The Malthusian Flux Theory connects to the current Black Lives Matter movement through this central idea of poverty and degradation. This modern revolution is about demanding justice and equality for people of color, while also eradicating white supremacy and police brutality. White supremacy, and what some refer to as white privilege, is associated with the Malthusian Flux through the inaccessibility of resources. The theory states that the limited availability of resources will result in poverty, and this has proven to be very true. African Americans, in particular, have the highest poverty rate among racial and ethnic groups, making up one-fourth of the nation’s poverty population. In 2018 alone, the total number of Blacks and African Americans facing poverty in America totaled over nine million. This is because people of color, many of whom are participating in the Black Lives Matter protests, have less access to essential resources than those who are White because of racial inequality. African Americans also have a lower wealth production rate and more commonly rely on the income of multiple family members to support a single household, compared to Whites. This is proof that as overpopulation continues to occur, people are competing for resources, and inequality is becoming more prevalent, especially in Black communities. Therefore, this also shows that white supremacy is directly connected to the Malthusian Flux Theory. The Malthusian Flux, Colonization, Imperialism, and World War collectively relate to my Kahiau project issue of global climate change both here in Hawaiʻi and across the globe. The Malthusian Flux Theory connects to climate change through natural disasters. This theory talks about how overpopulation can be controlled with global disasters that impact populations and the availability of resources for people within them. Climate change is related to this because it creates many disasters that directly affect people and their access to these essential resources. These include droughts and famines that result in both poverty and death. Additionally, colonization and imperialism connect to climate change because they globalized the issue, therefore, globalizing the effects of it as well. In the 19th century, European colonizers and imperialists conquered lands owned by people of color (POC) to secure resources for industrialization. With these resources, they expanded empires, built colonies, and established industries. However, this perpetuated climate change because these industries both produced CO2 and utilized fossil fuels that release CO2. As Europeans became dominant, they built more industries across the globe. However, this also meant more CO2 entering Earth’s atmosphere, accelerating climate change. Lastly, World War relates to climate change because many militaries also created industries that produced CO2. But, the most significant effect of war is regarding nationalism. Wars throughout history introduced this mindset of nationalism, which still exists today. However, this is stopping people from addressing climate change. Nationalists focus on their own interests, therefore, they do not support the “one planet” concept. But, climate change is a global issue, therefore, it requires collaboration and multilateralism, which nationalists refuse to give, perpetuating the problem. Akana, H. (2020, June 27). Imperialism, Modern Warfare & Identity Crisis. Lecture presented at Kamehameha Kapālama Summer School. Retrieved June 27, 2020, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kn7DaWeO8KI2kblnAQXYfbFRYyLCUg0B/view
Akana, H. (2020, June 30). The First Big Fight: How, When, Why, Then, What? Lecture presented at Kamehameha Kapālama Summer School. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/16wi9aEf8zOQzD9eoq-4sbn5HRW4h7xDr/view. Assari, S. (2017). Unequal Gain of Equal Resources across Racial Groups. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 7(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2017.90 Black Lives Matter. (2019). About. Retrieved from Black Lives Matter website: https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/ Conversi, D. (2020). The Ultimate Challenge: Nationalism and Climate Change. Nationalities Papers, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1017/nps.2020.18 CrashCourse. (2012). Archdukes, Cynicism, and World War I: Crash Course World History #36. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XPZQ0LAlR4 CrashCourse. (2014). HOW World War I Started: Crash Course World History 209. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2ch4XV84s Derviş, K. (2020, January 9). When climate activism and nationalism collide. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from Brookings website: https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/when-climate-activism-and-nationalism-collide/ HISTORY. (2014a). Bet You Didn’t Know: World War I | History [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mjqi-QyO1E HISTORY. (2014b). Legacy of World War I | History. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO-QWFwosk8 HISTORY. (2014c). Nationalism and WWI | History [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCe4qg8K0E HISTORY. (2014d). Tech Developments of World War I | History. