In this episode of A People’s Climate, host Shilpi Chhotray sits down with Vivien Sansour, founder of the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library, for a powerful conversation about resistance in the face of Israeli militarism, occupation, and ecological devastation.

For two years, the world watched Israel’s genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing campaign across Palestine — including the annihilation of Palestinian land, contamination of water, and the carbon-intensive bombardment that has choked the air and scorched the soil. Entire food systems have been erased. And yet, so many environmentalists remain silent. Vivien makes it clear that climate conversations cannot be separated from Western imperialism and genocide.

From saving heirloom seeds to ancestral farming practices, Vivien shares how Palestinian farmers and land stewards are not only protecting the environment but also preserving culture, memory, and survival itself.

Key Themes & Topics:

• The intersection of conservation, human rights, and food sovereignty
• Why protecting heirloom seeds is essential for culture, memory, and survival
• Israeli militarism and settler expansion in Palestine
• Ancestral agricultural practices that date back tens of thousands of years
• The long-standing destructive impact of industrialized agriculture on land and food systems
• Global solidarity with Palestine  

Resources

• Palestine Heirloom Seed Library
• Traveling Kitchen
• Subversive Rebels by Vivien Sansour

Palestinian Land, Heritage, and Identity – Shilpi Chhotray in conversation with Rania Batrice

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