taking showers in the river and realizing, oh, well, the water doesn't comes from the shower I have in my bath, you know, it comes from this river. And we change the direction so, now I understand. Now I understand I need to work with Earth for a living. That's...that was when I start changing my perspective and seeing how my actions get reflected in nature. So I realized that what I'm saying, I perceive myself like a little cell in this huge organism. And now I'm here in a very important ecological and spiritual place which is the heart of the world and I'm, as a cell, regulating process as well. Like the trees, like the sea, I am part of that ecosystem as well. I'm not out of that. And I don't want to be out of it. Even if people live in big cities. These cities are also part of an ecosystem. We humans create, yes nature didn't create it, but nature created us and we are part of it. So I perceived my see...myself as a cell. And I think most of the humans can be a cell that do well in its processes, or can be a cell that can become a cancer in the organism of the world. And this is why it's important for me as well to realize how I am one with everything spiritually and physically connected. [laughs]
Mimi 24:49
Laura, have you lived in a city setting before?
Laura 24:52
Yeah, I was living in a huge city. That's Bogotá.
Mimi 24:57
Okay, yeah.
Laura 24:57
A lot of pollution, a lot of traffic and buildings and...
Mimi 25:03
Were you able to connect to nature there? I guess, like, my question is like what...what advice would you give to people living in cities that want to connect with nature and want to find that relationship to nature?
Laura 25:14
I think when I was living in cities, we have to recognize living in cities is not the most human thing. No, it's, I think, it's not really, it's not really humans who live in cities, who live in those conditions, which are really stressful. It's really hard for mammals, which is social, which is biologically have to live in community. It was not made with biological structure for tolera...tolerating the kind of stress and pollution we have in cities like we do it, like most of the humans do it, which live in cities. So I think one of the best things for doing this is starting connecting with nature. I mean, going to mountains that are close to your city, going to natural places. And really, if you have time on Sunday, and you'll see how that feeds your soul, it's like nature that recharging...recharging, really your body, your mind, because if you're in a really stressful place, you can lose yourself into that. So the more you get into nature, the more you will want to take care of it, you will start developing a culture and a love for her not just for...of responsibility, or "no, I cannot eat meat, because this will happen". "No, I cannot do this because it will have effects of climate change". No, but okay, I don't do this, because I love the mother. And I know that if I do this to the nature, I'm doing it to myself as well. So I think the really nice approach, slowly getting in, and then the nature will guide you.
Jordan 26:51
So you were saying like going into nature is like quite healing. And in previous episodes that we've recorded, a lot of people have echoed this same, the same feeling. And Mimi and I both have also echoed the same feelings. But I'm curious, because you actually now live in it, a lot, is seeing that...like, like the degradation and, like, the effects of climate change, and, like, not being able to access nature, has that affected you at all, like the...the negative side of seeing, like nature loss?
Laura 27:24
Yeah, it's really hard. It's really sad. Especially, I used to come here when I was a child and seeing how a riv...how all the rivers, got dry, how the coral reef start disappearing. It's really sad. And I think somehow I transform that sadness into motivation for doing something for nature. And I think we all, in this generation, are having kind of this sadness, and this feeling powerless for acting. But I think transforming this emotion as a motivation for doing the best you can, in your circumstances, can really help to overcome all these negative emotions.
Jordan 28:13
What's amazing about your reaction is, so, you've actually seen nature change and like that is very hard to see. But it's amazing that you've turned, I guess what, like a lot of people...like, hopelessness, that fear into motivation to make a difference. Like, you don't want to be a bystander or a victim to climate change like you want to be someone who actions off of it. And I'm curious if that has always been your...your reaction, or has that been like a way for you to cope, maybe, with those feelings of eco-anxiety and grief? I actually don't...we actually never talked about is mental health actually talked about a lot in Colombia in regards to climate change.
