How to Be an “Apocalyptic Optimist” | Dana R. Fisher | TED

Dana R. Fisher calls herself an “apocalyptic optimist” based on her research as a sociologist of large social movements. Her studies suggest that ever-increasing climate disasters will get people out in the streets demanding the action we need. She breaks down how to cultivate resilience to catastrophe in yourself and your community — and how…

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Dana R. Fisher calls herself an “apocalyptic optimist” based on her research as a sociologist of large social movements. Her studies suggest that ever-increasing climate disasters will get people out in the streets demanding the action we need. She breaks down how to cultivate resilience to catastrophe in yourself and your community — and how to rally for change in the face of seemingly intractable problems. (Recorded at TED Countdown: Overcoming Dilemmas in the Green Transition on October 29, 2024)

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50 Comments

  1. @shawnhsia6668

    November 27, 2024 at 9:19 am

    Basically shes saying that some humans are so idiotic that they cannot understand contextual information but have to wait to experience it first hand. ie. it’s not enough to tell someone that the stove is hot, don’t touch it; some humans have to touch it, get a burn, before realising, oh… maybe the stove is hot, and hot is bad.

    • @Picci25021973

      November 27, 2024 at 10:50 am

      and they will keep on touching the stove… just in case.

    • @elzaabroad

      November 27, 2024 at 11:17 am

      It’s a good point though because if we are being realistic this behaviour is so common, until people personally not get hurt some way they will not do anything. I would say that nearly all people are like that unfortunately. So knowing that we can use it as advantage and to choose words and examples that would touch their own hearts. I think spreading information about climate change in a way that would influence people is an art all climate activists should learn ????

  2. @brightpage1020

    November 27, 2024 at 9:22 am

    I knew a man, 2 generations ago, who was a wealthy financier. He kept a small picture frame hanging above his desk with a 2 line motto in large, bold italics. It said: Never finance an optimist. ????????????????????
    But really, he believed in something: a power greater than man. God. He believed in God.
    He knew something the upcoming generations don’t, because he helped build the structure that supports their independent lives in the society of today. He knew that a godless one lives under a giant vacuum that will soon find authoritarian hands to manage it, and risk being sucked away by flourishing but illusory displays of the power of man.
    Incidentally, he also earned The Purple Heart at Iwo Jima. He believed in the rewards offered by the sacrifice of discomfort, a concept I fear many Americans may have lost touch with among the luxury of modern living.
    I hope we can remember in time, but feel anxious that we certainly might soon enough.

  3. @sixvee5147

    November 27, 2024 at 9:28 am

    May the coming collapse of the AMOC, render homosapiens functionally extinct. Enjoy what you can, while you still can. Pity the generations to come. All hail the Pyrocene.

  4. @ZappyGK

    November 27, 2024 at 9:32 am

    Humanity as a whole won’t perish… but there’s a lot of us, and the planet trajectory we’re on by century’s end is in my estimation… only going to be capable of realistically supporting less than 1 billion people. And that’s accounting for future technologies that will reduce our resource and energy usage significantly.

    Simple reality is that there are 8 billion of us, and the planet is only really capable of recovery for about 1.4 billion… and we’re rapidly eating into the base ecology of the planet that allows for a recovery of its resources, which means that recovery number is shrinking, at the same time we’re increasing our overall consumption.

    There WAS a large amount of resources on top of this recovery rate… and now we’re hitting the limits of a variety of critical resources (and critical limits)

    So… unfortunately for us, the planet we’ll have to live on by the time we can stabilize it, will be vastly different to the one that we’ve lived on for the last hundred years – no verdant green planet full of potential and promise, with vast untapped resources that can help to sustain billions of people with growing economic comfort and wealth…

    If we’re lucky, we’ll naturally wind ourselves down as a civilization, avoiding the worst effects of the required population losses. But… knowing human beings, I’m absolutely certain we’ll choose to sleep walk into the worst consequences possible.

