Somebody put a "yellow filter" on New York City.

You must have seen the photos. Smoke from a Canadian wildfire has shrouded the Big Apple skyline, and people have been advised to stay indoors. The "yellow filter" that Hollywood applies to Mexico, India and other places in the Global South is now their reality; how the tables turn.

We shouldn't even be surprised by the environmental catastrophes are becoming more and more common this century, and we're watching them unfold like we watch dramatic episodes of reality tv.

And to think that our ancestors once lived in harmony with nature: used its resources, but protected, preserved and cherished its gifts, ensuring the survival of forests, water bodies, animals and landmasses through the ravages of time.

We've come a long way since then.

But there are some still following the path that was shown.

Indigenous communities across the globe remain committed to protecting the environment from the greed and unthinking cruelty the rest of us have unleashed on the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.

Today's Thing is a series of films featured on a platform made by If Not Us Then Who, a non-profit that spreads awareness about the role played by indigenous communities in protecting the planet. These films depict the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices made by forest communities in Malaysia, land rights activists in Honduras, youth groups in Mexico and many other collectives to arrest the destruction of the environment.

These aren't people posting 'Happy Earth Day' on Facebook. They're out there, putting their lives and livelihoods on the line on behalf of all of us. The least we could do is know.

Proiti

Just One Thing is the perfect recommendation for anyone who wants to know. Point us their way?

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👀 Did you ever stop to notice/ This crying…