Laura 28:58
Well, regarding Colombia, no, we don't talk about mental health regarding climate change. But of course a lot of people get affected and more of the people that live close to nature and see the...those ecosystem changing because you know you're in the city and these informations are not normally presented in the TV news because they don't want you to know they're destroying nature. So of course people will get panic and I think we are the young people are really panic, we're having panic. Somehow, I feel, panic it's not good you know? Always you need to think, what can I do? Because I think also media can fill you with a lot of information that you're destroying water and trying to make you feel like you're trash, somehow? But you're not and it's not your fault! It's the system that's been pushing you to have that lifestyle, so I think it's just stopping, breathing and saying, like, okay, what can I change in my...in myself? What can I do for my person? And then when you start doing those little things, you will start seeing, then you can have the energy for doing bigger things. So that was...in my case, I was doing smaller things, and then look, I create a foundation. And it's very beautiful because people see you. If you live in that example of what you want to change...of the change, you want to see outside and you're that example, people see it in you and they, they get reflected that and then you start inspiring that people, so it's like a domino effect. I don't consider it's necessary to panic. Breathe and see: okay, what can I do?
Jordan 30:40
I love that. It's a really good message.
Mimi 30:42
Yeah, thank you for that. I love that you were able to draw on your own experience with that too to, like...it's very easy to say those words, but you're, like, living proof that you can actually do that, you know?
Laura 30:52
It's the path of going back to Earth, we all, young people, have to do it. Otherwise, system will collapse, nature will collapse. But we can do it slowly and slowly. And doing the best we can, no pressure. I mean, we came to this world for being happy, for being nature. You know, nature is happiness. When you're seeing a bird that's sad, that it's a stress, that...that it's not a natural state. So we keep our state of trying to be nature, to be connected in what we can, not panic.
Jordan 31:29
I love that. I even love how you said like, it's...it's not the individual person's fault when the system has been built against them, and against climate, and, like, nature, like, if you're in a system that's highly capitalistic, it's not your fault that that's how you live. But now that you know, you gotta do something about it. You can't just be complacent, and that's what I love.
Mimi 31:55
Yeah, I totally agree with that, Jordan.
Jordan 31:57
I'm being inspired by you. And actually, that leads into a very interesting question, the next question that we have, is I also read, when, like...Colombia is one of the most dangerous places to be a climate activist and to, like, protect the lands and natural resources, like you said, the...the TV and media hide it from...from people. So, I was curious....Like, what keeps you motivated in doing this when you know it can be very dangerous, and there's a lot of people against you?
Laura 32:29
Yeah, it's really sad that situation in Colombia. All activists, especially environmental activists, are highly murder here... Of course that is scary, not just for me, but for the people who love me and for my family. When I'm here, living in the Sierra, alone and doing all these things that I'm doing, it's, of course, a risk. But some of these things they are doing, of murdering people and trying to make our society afraid. Because when people is separate, they don't do anything, they stay in the comfort zone, you know? And I think in this epoch, now, we cannot stay longer in our comfort zone. There's action needed to be done. And well, I think, what keeps me moving, it's love, love for my country, love for the culture, we have here. Hope for a new generation, a grounded generation, like my foundation, it's called. Like my foundation, and of the 15 people that got joined lately. And this is growing, you know, and I think, fear its media of control as well. And just doing what you can, and if...what lov...if you love moves you then trust in that energy that push you...push you to do big, big changes.
Jordan 33:53
When you said, staying in your comfort zone, that's where there's no growth. I thought that was such a good way of putting it, and yeah, exactly what a lot of us need to do, is I think we're very comfortable in the system and the life that we have, especially in North America. But to actually see change, we have to make change.
Mimi 34:16
Yeah! And I love how you talk about, like, you don't frame yourself as being, like, a brave person or, like, this, like, incredible person. You're...you're framing yourself as being, like, a regular person. And I love that you did that. I mean, of course I consider you brave and I consider you amazing, but that's not how you're presenting yourself. And I think it's...I think it's really important for people to think that it's not necessarily being a climate activist is a brave thing to do, but being someone that's complacent and conform, that's the violent thing to do.
Laura 34:50
Yeah, it's a really good way of expressing it.
