Unearthing Climate Colonialism in the Anthropocene: A Study of Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner’s “Dear Matafele Peinam”

Abstract

Anthropogenic planetary crisis contributes to climate dislocations, compelling millions to leave their ‘disappearing’ habitats. The impact of climate change will undoubtedly affect all countries, but its repercussions will be distributed disproportionately among regions, age groups and genders. The discourse on climate colonialism addresses the intricate relationship between the profit-driven mindset of the Global North, which prioritises financial gains over environmental concerns, and its adverse impact on the Global South. Marshallese poet and activist, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, addresses this issue in her poem “Dear Matafele Peinam” (2014) by taking an intersectional approach. This paper explores how climateinduced displacement is reflected in literature, with a focus on Marshall Islands’ submergence due to rising sea levels. Secondly, by investigating how marginalised artists combat climate crisis culturally, the paper seeks to highlight the multiplying existential threat due to the colonial profitable ideologies of greed and desire over nature’s intrinsic value.