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7v3cq1ZJjM Hussain, M. (2019, September 15). War on the World: Industrialized Militaries Are a Bigger Part of the Climate Emergency Than You Know. Retrieved from The Intercept website: https://theintercept.com/2019/09/15/climate-change-us-military-war/ National Centers for Environmental Information. (n.d.). DROUGHT: Monitoring Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). Retrieved from www.ncdc.noaa.gov website: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/drought-monitoring-economic-environmental-and-social-impacts#:~:text=Drought%20can%20also%20affect%20people Physicians for Social Responsibility. (n.d.). Climate Change and Famine. Sauter, M. B. (2018, October 10). Faces of poverty: What racial, social groups are more likely to experience it? Retrieved from USA TODAY website: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/10/10/faces-poverty-social-racial-factors/37977173/ Selin, N. (n.d.). Britannica School. Retrieved from school.eb.com website: https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/carbon-sequestration/474250 The State of Working America. (2010). Poverty | State of Working America. Retrieved from Stateofworkingamerica.org website: http://www.stateofworkingamerica.org/index.html%3Fp=4193.html Union of Concerned Scientists. (2014, April 10). Drought and Climate Change | Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved from www.ucsusa.org website: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/drought-and-climate-change#:~:text=Global%20climate%20change%20affects%20a American Geosciences Institute. (2015, February 13). Can droughts be predicted? Retrieved from American Geosciences Institute website: https://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues/faq/can-droughts-be-predicted Moore, A., Attorney, C. A., & Documentary, E. N. P. ’Freeway C. in T. S. (2017, December 17). Newsweek is Dead Wrong on Black Poverty. Retrieved July 9, 2020, from HuffPost website: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/newsweek-is-dead-wrong-on-black-poverty_b_5a36f332e4b0e1b4472ae7b0
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The leader example of Gandhi and how he handled the onslaught of colonization and imperialism to win back India connects to the Black Lives Matter movement through peaceful resistance in order to end the discrimination against people of color. Gandhi used peaceful resistance to spread the idea of “de-occupation”, cultural pride, and economic freedom. He noticed that people of color, more specifically Indians, in South Africa were being discriminated against by the British government and police. British forces marginalized the colored population by gaining geographical, political, and economic control. Therefore, Gandhi led multiple protests and strikes, demanding civil rights and equality for everyone, including Indians. However, in some cases, he was brutally beaten and even arrested for simply standing in civil disobedience. Similarly, the recent uproar of Black Lives Matter protests has implemented this same concept of peaceful resistance. Many people have noticed a rise in police brutality recently, especially with access to technology. Police officers across the country, who are predominantly white, have caused the deaths of many innocent people of color, including children. As a result, not only Americans but people across the world have been holding large peaceful protests, advocating for police reform. But like Gandhi, many of these protestors are being battered and pepper-sprayed by police for simply fighting for justice. Furthermore, the Gandhi approach is even seen in Hawaiʻi’s modern-day society. What Gandhi referred to as peaceful resistance, Native Hawaiians refer to as a kapu aloha. Kapu aloha is the concept of acting with love, respect, awareness, honor, and humility. More recently, Hawaiians have applied kapu aloha on Mauna a Wākea, or more commonly known as Mauna Kea. The California Institute of Technology, University of California, National Institutes of Natural Sciences of Japan, National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Department of Science and Technology of India, and National Research Council (Canada) collectively make up the TMT International Observatory (TIO). This partnership is trying to build the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), a class of large and advanced telescopes whose purpose is to look deeper into space, on Mauna Kea. However, many Hawaiians do not want it built in Hawaiʻi as it is both a threat to the Hawaiian culture and Hawaiʻi’s environment. Therefore, they have blocked access to the summit, held numerous protests, and spoken with government officials to halt the immediate construction of the TMT, all while demonstrating kapu aloha and civil disobedience. Akana, H. (2020, June 18). Gandhi - Discussion & Viewing Guide. Lecture presented at