    Enjoy the good life while you can!

  5. @SANN-1969

    November 27, 2024 at 9:34 am

    Very hard like stone

  6. @MrSbjchalmers

    November 27, 2024 at 10:02 am

    The truth is that people are scared. She is basically saying when global fear gets high enough then change will happen. This is why the right denys human caused propaganda. Even if it is true. You want to control people with this fear. 2020 lock down showed just how controlling the left is willing to be. Cance culture is another symptom of this control thinking.

  7. @marcvolpe8252

    November 27, 2024 at 10:03 am

    DANA IS SO BEAUTIFUL ❤️

  8. @sanjidaakter9162

    November 27, 2024 at 10:25 am

    I’m watching from Bangladesh

  9. @ronkirk5099

    November 27, 2024 at 10:38 am

    I think the U.S. is going to go down in infamy as the nation that nearly singlehandedly destroyed the Earth’s habitable climate by consistently electing greedy, self-serving political leaders. Individuals can only do so much, it takes public policy to get the job done and sadly too many Americans don’t seem to give a hoot.

  10. @Picci25021973

    November 27, 2024 at 10:49 am

    We already have all the technologies to achieve the goal. We lack the will to do it. Our leaders do not want to act, as they would not be re-elected. We are the problem.

  11. @bognagruba7653

    November 27, 2024 at 11:24 am

    There is a better form of government than democracy. It’s ‘scientists’ democracy’, in which only scientists get to vote. Democracies and autocracies have failed us. People need to go out and fight, to get rid of their own right to vote, and try something else, to save themselves. It may sound radical, but it’s the only way. Politicians won’t improve education. They won’t let go of corporate media. Police and military need to understand, that the governments are killing them too. All NGOs need to unite! Countries need new constitutions. The people who initiate and move this change forward will be remembered as one of the greatest people in history if not the greatest. Otherwise there will soon be no history.

  12. @philippemalacher2649

    November 27, 2024 at 11:57 am

    But at least US citizens did not elect Trump at least! Oh wait.

  13. @eastdallaslady

    November 27, 2024 at 12:53 pm

    Can we dream even bigger and create a world where humans are civilized and empathic by default so that we don’t have to fight each other on these matters in the first place??

    • @Raz31337

      November 28, 2024 at 12:22 am

      Humans are civil and kind by default actually, read the book “Humankind” by Rutger Bregman

    • @whitevelcro

      November 28, 2024 at 8:31 am

      We are civil and empathic by default. We live in a system set up by a few assholes to reward those same few assholes. But that system does require our cooperation to exist.

  14. @zeitgeist888

    November 27, 2024 at 12:56 pm

    Keep saying climate crisis. It doesn’t work to use hyperbole instead of practical action regular people can take. The actions of radicals will turn people off not get them to see or understand the issue better. Throwing liquids on paintings is ignorant and should be prosecuted. Then when regular people can’t enjoy a museum without a search and locking up their belongings will irritate people away from any good cause. The same goes for blocking traffic. It makes no sense to have cars stuck in a protest polluting or attacking art work. Try focusing on coal oil and gas industry executives and businesses instead of making things harder for the masses who generally agree with addressing climate issues without the sky is falling mantra.

  15. @IINoirII

    November 27, 2024 at 1:55 pm

    The only way is to make people educated and politically active to force the governements to control corporations

  16. @RickLambert963

    November 27, 2024 at 2:08 pm

    King James predictive programming. The birthing canal. The psychopath overlords lose in the end.

  17. @ericswain4177

    November 27, 2024 at 2:40 pm

    “Apocalyptic Optimist” LMFAO ! First one must have accurate factual data that we never have had or are likely to have in the future when we so desperately need it in. Climate change is inevitable and has been going on for millions of years before humans. There are extremes that we can’t control and when we do effect change it’s likely not for the better as a over-correction is inherently more dangerous and difficult to control than the original problem history time and time again has tried to teach us this to no avail. The key is adaptability and flexibility to climate change. Yes, this means sacrifice and death of a segment of what we may be used to but there is always the emergence of new and even better life in the future. Embrace change don’t try to stop it or drastically bend it to your will.

