Dear Director General, Doctor Johannes Vogel,

    Werner Janensch, a German paleontologist, found a girafatitan in 1908, which was exported illegally to your institution in 1909. It has rested there ever since, despite the return of other artifacts and fossils to Tanzania by your government. In addition, German scientists have worked with those from Tanzania since 2000 to recover other fossils from this location. We ask for reparation for fossils stolen in the form of a museum/university for the study of Tanzanian paleontology, the return of the girafatitan, and assistance in developing the paleontology program. For this, we look forward to further work with your scientists in the extension of paleontological knowledge, including that being done at Olduvai Gorge.

Thank you

Recent investigations have revealed that the American Museum of Natural History continues to house the skulls and human remains of indigenous peoples from around the world, including those of Ovaherero and Nama victims from the German colonial period and genocide in Namibia (1904-1908). It is well known that German anthropologists and scientists collected such skulls to study them and try to support their racist theories of human development and supposed racialized biological differences. Many of these skulls came into the possession of German anthropologist Felix von Luschan. The AMNH purchased skulls and remains from von Luschan and his widow.

This unfortunately acquisition fits into the AMNH’s long history of supporting and partnering with organizations and individuals invested in eugenics. Examples include their financing of the Galton Society in the early 20^th century, their sponsoring of the Second and Third International Congresses of Eugenics (in 1921 and 1932, respectively), and the leadership of curator Harry Shapiro, an outspoken advocate of eugenics.

In order to restore its reputation and do right by the descendants of these brutal colonial acts, it is vital that the AMNH work to restore all human remains to their descendants. Members of the Ovaherero and Nama peoples as well as the Namibian government have been working to bring reconciliation and healing and some closure to this horrific historical chapter, and the restoration of these remains is one important part of this healing process.

I am writing to express my deep concern about the growing impact of climate change on our planet. The evidence is clear: temperatures are rising, sea levels are increasing, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.

We must take immediate action to address this crisis. We cannot continue to ignore the fact that our planet is facing a grave threat that requires urgent attention. We must reduce our carbon emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and protect our natural resources if we hope to safeguard our future and the future of generations to come.

I urge you to prioritize climate change as a critical issue and take bold steps to mitigate its effects. The time to act is now before it is too late. We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the planet to do everything in our power to combat climate change and build a more sustainable future for all.

Sincerely,

Hugo Perez

Upon reflecting on the effects of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade and colonialism on Africa, I think about the lasting impact it continued to have throughout history. Effects ranging from economic, cultural, and psychological throughout generations of descendants are visible today.

The Accra Declaration on Reparations and Racial Healing calls for several actions as a response to the effects of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. It calls for the following:

1. A reformation of global systems and structures
2. Return of stolen artifacts
3. The United Nations to extend the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent
4. A process of acknowledgement and healing for the roles that Europe and Africans played in the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.

I believe that these reparations will be a step in the direction of healing for not only the descendants of the people in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, but also for the world community. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade affected the globe in a majority of ways. The most obvious is the fact that people were forcibly taken from their homes and ancestral lands. There are people living now whose identity and history are tied to this slave trade and thus results in people living away from their ancestral land. An extremely dangerous effect is the lasting racism and discrimination that nations have faced. Although these reparations may not solve all issues overnight, it is a step in the right direction.

The U.S. had an extremely large role in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. I believe that if the U.S. takes a stand and advocates for this declaration, that is a step in the right direction. President Biden, the U.S. has a long history of racism, discrimination and prejudice that stems from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. If the U.S. takes a strong stand and makes it clear that they support this declaration, it will show the rest of the world that the U.S. is not only supporting the declaration, but is also willing to  face and heal from the dark history of its own nation.

Thank you.

I am writing to insist that we as a country tackle the climate crisis. I am a teacher, and so I work with young people every day. You have lived a long and full life already, with certainty that there is a bright future ahead. These students do not have that luxury. Their climate fears impact everything they do -- whether they have the will to do their homework, show up to school, or apply for college. They have so little hope for our future, and it scares me.

But you cannot continue on the current path we are on, claiming to "address climate change." We need a Green New Deal for this country, without a doubt; we are one of the biggest contributors to the problem, and we need to dramatically (structurally!) lower our emissions through public works projects like building sustainable public housing and high-speed rail. We cannot continue to pretend that global capitalism, the cause of our climate crisis, will be the solution too. Market-based reforms move too slow, and are ultimately motivated by profits over people. Invest in us and our planet, not oil and gas companies.

But it is not enough to focus on policy within our own country. As Olufemi Taiwo wrote in his piece for the Financial Times, "There are two ways forward: climate reparations or climate colonialism." The United States has the resources to address the climate crisis right now, if we had the will. Other countries, who are far less responsible, do not have that luxury. Right now, we are squarely on the climate colonialism track. We are shutting down borders to refugees, hoarding resources, and largely ignoring the initiatives to radically reduce carbon emissions. We are heating the planet for everyone, and then excluding refugees whose homes and communities have been ravaged by our mess. 

What we need is to invest in climate policies at home AND to send a great deal of resources abroad to support mitigation, restoration, and refugees. How much money have we spent supporting a cruel and unusual war (that many would consider genocide) in Palestine? 14 billion this year, on top of the average 4 billion every other year since WWII? And yet how much are we contributing to the Green Climate Fund, or the CO28's Loss and Damage Fund? The Green Climate Fund has only 6 billion dollars total right now, while the US contributed a paltry $17.5 million to the total $650 million. This is reprehensible.

If we want a livable planet for our children and the children around the world, we need to change our climate policy immediately. Stop funding wars, and start funding climate reparations.

