THE RADICAL FLANK: DANA FISHER'S BOOK & XR NYC'S 2024 STRATEGY
As climate shocks become more severe and commonplace, the "radical flank" of the climate movement has also grown. Activists engage in actions such as blocking traffic, marching slowly, smearing paint, and disrupting events to draw attention to the climate crisis. Extinction Rebellion NYC has been in the news for its radical actions; however, we also believe that creating community is as important to mitigate climate shocks.
Through decades of research and observation of the process of (failed) climate policy, Prof Dana R. Fisher has come to the same conclusion. Join us for a conversation with her about her latest book "Saving Ourselves: from Climate Shock to Climate Action" followed by a discussion of XR NYC's 2024 strategy. Be prepared to do the work: you will be invited to join groups that implement specific arms of the strategy, from action campaigns to community-building.
A light dinner will be provided. CLICK TO REGISTER. Please consider bringing your own cup/bottle and utensils.
Buy the Book
Attendees are strongly encouraged to read the book in advance and arrive prepared to engage in discussions and pose questions. Take advantage of a 30% discount by purchasing the book online from Columbia University Press using the code "CUP30."
The book is also accessible online at regular prices on Barnes & Nobles and Amazon. Copies will also be available in person.
About Saving Ourselves
Saving Ourselves takes a hard look at the growing frequency and severity of climate shocks and makes the case for increased climate activism as the driver of meaningful climate action.
Saving Ourselves assesses the current state of climate inaction and provides a realistic path forward through the worsening climate crisis. It integrates Fisher’s decades studying climate politics and climate activism, including her contributions to the most recent report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to understand how change is coming and what to expect when it finally arrives. The book concentrates on the social actors expected to bring about meaningful climate action—the state, the business sector, and civil society—showing how each sector has been ineffective. As a result, climate activism has become increasingly confrontational. Fisher examines this growing civil disobedience to identify when and how activism is most successful. The book concludes with insights on how people can take power back from deeply entrenched interests, giving us all our best chance to Save Ourselves.
About Dana R. Fisher
Dana R. Fisher is the Director of the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE) and a Professor in the School of International Service at American University. She has authored over seventy-five research papers and book chapters. Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action is her seventh book. Fisher is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Governance Studies program at The Brookings Institution, the President of the Eastern Sociological Society, and the chair-elect of the Political Sociology section of the American Sociological Association. She served as a Contributing Author for Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Review (IPCC AR6) writing about citizen engagement and civic activism. Her media appearances include ABC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS Newshour, and various programs on NPR, BBC, and CBC. Her words have appeared in the popular media, including in the Washington Post, Slate, TIME Magazine, Politico, the Nation, and the American Prospect. Fisher holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science degree from the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her undergraduate degree is in East Asian Studies and Environmental Studies from Princeton University.