"I am worried about greenwashing. I think we should come down on it very, very hard, whether it's with criminal intent or actively deceptive." - John Elkington, business author
Why is cultural appropriation so harmful?
Cultural appropriation is harmful because it is an extension of centuries of racism, genocide, and oppression. Cultural appropriation treats all aspects of marginalized cultures as free for the taking. This is the same rationale that has been (and still is) used to steal land and resources from People of Color, particularly Native people. Put together, the theft of the lands, resources, and culture (in this case, language) of a marginalized group amount to genocide.
The defense of cultural appropriation is based upon the misconception that race relations exist on a level-playing field, as though racism no longer exists. Systematic racism does still exist – white people have power and privilege in this society, while People of Color are systematically denied power and privilege in this society. There cannot be a truly equal and free flow of ideas, practices, and cultural markers as long as one group (white people) have power and privilege over another group (People of Color).
source: Unsettling America
An Ironic Logo
Zibi development has not only apprpriated the word Zibi, but has paired it with a logo that is a diagramatic representation of a ring dam - the kind that currently obstructs the Ottawa River, adjacent to the proposed development. Could this be any more of an abuse of the word Zibi - "free flowing river"?