DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Dana Fisher, a professor at American University, discussing her book "Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action." Fisher argues that the climate crisis is fundamentally a social crisis that requires systemic changes to address all aspects of how we live. She contends that personal experiences of climate risks, such as wildfires and extreme weather events, will motivate individuals to take action.
Fisher identifies the fossil fuel industry and related interests as major obstacles to addressing the climate crisis. She explains how these interests have actively sought to obfuscate information about the crisis and resist necessary changes. Fisher also discusses the challenges of bringing labor movements and other groups into the climate movement, as many of their members are currently employed in fossil fuel-related industries.
The interview explores the potential for a more radical flank to emerge within the climate movement, with activists engaging in civil disobedience and facing potential repression from law enforcement and counter-movements. Fisher emphasizes the importance of building community resilience and infrastructure to support climate action, drawing parallels to the civil rights movement's embeddedness in the Black church.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The climate crisis is a social crisis that requires systemic changes to address all aspects of how we live.
- Personal experiences of climate risks, such as wildfires and extreme weather events, will motivate individuals to take action on climate change.
- The fossil fuel industry and related interests are major obstacles to addressing the climate crisis, actively obfuscating information and resisting necessary changes.
- Bringing labor movements and other groups into the climate movement is a challenge, as many members are currently employed in fossil fuel-related industries.
- A more radical flank may emerge within the climate movement, engaging in civil disobedience and facing potential repression from law enforcement and counter-movements.
- Building community resilience and infrastructure, similar to the civil rights movement's embeddedness in the Black church, is essential for supporting climate action.
- While acknowledging the severity of the climate crisis, Fisher maintains an "apocalyptic optimism" in the power of people to drive change.
- Adaptation and community support will be crucial as the effects of climate change become more pronounced.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “To address it, we're going to require and need social changes to get there. I talk specifically in the book about how the types of social changes that are needed to address the climate crisis at the level required involve systemic changes that will address all parts of the way that we live our lives.“ by Dana Fisher
- “And what they're doing is they are actually specifically funding, helping to train people who have those jobs to redirect into other kinds of careers.“ by Dana Fisher
- “The apocalypse is nigh in some ways. And, you know, we need to be realistic about what's coming because. Because the best thing we can do at this point is prepare ourselves and think about how we're going to adapt and support one another as it happens, because it's too late to stop a lot of what's coming.“ by Dana Fisher
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Episode Information
New Books in Environmental Studies
Marshall Poe
5/18/24