This week, in honor of the July 4 holiday and a commitment to the importance of free speech, activism, and the power of a citizenry to determine its own future, I want to revisit a conversation from way back in season 2, with Dana R. Fisher. Fisher is the author of “Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action,” and in this conversation, we talked about the importance of activism in addressing the climate crisis. She explains that while the state and the market have not been able to solve the crisis, civil society has a crucial role to play. Fisher highlights the role of the radical flank, which engages in attention-getting actions to raise awareness and expand the movement (like throwing orange cornstarch on Stonehenge).
She emphasizes that these actions are nonviolent and aim to draw more people who are sympathetic to the cause. Fisher also discusses the need for a mass movement that pushes back against fossil fuel interests and works through various channels, including the electoral process and lobbying. And we discuss what it takes to turn attention-getting actions into mass mobilization.