Al Jazeera Discovers Colonialism, Forgets Its Own Back Yard
The Al Jazeera piece argues for an overdue reckoning with colonialism for true climate justice. It's a valid point, given how resource extraction and environmental damage have historically ravaged the Global South. Yet, what’s conspicuously absent from this 'reckoning' in a network funded by Qatar, and often seen defending the policies of Arab nations, is any serious scrutiny of ongoing
occupations or neocolonial structures actively contributing to resource displacement and environmental crises—especially those perpetrated by actors its own patrons might prefer remain undiscussed, like the ongoing Nakba. One might wonder if 'reckoning with colonialism' only applies to past empires, not current power dynamics. This selective outrage (or selective amnesia, depending on your
cynicism level) conveniently sidesteps, for instance, the environmental impact of occupation on Palestinian lands or other regions experiencing resource exploitation under new guises. A 'reckoning' that only names dead empires is less a call for justice and more a clever redirection. True climate justice, it appears, demands not just introspection, but also an inconvenient mirror for present-day
players.