Jane Fonda Is Dedicating Her Life to Climate Activism
Jane Fonda recently shared her story of climate activism with students at the University of Southern California’s Temperature Check event.
“We have to change people,” she expressed. “The climate crisis is a manifestation of racism, misogyny, and patriarchy. It’s a mindset. When we confront the fossil fuel industry, we have to work on our mindset.”
Fonda conversed with USC Annenberg Dean Willow Bay as the audience of mostly students listened intently. She shared that her journey with activism began over 5 years ago during Labor Day weekend when she received a manuscript of On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein. The book details how bold action could combat a climate catastrophe.
The actress expressed she felt depressed about the wildfires which motivated her to read the book. After reading it she felt inspired to act and connected with Annie Leonard, the former head of Greenpeace U.S.A., and began working as a climate activist.
Jane Fonda brings her intensity and charm to USC Annenberg journalism school
— Long beach chronicles (@lbc_chronicles) April 12, 2024
Actress and climate activist Jane Fonda this week sat down for a conversation with Willow Bay, dean of the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. She brought he… https://t.co/pK3Ainfuek pic.twitter.com/0b2eiTbO0Y
“I felt like a lightning bolt had hit me in the stomach. It was the right moment. I needed to be told what to do,” she explained.
Since beginning her journey in climate activism, Fonda has held Fire Drill Fridays rallies in Washington D.C. to protest the U.S. government’s lack of action on climate change. She also launched the Jane Fonda Climate PAC which focuses on defeating political supporters of the fossil fuel industry. Additionally, the actress also wrote a book titled What Can I Do? My Path from Climate Despair to Action.
“I turned 82 in jail,” Fonda stated about her arrest during one of her Fire Drill Fridays rallies. “What was so great is that most of the people that came had never been to a rally before, and never gotten arrested before.”
The 86-year-old actress is now shifting more of her attention to her activism. She wants to dedicate the rest of her life to encouraging young people to act. Fonda also expressed her condolences to the young adults in her audience stating, “I’m sorry that we’ve created this issue for you, but we can overcome it if we work fast and create awareness.”
Furthermore, the actress advised her audience that the best way to create awareness was through storytelling stating, “It’s how you make them feel. Stories are the best way to make people feel furious, sad, angry, whatever.”
For more information on Fonda’s efforts, click here.
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