Mimi 34:53
You didn't say anything about you being special, and I think that's incredible. You were just like "This is what I have to do, because it's the right thing to do".
Laura 35:03
I'm the cell! I'm doing a cell process, I cannot go against the mother. Otherwise, I will keep my...the body that keeps me in this beautiful house called Earth, called Colombia. And I will damage other cells that are around me. And I will damage my process and propose as a cell that it's working for a bigger good, for a whole organism. So, I think this is what keeps me not arrogant, like "I'M doing this", no! [laughs] I'm just doing, I'm just being human nature, natural. Yeah. [laughs]
Jordan 35:43
I love that! That's a good...it's a good way of looking at it, too. And I think that also is what stops a lot of people as well, as they think they have to do everything to really make a difference. They have to be special to really make change. But a lot of times, you just need to, like you said, get grounded and look at what you're doing, and how it's affecting people. And making those small changes in your own life are really the best thing that you can do for, you know, Mother Earth, it's...you just doing it out of love. And I don't think I've actually ever heard anyone frame climate action as love for the Earth.
Laura 36:21
Yeah, it's my house. It's what keeps me alive. And I love life. I mean, when you love life, when you love what keeps you alive...
Mimi 36:29
What advice would you give to people that want to be a little bit more active in the climate movement? Whether that's like in your immediate loc...location in Colombia or elsewhere in the world? What would you say to activists that are, like, a little bit scared or timid, or they're not really sure how to start being active?
Laura 36:48
Yeah, that's somehow one of the reasons why I created the foundation, because I was seeing a lot of people, young people wanted to do something, but they didn't take a step in that. So I said, okay, I create a legal space where you can feel comfortable for doing it, and you just guys do it. So I think one of the best thing is joining people, you know, we can do things from our individual. And we can do small things. But once we have these things clear, and we can share it with people, let's talk to our friends, like you did, you said, "Hey, Jordan, hey, Mimi, let's create something!". Probably for Jordan alone would have been very difficult to take all these podcasts from...for just herself. This is basically as well as a collective. We need to join. So saying to your friends, hey, let's do something, this is...there's a space where we can do these and just letting out your ideas. You know, a lot of people have ideas, but they feel uncomfortable. And, no! If ideas are coming to you probably they're not in everyone's mind. So just try to materialize it. And probably, if you've talked about that with someone, someone will get interested in participating out of that. So I think it start...it starts from you doing actions, and once you have that dominated, or you feel you can share what you know, creating this kind of collective movement, or being part of a collective movement where you keep what you want, so it feels stronger, the way we create.
Jordan 38:26
No, I love that, it's...it's that idea of individual versus collective action, because there's a big debate whether our individual actions really make a difference, and it's only working in a group that does. But I love what you said, it's...it's both, you need to start with individual action, and that could even just be joining a group, but then that inspires all the other people around you and the people that you interact with. And only then can you, then, in a group actually do something about it. And I love that. That idea that it's both individual and collective action that's going to really make a difference in this climate movement.
Mimi 39:04
I was gonna say that, speaking from, like, an imperfect eco-hero perspective, I know, I could not have done this without Jordan. Like, it was, like, the collective action that made it what it is, if I did this on my own, this would not be great. [laughs]
Jordan 39:21
And it's funny, it did start with the two of us being like, we want to do more!
Mimi 39:24
Yeah!
Jordan 39:25
But I don't know how to do it alone, and I don't know what to do. And Mimi is the same, and we're like, "Let's do this together!".
Mimi 39:31
Yeah. So everything you were saying I was like, yep we did that, we did that, that's how it started, yeah! You speak the truth, Laura!
[all laughs]
Mimi 39:45
Obviously the Earth inspires you and you've talked about that. But are there any individuals, whether that's environmental leaders, or writers, or whoever it may be that influence the way you engage in the climate movement?
Laura 40:00
Well, yes, there are a lot of influenced people, I think. And one of them I think, that really open my mind not just to the ecological movement or being more green, about being more indigenous as well, being more daughters and sons of the Earth, was Wade Davis. He’s actually an anthropologist from Canada.
