On (Environ)Mental Health with Tori Tsui, Intersectional Climate Activist
by Reza Cristián
Photo credit: @jarvismj
At 27, Tori Tsui is an intersectional climate justice activist and mental health advocate, and founder of Bad Activist Collective, a community which consists of change-makers dismantling perfectionism and fighting for the liberation of people and the planet. Though they have been “environmentally-minded” from a very young age, Tori shares insights on their time in Hong Kong and how this has paved the way for their environmental journey.
“Growing up in Hong Kong exposed me to the harsh realities of living in a densely populated city on the border with industrial cities such as Shenzhen,” said Tsui.
With pollution and waste management being a huge issue in Hong Kong, as well as strict laws, the citizens often “see natural habitats compromised in favour of land reclamation.”
Now based in the UK, Tsui mentions that they focus their attention on climate justice within the UK and their global networks. “Much of my work focuses on representation within the climate movement and facilitating networks between pre-existing movements. The climate movement is extremely powerful when we work together.”
For our latest digital cover feature, we are focusing on sustainability in wellness and highlighting BIPOC Mental Health Month in July-- a month dedicated to bringing awareness to the struggles that underrepresented groups face in regards to mental health. As Tsui mentioned that living with chronic mental health conditions is no easy existence, but in many ways it has “allowed [them] to unpack and understand how the systems of oppression that govern profit off and further perpetuate harm off marginalised communities.”
From their focus on “(environ)mental health” to the misconceptions of what it means to be an activist, we were able to chat with Tori Tsui to highlight these topics, so be sure to check out our Q/A below.
Photo Credit Here
SUSTAIN: You focus on (environ)mental health which is so important especially when it comes to activists advocating for environmental and social justice as it interconnects. Can you tell us about your own experience with this and with the community?
TORI TSUI: I always ask those of us with privilege (including myself; I have better access to mental health care here in the UK than I did in Hong Kong) to consider what it means to experience climate grief. Many people have adopted eco-anxiety as an umbrella term to describe negative emotions associated with the degradation of our planet. But far too often the people who are centered aren’t frontline activists nor those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
This is not to say that people don’t deserve to talk about these issues but I truly believe that we need to centre communities who have been experiencing climate grief, long before it became an issue to the global north. I also believe that many of those with privilege who talk about eco-anxiety offer individualistic solutions. Individual solutions, while empowering, decentre the movement from thinking about systemic oppression and system change. I want to challenge the narrative of eco-anxiety by getting us to think of it as another intersectional struggle.
What’s more is there are realms, such as eco-psychology, which look at how our mental states are a reflection of the planet’s health. I truly see this in the work that I do. I also beg us to understand that sometimes, like myself, if you have pre-existing mental health conditions you are even more vulnerable to the world around you, and sometimes these conditions aren’t solely owed to the environment. These conversations require nuance and I hope more mainstream discussions allow space for that.
SUSTAIN: When you are not working and advocating for issues, what do you do for your free time and to disconnect?
TORI TSUI: This has been a big priority for 2021 and I’m getting better but not quite there yet. I’ve been really trying to get outside when I can but given the lockdown restrictions in the UK and the terrible weather this proves very difficult. I recently bought a second hand Nintendo Switch and have been playing Animal Crossing. Gaming has offered me an escape into different worlds that are somewhat less chaotic than my own right now.
I’m also trying hard to disconnect from social media and messaging apps at the moment. It can be hard when you’re mentally unwell as sometimes these platforms are a lifeline in a realm that can be so lonely and isolating sometimes. But at the same time, platforms can exacerbate mental health conditions. It’s such a balance and I literally have to take everything day by day.
Photo Credit Here
SUSTAIN: You just launched one yourself called Bad Activists Collective with a few other amazing change-makers, can you tell us a little more about this new project? And what are you most excited about this year?
TORI TSUI: Bad Activist has rebranded as a Collective now with a bigger team and a goal to curate a multimedia space dedicated to different (but overlapping) justice issues. We focus on trying to dismantle perfectionism within movements whilst also encouraging accountability. It’s a labour of love and I can’t wait until we relaunch the podcast. It’s going to be a great space to really start to dissect some of the nuances of different issues and have some fantastic guest speakers on.
SUSTAIN: When it comes to the sustainability community, what sort of topics or issues do you feel that people need to realize the most and put their efforts into at the moment?
TORI TSUI: I think everyone has a role to play in sustainability movements and I definitely don’t feel like it’s my place to tell people what’s valid and not about advocacy. That being said I really do encourage people to look at the intersections between different justice issues. So for instance I wouldn’t ask a zero waste advocate to stop advocating for zero waste and change to climate advocacy, instead I would ask them to look at the intersections of justice issues that prevent folks from being zero-waste. I would also ask folks to look at why the zero-waste movement may uphold white supremacy and curate cults of perfectionism that can not only be harmful but unrealistic for many people. That’s not to say that zero-wasting is inherently bad, but asking people to look within the movements they’re part of to see how to make them more intersectional and inclusive. It was just an example, I could apply it to any advocacy realm.
SUSTAIN: Lastly, what’s one misconception you think people have about being an activist?
TORI TSUI: That there’s a right way to do it. There is no right or wrong way per se, but it’s a continual process of listening and (un)learning. I also think that while activism has become more mainstream and is kind of seen as trendy, it’s really quite an emotionally and physically laborious realm and people don’t focus on that enough. I sometimes question why I’m in my line of work if I live with such debilitating mental health conditions. But I’ve come to realise, sometimes it isn’t a choice. Sometimes activism is literally a means for survival. I hope that people can see how climate striking isn’t a brand, nor a trend, but a long-term commitment to the future of people and this planet.
Photo credits: @jarvismj