Editor’s Note

Welcome to the first issue of 2025. I was all set to summarise the contents of this edition, when I realised that there’s something much more important to say.

For more than 17 months, we have witnessed the ongoing genocide being committed by Israel in Gaza. With over 15,000 Palestinian children dead, nobody is safe—not doctors, paramedics, international aid workers, journalists or civilians. Since October 2023, over 70,000 tons of bombs—the equivalent of two nuclear bombs—have been dropped on this narrow strip of land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

While perhaps less appalling than the cost of human lives, the ‘war’ has doubtless had environmental impacts. UNEP’s preliminary findings (published in March 2024) reported staggering amounts of air pollution from the relentless aerial bombardment, water pollution with the collapse of solid waste management facilities and contamination of drinking water, “281,000 tonnes of planet warming gases released in the first 60 days” and widespread disease.

What’s happening in Palestine is an intersection of everything we care about— human rights, social justice, climate and environmental justice, disability rights, queer rights, and more. May we never forget. Free Palestine.

P.S. This editorial represents my views alone and does not necessarily reflect those of the contributors.

– Devathi Parashuram