  18. @JadeHobson-y5s

    November 27, 2024 at 4:29 pm

    Most beginners believe that investing in crypto and stock is all about holding till it rises,why the recent actividaes in the market and recession .we should know that long term price prediction are very difficult to achieve.its better to trade short trade and make profit

  19. @Daisycholeé

    November 27, 2024 at 4:37 pm

    A lot of people still make massive profit from the crypto market ,all you really need is relevant information and some

  20. @bognagruba7653

    November 27, 2024 at 5:07 pm

    Ms. Fisher, I wrote You an e-mail titled ‘scientists’ democracy’. It’s very important.

  21. @nigh7swimming

    November 27, 2024 at 5:52 pm

    All the masses can do is to elevate populists, as real solutions are complicated and painful. We are fried, the only question remaining is what flavour you want to go with.

  22. @lizjka8281

    November 27, 2024 at 6:17 pm

    Instead of big oil obstructing alternative energy and paying politicians to block legislation, they should be able to see the benefits of investing in it. If governments can’t move the needle, then shareholders have to try. Shareholders seem as disorganized as a non union shop.

  23. @sipzc-dj

    November 27, 2024 at 6:50 pm

    *ApocalOptimist*
    A person who knows everything is going to s**t but still has a positive outlook

  24. @JamesNelson-d6y

    November 27, 2024 at 6:53 pm

    Thanks for the breakdown! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How can I transfer them to Binance?

  25. @jonphelan707

    November 27, 2024 at 7:06 pm

    sorry but going outside at yelling at the sky isnt going to make you happy

  26. @saka2258

    November 27, 2024 at 8:52 pm

    Why are you so sure that those extreme weathers are caused by CO2 but not created by God to punish humans, as you say the word “Apocalyptic”? Do you really believe in God? If not, why do you use the word “Apocalyptic”?

  27. @TomEdwardi

    November 27, 2024 at 11:29 pm

    !!I am at the beginning of my “investment journey”, planning to put 185K into dividend stocks so that I will be making up to 30% per year in dividend returns. any good stock recommendation on great performing stocks or Crypto will be appreciated.

    • @TomEdwardi

      November 27, 2024 at 11:30 pm

      how would you recommend i enter the crypto market? I am also looking at studying some traders and copying their strategy rather than investing myself and losing money emotionally. What’s your take on this approach? and How can i reach her, if you don’t mind me asking??

  28. @EljansLife

    November 28, 2024 at 2:56 am

    WTF happaned to Ted Talk. What happened?

  29. @mariaantoniettamontella9173

    November 28, 2024 at 4:26 am

    grazie

  30. @EAGLEHEROES

    November 28, 2024 at 4:48 am

    I WANT A JOB

  31. @JohnHall

    November 28, 2024 at 6:24 am

    I never believed that tech would fix it. I work in tech. I know how tech investors roll.

    • @josephinepapin8858

      November 28, 2024 at 5:25 pm

      How is it so? Did you meet climate sceptics in tech? What is the common personality in tech? I’m so curious of this

    • @josephinep8858

      November 28, 2024 at 5:25 pm

      How is it so? Did you meet climate sceptics in tech? What is the common personality in tech? I’m so curious of this

    • @JohnHall

      November 28, 2024 at 5:53 pm

      @@josephinepapin8858 The investors in tech are predatory capitalists. They want to cause problems if they think they have a solution we will pay for. If they “solved” the climate crisis then we wouldn’t need to *rent* their solution (indefinitely).

    • @JohnHall

      November 28, 2024 at 5:53 pm

      @@josephinep8858 The investors in tech are predatory capitalists. They want to cause problems if they think they have a solution we will pay for. If they “solved” the climate crisis then we wouldn’t need to *rent* their solution (indefinitely).