Kamehameha Kapālama Summer School 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AvCBVZ2XgvziWt6dY7u4QkERLwVlBeeH/view Kealoha, D. (2020, June 18). Google Docs - create and edit documents online, for free. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from accounts.google.com website: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vH62ojfFHNTnNEBbo7XDHZy3_924KWm0OfW205ZKCjM/edit Kim, C. (2020, May 31). Images of police using violence against peaceful protesters are going viral. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from Vox website: https://www.vox.com/2020/5/31/21275994/police-violence-peaceful-protesters-images Peeples, L. (2020). What the data say about police brutality and racial bias — and which reforms might work. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-01846-z Protect Mauna Kea. (n.d.). Protect Mauna Kea. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from protect-mauna-kea website: https://www.protectmaunakea.net/ Shah, K. (2020, June 11). Mothers of black Americans killed by police speak out: ‘Nothing’s changed.’ The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/11/mothers-black-children-killed-by-police-speak-out Slolan, S., Pritchard, J., & Foreman, T. (2020, June 7). Massive, Largely Peaceful, Protests Against Police Brutality Continue Across the Nation. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from Time website: https://time.com/5849649/george-floyd-memorial-protests-police-brutality/ TMT International Observatory. (2009). TMT International Observatory. Retrieved from TIO website: https://www.tmt.org/page/about Touré, & Touré. (2017, December 7). A Year Inside the Black Lives Matter Movement. Retrieved from Rolling Stone website: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/a-year-inside-the-black-lives-matter-movement-204982/ George, T. (2019). Now we know Mahatma Gandhi was a fraud. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from The New Indian Express website: https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/columns/t-j-s-george/2019/oct/06/now-we-know-mahatma-gandhi-was-a-fraud-2043765.html Hurley, B. T., & July 16, 2015. (2015, July 16). Mauna Kea protesters file complaint over access. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from Honolulu Star-Advertiser website: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2015/07/16/hawaii-news/mauna-kea-protesters-file-complaint-over-access/ The Guns, Germs, & Steel presentation connects with factors that are working together to create the issue of climate change that correlates with the UN Development Goal of climate action through a chain reaction. The rise of empires due to access to guns, germs, and steel allowed for the spread of global climate change. Steel allowed empires to build guns. With the introduction of guns, people gained an advantage on the battlefield and were able to conquer new land easier. Germs also assisted with conquering land as many diseases brought by colonizers resulted in the depletion of the native populations. These included smallpox, malaria, fevers, and more. This spread and transfer of diseases allowed for colonizers to move in and build their civilizations. As these empires continued to build, explore, and expand in different parts of the world, they continued to become more advanced and innovative over time. This eventually led to industrialization and the creation of industries, factories, and machines during the Industrial Revolution. With so many empires dominating the world, industries also began to appear around the world as well. However, because these industries produced greenhouse gases, global climate change began to occur across the world as well. This resulted in the climate change crisis that we are now facing and trying to address today. Additionally, climate change presents itself in almost all places around the world as a result of the rise and domination of empires (with access to guns, germs, and steel). However, some places are experiencing different effects of climate change compared to others. For example, the Philippines has been facing violent tropical storms and typhoons, while Canada has been facing warmer waters and ocean acidification. Another example is that Mexico is facing food and water shortages, while Germany is facing extreme heat and powerful storms. Different areas are experiencing different effects because, although climate change was driven by CO2 emissions of the Industrial Revolution, different places were affected at different times. Tropical oceans and Arctic regions began warming first, while the southern hemisphere began warming much later. This inconsistency is seen across the world, but what does remain consistent is the need to combat climate change. Some organizations are even taking a global approach to this situation, by addressing issues in multiple countries. This is seen in the Climate Reality Project and the millions of people they have gathered to fight climate change. Akana, H. (2020, June 17). Guns Germs and Steel Notes & Reflection. Lecture presented at
Kamehameha Kapālama Summer School 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qjn5B1rLfbfVNieNOt2gY2o1ujdRTtn7_G5qbXcnPDs/edit McGregor, H., Gergis, J., Abram, N., & Phipps, S. (2016, August 24). The Industrial Revolution kick-started global warming much earlier than we realised. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from The Conversation website: https://theconversation.com/the-industrial-revolution-kick-started-global-warming-much-earlier-than-we-realised-64301#:~:text=In%20the%20early%20days%20of The Climate Reality Project. (2018). How Climate Change Is Impacting Different Places Around the World. Retrieved from Climate Reality website: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/how-climate-change-impacting-different-places-around-world Golembo, M. (2018, July 12). What is a typhoon: Everything you need to know. Retrieved from ABC News website: https://abcnews.go.com/US/typhoon-/story?id=56540857 Gunderman, R. (2019). How Smallpox Helped Spain Conquer the Aztecs | RealClearScience. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from www.realclearscience.com website: https://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2019/02/20/how_smallpox_helped_spain_conquer_the_aztecs_110893.html The Agricultural Revolution and Scientific Revolution did not directly create or intensify climate change, but it more so allowed us to understand it. The Agricultural Revolution connects to my Kahiau Project issue by observing the changes in our environment. The issue my group is studying and trying to address is global climate change. During the Agricultural Revolution, we see that Earth’s climate was even changing in the past. This is seen in the Pleistocene Ice Age and the Goldilocks Conditions. During this time people discovered the ability of the world to become both cooler and warmer. In addition, the discoveries made by many Enlightenment theorists during the Scientific Revolution has had an impact on this issue by what they have discovered about science and the structure of the universe. Climate change is a result of greenhouse gasses entering Earth’s atmosphere, absorbing heat from Earth’s surface, and then returning that heat back. However, the only reason that we know so much information about climate change and the effect that it has on our environment is because of the discoveries and collective learning of these theorists. For example, we have learned about Earth’s atmosphere from discoveries on the structure of the universe made by Galileo and Copernicus. Over time, scientists have used discoveries similar to this to understand how Earth’s temperature is becoming warmer. If it were not for these discoveries, we would have no knowledge of climate change and how much of an impact it could have on us, economically, and our environment if it is not addressed. Furthermore, climate change presents itself in many ways in our modern society. Across the globe, glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, natural habitats are experiencing new adaptations, wildfires have become more frequent, droughts are increasing, and tropical storms are intensifying. Also, in Hawaiʻi alone, we have experienced coral bleaching, freshwater depletion, pressure on native plants and animals, and threats to our food supply, public health, and buildings. But through the collective knowledge gained from the Agricultural and Scientific Revolutions, many people are addressing this issue and the UN development goal of climate action. For example, some organizations are trying to learn more about the issue so they know how to better prepare for the effects to come. In Hawaiʻi, scientists at the Mauna Loa Observatory have been measuring the CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere since 1960, researching climate change in relation to human activity. Also, groups such as the Nature Conservancy have already begun taking action. They have been focussing on natural solutions to combat climate change. This includes planting native trees, restoring wetlands, and strengthening coral reefs. Through these actions, they hope to counteract climate change and provide other natural benefits to our environment at the same time. CrashCourse. (2012). The Agricultural Revolution: Crash Course World History #1. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yocja_N5s1I
CrashCourse. (2019). Scientific Revolution: Crash Course European History #12. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70BkCqgyyI Mann, M. E. (n.d.). Britannica School. Retrieved from school.eb.com website: https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/greenhouse-gas/473968 Jackson, R. (2018, November 28). Global Climate Change: Effects. Retrieved from Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet website: https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/ Kaulukukui, J. (n.d.). Natural Climate Solutions Op Ed. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from The Nature Conservancy website: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/hawaii/stories-in-hawaii/natural-climate-solutions-op-ed/ Shaftel, H. (2018, June 7). The scientific method and climate change: How scientists know – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved from Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet website: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2743/the-scientific-method-and-climate-change-how-scientists-know/ U.S. Global Change Research Program. (2014). National Climate Assessment. Retrieved from National Climate Assessment website: https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/regions/hawaii Finnerty, R. (2019). Marine Scientists Track Coral Bleaching in Real Time. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from www.hawaiipublicradio.org website: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/post/marine-scientists-track-coral-bleaching-real-time Riffin. (2017). WFS Facts : The Pleistocene Epoch,Last Ice Age - WFS. