About Kjelld
Kjelld Masoud Kroon is an activist and program maker from Bonaire. He is notably involved in efforts to hold the Dutch government accountable for addressing the severe impacts of climate change on Bonaire and other Caribbean Netherlands islands. As one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit supported by Greenpeace, Kroon emphasizes the urgent need for action to protect Bonaire's environment and community. His activism is driven by the visible effects of climate change on the island, such as rising sea levels, intensified storms, and frequent flooding, which have directly impacted local homes, including his own family’s. He has called for the Dutch government to take immediate steps to support Bonaire’s resilience and reduce carbon emissions to safeguard the island’s future.
Kjelld also addresses the broader issue of post-colonial dependency, questioning how Bonaire, and the rest of the Dutch-Caribbean, can truly be autonomous while still governed by Dutch colonial policies. Bonaire, along with St. Eustatius and Saba, does not have proper representation either on national or international level.
As an island, we are grouped under the term ‘Dutch-Caribbean’. This invisibilizes our people, our identity and in some cases even our flag is replaced by the Dutch flag.
Through lobbying in the political capital of the Netherlands, the Hague, and his work with groups like Bit-Lab, Human Rights Bonaire, the political movement M21 and the organizing of public discussions on decolonization, both on Bonaire and in the Netherlands, he underscores his commitment to advocating for Bonaire's political rights and cultural preservation.