Living Downstream of Yourself on the Rio Grande de Mindanao: A Talk by Alyssa Paredes
On February 7th, the Equality Development and Globalization Studies (EDGS) program welcomed Alyssa Paredes, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for an engaging and thought-provoking talk titled Living Downstream of Yourself on the Rio Grande de Mindanao. Addressing an often-overlooked aspect of plantation economies, Paredes illuminated the critical role of waterways in shaping social and environmental relations in the Southern Philippine region of Mindanao.
While discussions around plantation life frequently center on land-based disputes, Paredes redirected attention to the rivers and waterways that both sustain and suffer from agricultural industry practices. She specifically examined how different communities living along the Rio Grande de Mindanao—also known as the Pulangi River—construct competing narratives about pollution stemming from the banana plantation economy. These narratives, she argued, reflect broader social and historical tensions between Indigenous Lumad, Christian migrant, and Muslim Moro communities.
One of the central themes of the talk was the upstream/downstream imaginary, a framework commonly used by scholars and environmentalists to explain how pollution flows and impacts different communities. Paredes challenged this binary way of thinking, emphasizing that pollution narratives are not simply a matter of those upstream being the culprits and those downstream being the victims. Instead, she demonstrated how environmental blame is distributed in complex ways, shaped by cultural geographies, historical land use patterns, and deeply ingrained socio-political divisions in Mindanao.
The Lumad, Christian migrant, and Moro communities all perceive the pollution of the Rio Grande de Mindanao differently, assigning responsibility and seeking justice through distinct cultural and political lenses. The Lumad, for instance, often frame the issue within a broader history of Indigenous dispossession, where environmental degradation is yet another form of encroachment on their ancestral lands. Christian migrant communities, who historically moved to Mindanao as part of state-sponsored resettlement programs, tend to view pollution in terms of modern development and its associated costs. Meanwhile, the Moro communities, whose identity is closely tied to riverine and coastal life, interpret the issue through the lens of historical marginalization and political struggle.
Paredes’ critique of the upstream/downstream imaginary underscores a broader truth: environmental conflicts are rarely binary. The assumption that there are only two sides—polluters and victims—obscures the complex interplay of economic incentives, historical grievances, and ecological realities. Moreover, she argued that ecological recompense is never a one-way street. Solutions to environmental harm require more than assigning blame; they demand nuanced approaches that recognize the multiple actors involved and the interconnected histories that shape their positions.
The talk concluded with a call to rethink how scholars and environmentalists engage with issues of pollution and ecological justice. By moving beyond simplistic binaries and embracing a more intricate understanding of environmental relations, Paredes urged attendees to consider how different communities’ lived experiences shape their perspectives on ecological responsibility.
Through this illuminating lecture, Alyssa Paredes provided a fresh lens on plantation economies and environmental justice, leaving the Northwestern audience with much to reflect on regarding the complexities of pollution, community narratives, and the politics of blame in contested landscapes like Mindanao.
This event was hosted by the Equality Development and Globalization Studies (EDGS) program and co-sponsored by the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs. It was the first of two talks in the Spring 2025 Arryman Scholars speakers’ series.