What is habitable space? At the surface level, it’s a rather vague question that could take you in any direction. In some ways, understanding the concept of habitable space is fundamental to human existence, encompassing various aspects across time, place, and culture. For me, I often find myself returning to the works of Lewis Mumford …
Green Transition and the Creation of More Habitable Spaces Read More »
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States released its Climate Change and Children’s Health Report, the implications reverberate not only within the country but resonate globally. Children, being a vulnerable demographic, bear a disproportionate burden of the effects of climate change, including higher rates of respiratory disease, reduced academic achievement, increased risk …
Climate Change and Children’s Health: A Call to Action for a Safer Future Read More »
In an era marked by environmental challenges and shifting landscapes, Habitable Air Senior Researcher, Courtney Desiree Morris takes us on a poignant visual odyssey. Titled “Solastalgia,” this photographic series dives deep into the heart of southwest Louisiana, a region steeped in the history of the petroleum industry. Solastalgia, a term coined by Australian environmental …
Capturing Solastalgia: A Visual Journey Through a Changing Landscape Read More »
In her article “Critical ontologies: rethinking relations to other-than-humans from the Bolivian Andes,” Mareike Winchell delves into the intricate social and historical dynamics of the village of Sarahuayto in Bolivia. The article provides a vivid narrative centred around Oscar, a key informant for the author’s fieldwork, who unveils a family history linked to the legacy …
Navigating History and Belief: Devotional Practices in the Bolivian Andes Read More »
In 2013, Sharad Chari published an insightful journal article titled “Detritus in Durban: Polluted Environs and the Biopolitics of Refusal,” which shed light on the struggles faced by residents of South Durban’s marginalised neighborhoods. As we reflect on the past, it is essential to connect this work with the present efforts of Habitable Air, a …
Connecting a Decade-Old Study to the Current Efforts of Habitable Air Read More »
In our interconnected world, certain regions have become synonymous with hazardous air pollution and industrial toxicity, transforming into what is commonly known as “industrial deathscapes.” These landscapes are marred by the looming threat to human health and well-being, raising urgent concerns about the disproportionate impacts on marginalised communities. In this blog, we will delve into …
Negotiation of personhood while battling industrial deathscapes Read More »
Urban inequality is a significant challenge that is prevalent in many parts of the world, leading to disparities in access to resources, services, education, and economic opportunities. Fenceline and frontline communities (communities located near industrial activity) are particularly vulnerable to these disparities due to their proximity to industrial activity, which exposes them to various environmental …
Researching Environmental Injustice and Climate Inaction in Durban, South Africa Read More »
The annual Dr. Maurice S. Segal Lecture, presented by The Fletcher School in partnership with Tufts University School of Medicine, featured Jane Burston, the Founder and Executive Director of the Clean Air Fund. The lecture series honours Dr. Morris Seibel, a prominent researcher in lung disease. Burston’s lecture highlighted the intersection of health and climate …
In a recent article titled “The pragmatism of continual failure: environmental policy as experimentation in China,” Charlotte Bruckermann (University of Cologne and Senior Researcher: Habitable Air) sheds light on the issue of air pollution in China and the failure of environmental policies to address its detrimental effects on citizens’ health. The article examines the perspectives …
Asthma is an incredibly complex disease that is often overlooked and understudied, particularly in South Africa and generally in the Global South. In South Africa, the story of asthma is deeply entwined with industrial toxicity and air pollution that increase the burden of having this disease. As an ethnographic study, it is crucial to understand …