Jordan 40:25
Oh nice! Represent!
Laura 40:26
Yeah! He’s amazing! Yeah! He came here to Colombia and was able, in that epoch where not a lot of people went into indigenous communities, to see the importance of those communities in the equilibrium of Earth. So he really...he really open my eyes to see and experience all this what I've been talking about. Also would...I would say that inspire me was like all the young people which now is doing a lot of things, not just ecological stuff like Greta Thunberg, but also spiritual stuff like Matías De Stefano and some other guys which are talking about empowering yourself from here, from this nature and divine energy you have inside, you know? That's what the system doesn't want you to think, that you are connected with all the divine miracle that is nature. You know, I say it now because I’m in the jungle and you see how old this...this is beautiful and I'm part of it. So, I think all these people has been in...inspiring me. These people that basically just act, you know? They think and act.
Jordan 41:43
I started noticing that you can hear the jungle behind you. Not loud, but it’s...it reinforces everything you’re saying about being one in nature, and you literally got nature behind you. And I was just thinking I have a clock going and, like, I can hear computers, like, overheating and I’m like man I...this is not the sounds I wanna hear. I wanna hear what you’re hearing. I wanna be in nature right now and you know…
Laura 42:10
Yeah, I love that!
Jordan 42:10
We’re both in big cities. But it was just something...I started noticing.
Laura 42:14
I love that! Please, do it! I love that I’m inspiring you for doing it because it’s really necessary, like. It’s not a coincidence I’m talking like this when I’m in nature. Probably you guys would be in a city, with all the things you have behind you, I will be talking in another way but this, having nature close to you really gives you energy, gives you connexion. So please do it! [laughs] Yeah, at least have more plants in your house!
Jordan 42:43
I only have fake plants in my house, so…
Laura 42:45
[laughs]
Jordan 42:46
I’m doing even worse ‘cause I don’t...I’m not allowed plants in my house.
Mimi 42:49
Look at this plant right here. I’m trying to, like, propagate it. But yeah I killed my plant and I’m trying to revive it.
[all laugh]
Jordan 42:59
We’re definitely bringing the imperfect to Imperfect Eco-Hero as you can tell. I got fake plants behind me and Mimi’s is dead, so...trying.
[all laugh]
Laura 43:11
It is funny!
Jordan 43:13
Sorry, I now can’t speak...Let me try this...Okay I can do this! I can do this! We’re podcasters!
Laura 43:18
You can do it! You need to be…[unintelligible]
Mimi 43:21
We never said we were professionals, though!
Laura 43:24
Yeah, we’re imperfect!
Jordan 43:25
Very professional! Um, but yeah, no, okay! So, to end this episode, I guess, Laura, what’s one message you’d want to give to our listeners, to inspire them to want to make positive change?
Laura 43:37
I think, making a positive change it’s possible. But the most important thing it’s to be the change you want to be outside. That’s really important thing, because many times you can say, “I want the world to be different! I want people to be kind! I want people to take care of nature!”. But, are you doing that? Are you being kind at people, are you connecting and taking care of peop..of nature? So these are the base of doing a positive change. Do it from yourself, and then once you integrate in yourself you reflect it outside. And a lot of people when you talk with them will get inspired in that, you know? They get inspired in that.. empowereness you have in yourself and they will reflect this power they have in themself and they appeared in you. So they will get inspired for waking up what they have in them. So I think when you start from inside being the change you want, a lot of people will get inspired about you. Not just about what you’re talking, not just about what you publish, not just about what you write but what you are. And then, when you are, it will all the process of making actions and positive change, it will be influential, it will be quite easily.
Jordan 45:00
I guess you can say that we would start the wave of positive change.
Laura 45:05
Yeah, exactly, we will start the wave of a positive change!
[outro]
Mimi 45:10
Thanks for listening to this episode of Imperfect Eco-Hero. Stay connected with us through our instagram @Imperfect_ecohero or email us at imperfectecohero@gmail.com. If you want to learn more about our podcast or see resources related to this episode, visit our website imperfectecohero.com.
