The Right to Know and Question Authority

Sor Juana's famous letter defending women's right to study and engage in intellectual debate directly challenged ecclesiastical authority. She insisted on the fundamental human right to question, investigate, and know. Today's climate crisis demands similar epistemic rebellion: questioning corporate greenwashing, demanding transparency in supply chains, interrogating the power interests behind climate denial, and rejecting false solutions like carbon markets that preserve extractive systems. Communities most affected by climate change must have the right and resources to understand causes, demand accountability, and propose alternatives. This concept transforms climate literacy from technical expertise into a democratic right. Following Sor Juana's model, climate justice requires protecting whistleblowers, supporting indigenous knowledge systems, and insisting on transparent science accessible to all.