The Caribbean Archives

17 03, 2026

https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-decade-after-the-death-of-berta-caceres-we-can-no-longer-tolerate-threats-to-environmental-activists-commentary/

A decade after the death of Berta Cáceres, we can no longer tolerate threats to environmental activists

Aparna Packer2026-10-30T17:52:12-04:00Tags: The Caribbean, Latin America, Colombia, Honduras|

According to Global Witness, 2,253 environmental defenders have been killed since 2012, with Indigenous peoples and small-scale farmers among the most affected. These defenders often face powerful industries and governments while protecting their lands and communities. Berta Cáceres was murdered in 2016 for successfully halting a massive hydropower development along the Gualcarque River in Honduras. She was assassinated by hired gunmen by executives of the company building the dam. In 2019 in Colombia, Francia Márquez, was the target of a grenade and gunfire attack for defending her Afro-Colombian community from illegal mining. Her advocacy and sacrifice led her to be the first Afro-Colombian to be elected vice president of Colombia. The work, legacy, and attacks against these women inspired international legal efforts to protect environmental activists, such as the Escazú Agreement, the first ever international treaty made so governments had to specifically protect environmental human right defenders in Latin American and the Caribbean. Philanthropists are also providing financial and strategic support to global environmental defenders. While progress has been made, stronger government accountability, enforcement of existing protections, and continued funding are needed to ensure environmental defenders can continue their work without sacrificing their lives.

5 08, 2025

https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/restoring-coral-reefs-caribbean##

Restoring Coral Reefs In The Caribbean

Aparna Packer2026-05-08T17:56:34-04:00Tags: United States of America, The Caribbean|

In this narrative essay, researcher and science graduate Sara Abraha reflects on her experience studying coral reef ecosystems across the Caribbean and in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Abraha documents the emotional impact of witnessing coral bleaching firsthand in St. Croix, Dominica, and Anguilla, where rising temperatures and ocean acidification have transformed once-vibrant reefs into skeletal remains. She highlights the contributions of local figures like artist Elisa McKay, who preserves cultural knowledge of these marine environments. The article emphasizes that the climate crisis in the Caribbean is a result of external exploitation that impacts communities contributing the least to global pollution. Abraha concludes that human health and environmental health are inseparable, and she supports the collaborative restoration efforts being led by volunteers and scientists in the region.

12 01, 2023

https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/prophecies-of-possibility/

PROPHECIES OF POSSIBILITY: A Ripening of the Next World

Aparna Packer2025-03-30T23:43:29-04:00Tags: The Caribbean|

In this essay, Afro-Taína author Jamie Figueroa adeptly navigates narratives of catastrophe and colonialism, staunchly resisting their attempts to stifle her spirit. Through imagination, courage, and unyielding sovereignty, she reshapes her narrative to ignite a spark of global rejuvenation. Amid the challenges of water scarcity and economic constraints, Figueroa passionately explores the transformative force of storytelling while delving into the concept of home. Conversations with Indigenous women illuminate themes of freedom, responsibility, and the enduring legacy of colonization. Set against the backdrop of nature and interactions with creatures like Mukti the baby goat, her journey of self-discovery becomes a testament to resistance and resilience. In the narrative's tapestry, intuition, interconnectedness, and deep understanding converge to weave a path towards renewed wholeness and belonging, fostering a narrative that champions both environmental and social justice.

29 03, 2021

https://atmos.earth/indigenous-peoples-biodiversisty-united-nations-report/

Finally, UN Recognizes We Need Indigenous Peoples to Save Forests

Aparna Packer2025-07-10T09:18:51-04:00Tags: Latin America, The Caribbean|

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations released a report stating that Indigenous and tribal communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, the primary protectors of the forests and biodiversity in the region, need more protections and resources that have consistently been denied or taken from them. Ginny Alba and Robinson López Descanse are a married Colombian couple who have dedicated their lives to climate activism. After López Descanse died of COVID-19, leaders became more aware of the need for better health, education, and financial resources for Indigenous and tribal groups. Providing Afro-Latin and Indigenous peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean with land rights and economic support protects communities, cultures, livelihoods, while protecting biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions, and creating a more liveable environment Earth. Indigenous sovereignty is a climate solution.

7 06, 2017

https://www.urbanet.info/womens-right-to-the-city/

Women’s right to the city; reflections on inclusive urban planning

Aparna Packer2025-05-24T18:58:13-04:00Tags: Latin America, The Caribbean|

Ana Falú is an Argentinian architect, professor, researcher, and feminist activist whose work focuses on the shortcomings of traditional city design and planning, recognizing the unequal relations between men and women, and the opportunities to do better. Women's rights to the city have historically been overlooked, despite their active participation in city building and social movements. In Latin America, these challenges are exacerbated by high urbanization rates and climbing inequality. Therefore, urban policies and gender-sensitive planning must ensure equal conditions and opportunities for all genders and diverse groups, including transgender people and sexual minorities. Such planning can also address economic well-being, political participation, bodily autonomy, and equal access to urban resources. Falú' calls for the incorporation of women's right to the city into the Habitat III process and the New Urban Agenda in urban planning conferences, emphasizing the need for gender equality in urban planning to create more democratic and inclusive cities.