Student Profile: Adhika Ezra

 

Adhika Ezra is a Social Studies graduate student at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan. Building on the work of critical homelessness and disaster scholars, his thesis explores homeless governance and responses to extreme weather events within a neoliberal settler colonial context. He is currently involved in three other research projects:

1) Community-campus response to crisis;

2) Energy transition and masculinities in rural Saskatchewan; and

3) Water-related climate adaptation and governance.

He is actively organizing various social justice issues in the community. In addition to his organizing work, he is currently serving as the Asia-Pacific Regional Focal Point for the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Major Group for Children and Youth.

What program are you studying and when did you start it?

MA in Social Studies, Fall 2023.

 

Tell us about your research.

The conditions of homelessness pose a barrier to the health and well-being of people experiencing homelessness (PEH), which is especially true during extreme weather events. As the climate and homelessness crises worsen, existing service providers find it challenging to address the issue of homelessness and reduce disaster risk. I conducted a qualitative case study of homeless governance and extreme weather response in Regina to understand the challenges of addressing these crises, contextualizing it within the neoliberal capitalist settler colonial structure.

 

What do you find most interesting about your research topic?

While we understand that anthropogenic climate change threatens the sustainability of life on earth, this case study lays bare the ways in which climate hazards turn into daily disasters for marginalized communities. I see clearly the system’s role, in this case through homeless governance, in creating catastrophic conditions for people experiencing homelessness, especially during extreme heat or cold events in Regina. Basically, service providers are doing their best to support people, working overtime, but they face massive constraints, and without fundamental structural changes, there is no solution in sight. Another important insight that came out of the research is the need to understand climate disasters as inherently tied to the political and economic system. Without an anti-capitalist and decolonial approach (unfortunately, most programs are unable to incorporate this), disaster risk reduction efforts will fall short, and in many cases, they end up exacerbating the issue. Given the scale of the crises, we can’t afford to make such mistakes.

 

Tell us about your experience in Regina. What have you learned that is most valuable?

I love the people in Regina. Activists and community organizers here are doing such important work, and they inspire me. Their courage to tell the truth and their commitment for justice help me understand what it means to fight for a better future. Their work is ultimately driven by love, which serves as a reminder every time I fall into despair.

 

What advice would you give to a student considering studying at the University of Regina?

UofR is a wonderful place to study. The staff here provides great institutional support, and the faculty members in my department have contributed to my growth as a scholar in these past two years. Some advice I would give to someone interested in the social studies graduate program is to align your research to issues faced by the community (if possible), so that the research can help the community. Bridging the academic-community divide is an ongoing initiative here that you can contribute!

 

How important do you believe individual actions are in contributing to sustainability, and what motivates or discourages you from taking sustainable actions in your daily life?

We have a significant role in building a sustainable future. We really do. After all, the fact that society is currently organized towards planetary destruction is entirely attributed to decisions made by specific groups of people (the ruling class), and therefore we–the people–are the only actors capable of changing that trajectory. Once we realize our role in shaping the future, we must be clear on the actions required to actually attain sustainability. As 70% of global emissions (since 1988) come from only 100 companies (!!), sustainability won’t be achieved through isolated or small-scale individual actions (fun fact: individual environmentalism was first promoted by fossil fuel companies to promote false solutions that do not disrupt their activities). As crucial considerations related to sustainability–such as the nature of production that leads to waste and pollution (and the consumption industry as an extension of it), or the energy system and its ownership–are all political decisions, our power to influence change can only be realized when we politically organize as a collective. The fight for a sustainable future continues. People are realizing that climate change is a class war, that a fundamental social transformation is the only chance we have of a livable future. Today, not taking action is simply not an option.

 

What are your future plans?

I am excited to start my PhD program this Fall! It’s an opportunity to further develop my research capabilities. I will be looking at the politics of energy transition and how masculinities are ideologically tied to the fossil fuel industry.

 

Adhika's poem will be part of the upcoming anthology, “I’ll Get Right On It: Poems on Working Life in the Climate Crisis.” Available for pre-order: https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/ill-get-right-on-it