With the publication in the past year of Caroline Elkins’s Legacy of Violence: A History of the British Empire, the “legalized lawlessness” that marked and maintained the realm of British colonial control through the mid-twentieth century has come before the eyes of the public as never before. From India to Malaya, Kenya, and beyond, Britain’s historic and systematic use of violence and coercion in the colonies—not to mention its repeated use of emergency declarations to derogate from its commitments under the European Convention on Human Rights—are a deep stain upon British history and a strike against the democratic ideals celebrated by the British people at home. 

In the words of the poet T. S. Eliot, “After such knowledge, what forgiveness?” Surely the answer hinges upon whether Britain’s leaders will muster the courage to take responsibility for the legacies of colonial violence, which have enriched the United Kingdom in various ways. Where such accountability is concerned, I would maintain that the British Museum, as the UK’s leading humanist cultural institution, has an important role to play. 

Take, for instance, the Benin Bronzes: the looting of these artifacts by British colonial authorities in 1897 is well documented and widely known. The British Museum currently retains over 900 of these exquisite artworks, which it acknowledges on its website to be held as a consequence of “colonial assault” and “pillage.” In light of this history, the museum’s current policy of “retain and explain” is shockingly insufficient. The museum has no defensible moral claim to these objects, which it avers to be stolen goods. The Benin Bronzes belong to the joint possession, held in trust, of the Nigerian government and the royal family of Benin. 

I call upon the trustees of the British Museum to meet the example of rightful restitution set by the German government, which returned their holdings of Benin Bronzes to the joint ownership of Nigeria and Benin in 2022. The Humboldt Forum still displays precious artifacts from Benin, in service to the museum’s educational aims and its broader celebration of human accomplishment in the arts, but it acknowledges these items to be on loan to the European museum.

“Virtues,” writes Eliot, “are forced upon us by our impudent crimes.” It is time to rebuke the criminal history of colonialism and its spoils, the legalized lawlessness of pillage and theft with impunity. It is time to return the art of West Africa to the people of West Africa.

I am writing to bring your attention to an article recently published in the New Yorker, titled "The Nutmeg’s Curse," authored by Amitav Ghosh. This article delves into the historical exploitation of resources and the subsequent impacts on our global climate. As an educator at Green Design STEAM Academy , a school specializing in environmental studies, I find the insights presented in this article profoundly relevant to our current discourse on climate change and sustainable practices.

Ghosh's narrative traces back to the 17th century, highlighting the ruthless tactics employed by the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C.) in their pursuit of a monopoly on nutmeg trade. The article underscores the interconnectedness of extraction, violence, and empire-building throughout human history, and how these dynamics have contributed to our present environmental challenges. Ghosh provocatively suggests that our planet, after centuries of exploitation, may be retaliating through phenomena such as wildfires, storms, and droughts - a poignant analogy to the Dutch military tactic of "brandschattingen" or threatening with arson.

Moreover, the article critiques contemporary approaches to addressing climate change, particularly market-based solutions advocated by many governments. Despite efforts such as emissions trading and carbon taxes, global emissions continue to rise, and we consistently fall short of achieving meaningful progress in mitigating climate change. Ghosh challenges the notion that market mechanisms alone can bring about the necessary transformational change, pointing out the inherent flaws in a worldview where everything, including the environment, is considered a resource for exploitation and lets face CAPITALISM and inherent feature of our government.

What resonates deeply with me as an educator is the growing awareness among students about the urgency of climate action. They are increasingly demanding a curriculum that addresses not only the science of climate change but also its socio-political dimensions and the imperative for systemic change. This article serves as a catalyst for fostering critical thinking and engagement among our students, encouraging them to question dominant narratives and explore alternative frameworks for addressing climate challenges.

As we navigate the complexities of global politics and diplomacy, it is imperative that we recognize the interconnectedness of environmental issues with broader socio-economic and historical contexts. The narratives presented in Ghosh's article underscore the need for a paradigm shift in how we conceptualize and address climate change - one that prioritizes equity, justice, and the protection of our planet's ecosystems.

Therefore, I urge you to consider integrating discussions on articles like "The Nutmeg’s Curse" into policy dialogues and educational initiatives. By fostering a deeper understanding of the historical roots of our environmental predicament, we can better equip future leaders to navigate the complexities of climate governance and advocate for transformative change on both national and international scales.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to continuing this dialogue and working together with my students towards achieving a youth prepared to fight for and understand the complexities of a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet.

Sincerely,

ZoAnne DiFonzo-Aguilar

It is important to note that the livestock that is deceased affects the income of their owner. The value of livestock goes down, causing a loss or decrease in payment. In order to accouterment of climate change, we must target and put stress on richer nations. Pressure them to lower or cut greenhouse emissions in order to alleviate lower income communities such as Kenya Africa. Unfortunately, if we continue to wait any longer, many areas of Africa can be affected. This can cause destruction in wildlife, livestock, and fisheries.

Mary Perez

It is imperative that you maintain your commitment to minimizing and reversing the impacts of climate change.  Eastern Africa is suffering from a historic, devastating drought that is decimating the people and ecosystem.  Pastoralists are watching their cattle die from dehydration and crops are drying up.  Migrants are crossing international borders seeking relief only to find conditions aren't any better in their new locale. Cultures are threatened as families separate in hopes of finding livelihoods and safety.  Further, this climate disaster will destabilize a region that has made tremendous strides in development. 

Climate change requires international cooperation and a commitment from governments, businesses, and individuals. Please take a strong leadership stance both domestically and internationally.  

Sincerely,