  32. @Ren-1979

    November 28, 2024 at 7:19 am

    It seems that I will never be an ‘apocalyptic optimist’… I have no faith in the future whatsoever, because money and greed will always outweigh virtues. Just look at the recent elections….
    But we ‘Apocalyptic Pessimists’ can also contribute by simply not procreating. The whole existence if doomed doesn’t make sense to be prolonged anyway, right? At least that is my conclusion and I have already acted accordingly.

  33. @ThomasBaker-t3j

    November 28, 2024 at 10:26 am

    Direct air capture plants can decarbonize air. Thats a reason to be optimistic.

    • @billpetersen298

      December 2, 2024 at 2:09 pm

      Sorry to burst your bubble.
      That’s like burning garbage to get rid of garbage.

  34. @aprildawnsunshine4326

    November 28, 2024 at 12:52 pm

    If this was happening 30yrs ago I’d be happy, but we’ve already hit the point of permafrost melting and that’s going to Double the greenhouse gasses no matter what we do. We’re already extinct, we just don’t know it yet.

  35. @rookhoatzin

    November 28, 2024 at 8:15 pm

    Soilent Green is PEOPLE! Climate activists talk like all we have to do is stop using fossil fuels and everything will be okay… Bitter funny. Climate change is a symptom, not of burning carbon but of overpopulation by the human ANIMAL. An animal that knows what should be done, could be done, but still an animal controlled by its physiology, its evolutionary programming. Incapable of stopping what it evolved to do…

    Climate change is a fun little concept that allows us to not talk about environmental destruction, pollution, extinction all a result fundamentally of too many people. The climate will not be saved by stopping using plastics or driving vehicles or heating our houses or switching to all electric power for everything. If we had unlimited amounts of clean energy available to us for free we would destroy the planet still because there would be so many humans living meaningless lives that humanity would implode probably killing everything. I think we know what is going to happen, and I dont think it is going to be fun. But if some of us make it through maybe, just maybe…..

    Life is amazing. We are so amazing and so lucky to exist at all. The only living planet we know of in the universe, our home, our mother, our creator, has nurtured us and allowed us to flourish. Now we have turned malignant, a cancer, destroying our only home. I wonder how a sense of humor evolved? Life would sure be bleak without it.

  36. @Beelzebubba1983

    November 28, 2024 at 9:17 pm

    Im sorry you’re wrong about stopping all fossil fuel use. How will we stand up to a potential enemy invasion with f-35s sitting in a hanger with the tank on E?
    You need to know what you are affecting with your social experiment before you run yourself over and shoot us all in the foot!
    And wtf is a climate shock? Can you describe and define that to me? Made up concepts can be extremely seductive and destructive ma’am, I would not push aside vital evidence of the need to properly weigh all the options and look at all the facets of the consequences of my actions before I proceeded to inform the public.

  37. @jenniferpetersen1172

    November 29, 2024 at 7:10 am

    I see her using facts not in evidence ,there has been no increase in sea level in the last seven years ,nor any increase in average temps ,and ca will require complete replacement of fossil fuel vehicles by 2029 and hasno plans to increase electricity production where currently se can’t charge our vehicles until 12 am to four

  38. @tvuser9529

    November 30, 2024 at 6:52 am

    It’s apt. Even if pessimism and depression seems sensible in the circumstances, it’s harmful to our well being. We need optimism for our own mental health AND physical health. Pay attention to the crisis, but don’t wallow in it. Work to change things, but don’t let the hardship define you. Take the time to do fun stuff and enjoy life, too. It can be a tall order, but it’s what we should strive for. We have to live well with what we’ve got.

  39. @意广才疏

    November 30, 2024 at 1:37 pm

    Sigh, when will you understand that the protests that block roads or throw paint at famous works of art reduce, not increase, your supporters?

  40. @Cyberphunkisms

    December 1, 2024 at 7:17 pm

    they turned my whole /r/cyberphunk into this

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