TED Talks Daily
How to be an "apocalyptic optimist" | Dana R. Fisher
Nov 20, 2024
Dana R. Fisher, a sociologist known for her work on large social movements and climate change, discusses her idea of 'apocalyptic optimism.' She believes that increasing climate disasters will inspire collective action. Fisher shares her journey from technological optimism to recognizing the harsh realities of climate policy failures. She emphasizes the importance of community resilience and highlights grassroots movements that empower individuals to combat climate crises, showcasing how activism can emerge in diverse forms beyond traditional protests.
11:06
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Quick takeaways
- Dana R. Fisher advocates for an 'apocalyptic optimist' mindset, emphasizing the necessity of proactive community resilience in addressing the climate crisis.
- Successful social movements require solidarity across diverse identities, with the climate movement needing to connect various activists to amplify their collective impact.
Deep dives
Embracing Apocalyptic Optimism
The concept of apocalyptic optimism highlights the need for a proactive mindset in confronting the climate crisis. The speaker reflects on past beliefs that technology alone could solve environmental issues, acknowledging the inadequacy of current climate policies. Despite small progress, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. remains a significant contributor to fossil fuel production, indicating systemic failure to effectively tackle climate change. The speaker emphasizes that future success in combating the crisis lies in a mass mobilization of civil society driven by the real impacts of climate shocks.
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