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from World Fossil Society website: https://worldfossilsociety.org/2017/07/wfs-facts-pleistocene-epochlast-ice-age/ Impacts of the Human Species and Factors of the Agricultural Revolution & Agrarian Empires6/16/2020 The UN Development Goal my group has chosen to study is Climate Action. Climate Action refers to taking action to fight the effects of climate change, a global issue that has become very serious more recently. But climate change has been around for decades and was one of the factors that led to the Agricultural Revolution and the issue of poverty. I feel that poverty was influenced by humans and factors we have played a role in throughout history. These include collective learning, agriculture, and agrarian societies. Collective learning is what allowed us to build communities centered around agriculture. But we became too dependent on the success of those communities, costing the lives of many. This then created poverty as poorer people were the ones working in the agricultural industry. In addition, these factors connect to me because Hawaiʻi was a once flourishing agrarian society. Our lands were filled with sugarcane plantations, worked by immigrants from Japan, China, the Philippines, and more. Some of those plantation workers include many of my own kūpuna. Therefore, if agriculture was never apart of Hawaiʻi’s economy, I might not be here today. Also, if it were not for collective learning and the innovation of humans in the past, many of the inventions and advanced technologies we use today may have never existed. It is only because of the collective learning of those people that we have been able to advance to the modern society we have now. The issue of climate change connects to me because Hawaiʻi, like many other countries across the world, is experiencing the effects of warmer temperatures. Many people from Hawaiʻi, including myself, enjoy going to the beach. However, our beaches and oceans are being devastated by climate change. Therefore, if we do not address this issue now, who knows what our beaches will look like in 10 to 20 years. Climate change is also affecting our Native Hawaiian plants and animals by harming their homes and natural resources. Furthermore, I feel that it is of utmost importance that we address this issue and work alongside local non-profit organizations, such as Healthy Climate Communities. I feel that it is so neat what this organization is doing to fight climate change because their little action of planting more trees is having a huge impact on our environment. They are even teaching elementary students about this issue so that they will be able to make a difference in their communities. It is only a matter of time before this issue becomes worse, so it is necessary that we take action now. Grassly, E. (n.d.). 6.2.3-CCBH-Why-Human-Evolution-Matters.mp4. Retrieved June 16, 2020, from drive.google.com website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12u4N0GU2OGTqlz8a6v709kPweYJ8PgEi/view
Healthy Climate Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved from Healthy Climate Communities website: http://healthyclimatecommunities.org/ Library of Congress. (2019). Japanese - Hawaii - Immigration...- Classroom Presentation | Teacher Resources - Library of Congress. Retrieved from Loc.gov website: https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/japanese2.html Martin. (2018). Climate Change - United Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved from United Nations Sustainable Development website: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/ OER Project. (2020). Crash Course Big History #7: Migrations and Intensifications [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htk9nXHHYtU&feature=youtu.be Panda Online. (n.d.). The History of Sugar Plantations in Hawaii - Panda Travel ®. Retrieved June 16, 2020, from Panda Online website: https://www.pandaonline.com/sugar-plantations-in-hawaii/#:~:text=Over%20time%2C%20this%20increased%20Hawaii Pirie, D. M. (2015, March 3). Economic Nonsense: 17. The Industrial Revolution brought squalor and impoverished the poor. Retrieved from Adam Smith Institute website: https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/economics/economic-nonsense-17-the-industrial-revolution-brought-squalor-and-impoverished-the-poor#:~:text=The%20Industrial%20Revolution%20brought%20squalor%20and%20impoverished%20the%20poor U7_WhyWasAgricultureSoImportant.mp4. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2020, from drive.google.com website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oFFIPzTHtpfQNUkf5gZjz9wkO7CT6Wvm/view United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2016, August). What Climate Change Means for Hawaii. Retrieved June 16, 2020, from United States Environmental Protection Agency website: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-hi.pdf U.S. Global Change Research Program. (2014). National Climate Assessment. Retrieved from National Climate Assessment website: https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/regions/hawaii kevin. (2018, March 12). The best beach in Hawaii is ... Retrieved July 10, 2020, from Hawaii Magazine website: https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blog-series/best-best/best-beach-hawaii Nations, U. (n.d.). Goal 13—Taking Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change—SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from United Nations website: https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/goal-13-taking-urgent-action-combat-climate-change-sdgs-and-paris-climate-agreement |