Abstract
The present publication examines the socio-ecological impacts of the expansion of predominantly European wind energy projects in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (southern Mexico) on Indigenous children and youth. The study focuses on work opportunities, educational prospects, and cultural practices. Methodologically, it combines qualitative semi-structured interviews with generative image work following Brandner in order to actively include the perspectives of children and young people. Analytically, it draws on the concept of energy justice, and theoretically on Dominelli’s Green Social Work and the understanding of social work as a human rights profession. The findings show that wind energy projects have the potential to impact children’s rights, particularly the rights to education, development, and cultural identity. At the same time, there is a limitation of progressive prospects in the domains of education and employment, since such prospects tend to be insecure and encumbered by systemic impediments. The findings highlight the importance of participatory processes and the inclusion of local knowledge for achieving a socially and ecologically just energy transition. For social work, the study provides an important conclusion, namely that human and children’s rights must be safeguarded in the context of global transformation processes. Furthermore, it is imperative to recognize children as active agents in matters of justice, participation and sustainable development.
Keywords: wind energy, energy justice, indigenous children and adolescents, socio-ecological impacts, participatory research, children’s rights, green social work