Page 59 - Urban Kapital New MAY JUNE 2020 ISSUE

HIGHLIGHTING UK BAME
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM.
A conversation with UK BAME
environmental activist, Judy Ling
Wong.

Judy Ling Wong is an artist, poet, and, rath-
er significantly, an environmental activist
helping to reach society’s most vulnerable
communities. Born in Hong-Kong, 71 years
of age, and currently based in Snowdonia,
Wales, Judy Ling Wong continues to work
tirelessly as the current UK President of the
Black Environment Network (BEN).

BEN’s work focuses on interacting with
some of the most deprived ethnic groups,
particularly as many ethnic-minority com-
munities live in some of the worst environ-
ments. Making Judy a suitable leader for Judy Ling Wong.
such an organisation, she is a pioneer in the
field of ethnic participation in the built and sively in various sectors, most notably in the
natural environment and has won an OBE arts, psychotherapy and community engage-
for her efforts in this field. ment. This diverse background in experience
means Judy is uniquely placed to take forward
BEN works across diverse sectors in the the development of an integrated approach to
context of sustainable development, inte- environmental participation, bringing togeth- Q6. What legacy do you hope to
grating social, cultural and environmental er different fields and sharing cultural visions. Q2. What have you found are the Q4. Is the diaspora community leave behind? What are your aspi-
concerns. Current themes include natural most effective methods of inspiring something you have tapped into? rations for future generations?
conservation, urban design, history and Highlighting some of Judy’s achievements, ethnic minorities, particularly from Many younger diasporic commu-
heritage, identity, health, employment, and she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society urban environments, into working nities feel disassociated from their I hope that the work done through
access to the countryside and urban green of Arts in 1997 due to her contemporary en- with nature (whether as an employ- ancestral homes – learning of the the Black Environment Network in
spaces. vironmental thinking. She was also honoured ee in some way or as a volunteer)? backgrounds and behaviours of pioneering and establishing multi-
with an OBE for her pioneering work in estab- their ancestors (even a few gener- cultural environmental participa-
Judy is a major voice on policy towards lishing ethnic environmental participation. Simply expose them to the most ations back) could be eye-opening tion will endure, and that the rising
social inclusion. Her contribution has in- beautiful places for contact with na- and inspiring for them in terms of new generation of environmental
cluded membership of the DCMS Historic Recently, I had the fantastic opportunity to in- ture, for example our wonderful UK connecting with the environment activists will carry the torch into
Environment Executive Committee, ODPM terview Judy Ling Wong on her inspirations, National Parks. When you can get and nature. the future. Recently there has been
Urban Green Spaces Task Force, National work throughout the years, challenges, and them there, nature does the rest. a project called Climate Reframe
Trust Council for England and Wales, Wales future aspirations. Follow that conversation These deep awakenings to beauty There is a rising awareness among (https://climatereframe.co.uk/)
Assembly Government Environmental below and read more on our website at www. and wonder inspire people to want both the older and younger genera- that identified and highlights 100
Strategy Reference Group, Scottish Muse- powellandbarnsmedia.com: to do something for nature. tions of multicultural communities BAME environmental activists. The
ums Council National Access and Learning Q3. Have you found younger peo- of the need to purposely address existence of this generation would
Steering Group, and the IUCN/WCPA Task Q1. How did your journey into environmental- ple are harder to reach? If so, what the connection to their countries of never have been a reality without
Force for Cities and Protected Areas. ism begin? Did becoming a traditional painter methods have you found work best heritage. the work of BEN. I feel very proud
at age 12 have any influence on your passion for approaching this demographic? indeed.
BEN’s recent pioneering work involves the towards the environment and helping others Q5. Tell me more about your inter-
development of methodology to engage eth- feel the same way? The first generation of ethnic com- ests in psychotherapy – are your
nic minorities in the countryside with the en- munities often have a countryside methods linked with the arts and
vironmental and heritage sectors, opening Being an artist at an early age in the context background so for them seeing na- nature?
up access to enjoyment, volunteering and of Chinese tradition set up an identification ture in the UK is a kind of reunion.
employment. These efforts are vital as eth- with nature. In Chinese traditional painting, But for those born here in urban set- Psychotherapy leads one into a
nic minorities are often disassociated from we draw inspiration only from nature and as- tings, there is a disconnection. The deeper understanding and appre-
nature and neglected in the eco-debate. pects of nature are seen as a vocabulary for journey is the same- expose them to ciation of how we become who we
human emotion and aspiration. This really set nature and inspire them. This actu- are. The active use of personal cre-
MAGAZINE // 58 sity of Melbourne, Judy has worked exten- to the environment. mental awareness stemming from for nature are part of well-being. MAGAZINE // 59
the scene for the unfolding of my commitment
ally combines with the new environ-
Upon completing her studies at the Univer-
ativity and the fundamental need
school and society.
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