GLOSSARY OF TERMS

abolish to formally and completely end a system, practice, or institution or stop something, such as a law

abundance a plentiful and ample quantity of something

ally cooperative, united connection or relation between; an alliance that is mutually supportive in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle; common usage refers to allyship in reference to a person who is not a member of an oppressed group but who expresses or offers direct support to that group

anglicise to make a foreign word, name, or phrase English in form or character

bacteria single-celled organisms that lack a distinct nucleus and are invisible to the naked eye 

bigot an intolerant and antagonistic person who is obstinately or devoted to a belief, opinion, prejudices or faction, especially one who is prejudiced against, or hateful towards a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular group such as a racial or ethnic group 

British Empire a group of countries ruled over by a single ruling power; the British Empire controlled over 23% of the world’s population at its peak, usually taking and maintaining control through invasion, economic pressure, political manipulation and violence

cashmere fine wool, obtained from cashmere goats, pashmina goats, and some other breeds of goat, used to make yarn and soft twilled fabrics. 

chattel an item of tangible movable property, i.e. an enslaved person, held as the legal property of another 

community a group of people or social unit living in a given geographical area or in virtual space through communication platforms, having a particular characteristic, sharing or having certain beliefs, attitudes, values, customs and interests in common or common social, professional, economic, and political interests

compassion sympathy for the sufferings, misfortunes or distress of others together with a desire to alleviate it 

consent permission, approval or agreement for something to happen

decomposition the state or process of rotting and decaying 

dehumanisation the process of denying and depriving a person or group of full humanness and dignity. 

East India Company an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600, formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region  

embody to express or give bodily form to an idea, quality, or feeling

erosion gradual geological destruction or diminution of earthen materials 

floodplain an area of flat, naturally fertile land adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding

food justice a response to food insecurity and economic pressures that prevent access to healthy, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods

freedom fighter a person who takes part in a revolutionary movement against an oppressive political or social establishment

grief deep and poignant distress caused by intense sorrow, especially caused by someone’s death

hydro power water power used to produce electricity or to power machines

hypocrisy the contradictory practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs to which one’s own behaviour does not conform or the practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticises another 

indentured slavery a contract between two individuals, where one person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years

industrialisation the development of manufacturing industries and economic re-organisation in formerly agrarian countries or regions on a wide scale 

intergenerational relating to, involving, or affecting interaction between members of different generations

liberal a political and moral philosophy advocating individual rights, civil liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law

liberation the action of freeing someone from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression

liberty to act and choose as one pleases 

literacy the ability to read, write and communicate competently and effectively or with knowledge in a specified area

memorial  an object or place, speech or ceremony established to commemorate a person or event.

micro-organism a microscopic organism, or microbe, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus that can be seen only through a microscope

mourning the expression of sorrow and grief for loss, specifically the death of someone or some peoples

nutrients chemical compounds that provide nourishment essential for providing energy, the maintenance of life and for growth and reproduction; examples include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals

oppression prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority or power

organic relating to or derived from living matter, or food produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, or other artificial chemicals

patron a wealthy or socially influential person who gives financial or other support to a person, organisation, or cause. 

Quaker a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian movement founded by George Fox c. 1650 and devoted to peaceful principles

racist someone who or a system that wields superiority over, is prejudiced against or antagonistic and hateful towards a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group or national origin, typically one that is a minority or marginalised 

radical a person, or a member of a political party or section of a party who advocates thorough or complete political or social change, pursuing such aims

reforestation the action of replanting forest cover (as by natural seeding or by the artificial planting of seeds or young trees)

revolution a forcible sudden and radical change in political power and political organisation in favour of a new system

ritual a performed ceremony involving gestures, words, actions, or objects.

resistance the opposing refusal to accept or comply with something

shaman a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the spirit world who practice ritual, divination and healing

slavery the practice or system of owning and exploiting enslaved people.

smiddy a blacksmith’s shop

solidarity unity or agreement of feeling or action and mutual support, especially among individuals with a common interest

symbolic serving as a representation or is something that has a greater meaning because of what it represents. 

toxic poisonous 

transatlantic crossing or extending across the Atlantic Ocean

white supremacism the belief that white people are superior and should therefore dominate society and maintain power, typically to the exclusion or detriment of other racial and ethnic groups, in particular black or Jewish people

xenophobe a person that is prejudiced against people and customs of foreign origin