Resurgence & Ecologist magazine Issue 323 • November/December 2020
Life in the dark

In this issue of Resurgence & Ecologist we celebrate the night sky. Lynn Houghton meets two scientists collecting data in Svalbard on climate change during the polar night, Matt Gaw warns us why we need to protect darkness from light pollution, and astrophysicist Krystal De Napoli tells us how dark sky constellations have informed Aboriginal astronomical traditions. We also hear some tips from grower Claire Ratinon on gardening by the moon, and Tiffany Francis-Baker takes us on a night walk.

Elsewhere, American lawyer Valarie Kaur shares her story of turning rage about social injustice into revolutionary love, and Emmanuela Shinta talks to Zion Lights about how the Dayak people are defending their land in Indonesia. In Arts, Carolyn Mazloomi introduces a group of women who are exposing racism in the United States through the powerful medium of quilting.

Highlights

Standing up for Land in Indonesia: Zion Lights
Divine Race and Revolutionary Love: Valarie Kaur
Gardening by the Moon: Claire Ratinon
Protest, Protect, Build: Satish Kumar
Rock Against Racism: Catherine Early

Feature articles

Why do swifts migrate and where do they really go?

Why do swifts migrate and where to they really go? A new mapping tool created by the RSPB seeks to uncover the mysteries of swift migration, tracking their movements across continents and gathering evidence about how they survive. You can be part of the experiment by adding your own evidence and sightings of swifts.
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Judgement Day in the US

Climate activist Jonathan Neale warns that the outcome of the election in the United States will have serious consequences, not just for people in America, but for all living things. With climate change expected to create more unrest, upheaval, and social and economic chaos, now is the time to reconsider the need for a Green New Deal.
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Lessons in Destruction

Gladson Dungdung renounces an educational model in Orissa that disconnects Adivasi children from their culture, delinking people from their spiritual identities and connections to land, forest and spirits. He warns of the dire consequences of losing identity, culture, language and tradition, as once lost, they are lost forever.
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Science in the Polar Night

Lynn Houghton meets the first women to overwinter alone in Svalbard. She learns of a new project 'Hearts in the Ice' researching climate change and collecting data from one of the harshest environments on Earth. An extraordinary account of scientists living through the polar night, ultimately to protect this unique frozen land.
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In a Bad Light

Staring up at starlight is an experience shared across millennia. Yet, the dark night sky is under threat from ever increasing light pollution. Disrupting the natural pattern of light and dark has a huge impact on wildlife and plants with research suggesting that natural patterns of darkness are as important as ecosystems. For the sake of the planet, we have to protect the night
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Protest, Protect, Build

Millions of people around the world are engaged in action for change, but how can we be most effective as a movement? Satish Kumar shares his vision for a holistic environmental movement committed to enhancing the natural environment, the social environment and the spiritual environment.
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Quilt-making for Social Justice

Artist Carolyn Mazloomi was inspired to create 'We are story' - a series of quilt exhibitions in response to racism and police brutality. The exhibition uses quilting, one of America's most powerful artforms, to reach out to engage, educate and heal in ways that words alone cannot.
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A Kind of Hope

Are humans hardwired to be kind? Jane MacNamee reviews 'Humankind: A Hopeful History' by Rutger Bregman in which he champions human goodness. In these challenging times, we need as much well-founded hope for the future as we can find. Jane MacNamee is encouraged by a more optimistic take on human nature.
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