A Ugandan climate activist has accused a news agency of
racism and “erasing a continent” after she was cropped out of a picture featuring leading young campaigners.
Vanessa Nakate, 23, attended a press conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday alongside several other climate activists, including Greta Thunberg.
But when news agency Associated Press (AP) published a picture from the event, Nakate – the only Black campaigner in attendance was cropped out.
Nakate joined the school strike movement, launched by Thunberg, in Uganda in 2019 after becoming concerned about rising temperatures in her home country. She has since led a number of national strikes.
Her removal from the picture was picked up almost immediately, and Nakate quickly raised the issue online, responding with a ten-minute
Twitter which explained what it had felt like to be edited out of the picture.
At times breaking down in tears, she says to the camera: ”What really had me the most was just thinking about the people from my country and the people from Africa, and how much I’ve seen people being affected by the climate crisis.
“How I’ve seen people die, people lose their families, people lose their children, people lose their homes, and everything they ever dreamed of and hoped for.
“I saw all these things and [I thought] who is going to be able to speak for these people? Who is going to try and help these people? Share if you can What it means to be removed from a photo! https://t.co/1dmcbyneYV— Vanessa Nakate (@vanessa_vash) January 24, 2020In a later tweet, she wrote: “You didn’t just erase a photo, you erased a continent. But I am stronger than ever.” You didn't just erase a photo You erased a continent But I am stronger than ever pic.twitter.com/J34WMXvPAo— Vanessa Nakate (@vanessa_vash) January 24, 2020I am a climate activist from Uganda I am so proud to be an AfricanI am not going to be silencedI am going to speak louder Now is the time for the stories of African activists to be listened to Now is the time to rise up higher than beforeWe can do this together pic.twitter.com/SnF2gK16BV— Vanessa Nakate (@vanessa_vash) January 24, 2020In the hours after the cropped picture was revealed, Nakate was defended by dozens of Twitter users and fellow climate activists who described what had happened as “unacceptable”.
Thunberg wrote her own message of support, replying to Nakate’s video by saying: “We are all so grateful for what you are doing and we all send love and support!” I’m so sorry they did this to you... you are the last one who would deserve that! We are all so grateful for what you are doing and we all send love and support!!❤️❤️💖💖💖hope to see you soon again!!— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 24, 2020We did a press conference today wrapping up the week at #WEF2020It has come to my attention that more than one article has cut @vanessa_vash out of the photos. That is unacceptable, her voice is just as, if not more, valuable than ours in a place like this. #ClimateJusticepic.twitter.com/8kjkNVgVhU— Isabelle Axelsson🌍 (@isabelle_ax) January 24, 2020the @AP cropped out a picture of vanessa nakate, a climate activist from uganda. i love greta but it is disappointing to see how young activists of colour are not given the same amount of attention. pic.twitter.com/A2nCB8ae5g— freyr (@sunfloweraidil) January 25, 2020Hey, @APPlease explain why Climate Activist Vanessa Nakate @vanessa_vash was cropped out of this photo? https://t.co/UqDXqLNi7Qpic.twitter.com/oqzL5q4Jeg— Andy (@Andrew88820142) January 24, 2020In a statement, AP’s executive editor Sally Buzbee said: “We regret publishing a photo this morning that cropped out Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate, the only person of colour in the photo.
“As a news organisation, we care deeply about accurately representing the world that we cover. We train our journalists to be sensitive to issues of inclusion and omission.
“We have spoken internally with our journalists and we will learn from this error in judgment.”Related... Greta Thunberg Clashes With US Treasury Secretary Over Economics Degree Putdown Greta Thunberg In New War Of Words With
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