Every Greenpeace t-shirt design has a story behind it, but this new one might be the most interesting so far.
People don’t all experience climate change the same way. It’s shaped by who we are. Different parts of our identity, like race, class and ability affect how we’re treated. And there’s no way to separate these struggles or privileges from the struggle to protect our world.
The green movement can only succeed if it takes this into account, creating space for everyone to play their part. This approach is called intersectional environmentalism.
Our new t-shirt design, created by artist and activist Ananya Rao-Middleton, is inspired by these connected struggles.
We caught up with Ananya to talk about her design, and what intersectional environmentalism means to her.
Can you describe the illustration?
Meet the artist
Ananya Rao-Middleton is the artist and activist behind the new design.
The illustration is of a group of people from all over the world coming together to protect and celebrate the Earth. The circle of people and the Earth are surrounded by flowers and plants, showcasing the interconnectivity between nature and humans.
What was the inspiration behind it?
The illustration is inspired by the fact that our global struggles are all interconnected and that liberation for all is an important aspect of climate justice.
Climate justice means understanding that we have to approach climate change through an intersectional lens, taking into account the connectivity of our struggles in order to create positive change for all.
What does the design mean to you?
As a disabled, neurodivergent woman of colour, I live in multiple intersecting experiences. Historically, the environmental movement has been quite linear and whitewashed in its approach to environmental issues, but an important shift is happening now.
To me, this design symbolises an urgent and necessary shift towards practising an intersectional approach to the environment that takes into account how all our struggles are connected.
What does it mean to you to collaborate with Greenpeace?
I have admired the work of Greenpeace since I was a child, having grown up during Greenpeace’s campaigning around whales, oil spills and pollution. I am thrilled to collaborate with an organisation that has such a long, important history of acting on environmental issues.
