Environmentalism from Below: How Global People's Movements Are Leading the Fight for Our Planet

Environmentalism from Below is a global account of grassroots environmental movements on the frontlines of the climate crisis, highlighting the struggles of communities in the Global South to protect the environment and forge just and sustainable ways of living. It offers an alternative path forward to the gridlock of UN-based climate negotiations and the narrow nationalism of some Green New Deal efforts, building on longstanding traditions of anticolonial struggle.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 16 January 2024
Publisher: Haymarket Books

Environmentalism from Below is a comprehensive account of the grassroots environmental movements on the frontlines of the climate crisis. These communities, among the most vulnerable to but also least responsible for the climate crisis, have long been at the forefront of the fight to protect imperiled worlds. Today, as the world's forests burn and our oceans acidify, grassroots movements are tenaciously defending the environmental commons and forging just and sustainable ways of living on Earth.

Scholar and activist Ashley Dawson constructs a gripping narrative of these movements of climate insurgents, from international solidarity organizations like La Via Campesina and Shack Dwellers International to local struggles in South Africa, Colombia, India, Nigeria, and beyond. Taking up the four critical challenges we face in a warming world—food, urban sustainability, energy transition, and conservation—Dawson shows how the unruly power of environmentalism from below is charting an alternative path forward, from challenging industrial agriculture through fights for food sovereignty and agroecology to resisting extractivism using mass nonviolent protest and sabotage.

An urgent, essential intervention, Environmentalism from Below offers a hopeful alternative to the gridlock of UN-based climate negotiations and the narrow nationalism of some Green New Deal efforts. As Dawson reminds us, the fight against ecocide is already being waged worldwide. Building on longstanding traditions of anticolonial struggle, environmentalism from below is a model for a peoples movement for climate justice—one that demands solidarity.

The book begins by exploring the historical roots of environmentalism from below, tracing the struggles of indigenous peoples, peasants, and workers against environmental degradation and exploitation. It highlights the ways in which these movements have been suppressed and marginalized by dominant political and economic systems, but also how they have resisted and survived.

Chapter 2 examines the current state of the environmental crisis, highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change, deforestation, and pollution on communities around the world. It explores the ways in which these issues are interconnected and how they are affecting the most vulnerable populations, such as indigenous peoples, women, and children.

Chapter 3 explores the role of grassroots movements in addressing the environmental crisis. It highlights the ways in which these movements are organizing and mobilizing people around the world, from small-scale community gardens to large-scale protests and sabotage. It also examines the challenges that these movements face, such as resistance from governments, corporations, and other powerful actors.

Chapter 4 examines the strategies that grassroots movements are using to address the environmental crisis. It highlights the importance of building community-based economies, promoting sustainable agriculture, and protecting natural resources. It also examines the role of technology and social media in amplifying the voices of these movements and mobilizing people around the world.

Chapter 5 examines the impact of grassroots movements on the political landscape. It highlights the ways in which these movements are challenging the power of governments, corporations, and other powerful actors and advocating for a more just and sustainable world. It also examines the ways in which these movements are influencing policy and legislation at the national and international levels.

Chapter 6 examines the future of grassroots movements in addressing the environmental crisis. It highlights the challenges that these movements face, such as climate change denial, political polarization, and economic inequality. It also examines the ways in which these movements can continue to grow and evolve, and how they can work together with other social and political movements to build a more just and sustainable world.

In conclusion, Environmentalism from Below is a powerful and essential book that offers a hopeful alternative to the gridlock of UN-based climate negotiations and the narrow nationalism of some Green New Deal efforts. It provides a comprehensive account of the grassroots environmental movements on the frontlines of the climate crisis and highlights the ways in which these movements are organizing and mobilizing people around the world to address the environmental crisis. By building on longstanding

On the front lines of the climate crisis, environmentalism is taking root
shape from the bottom up. These communities, among the most vulnerable to climate change but also least responsible for it, have long been at the forefront of the fight to safeguard endangered worlds. Today, as the world's forests burn and our oceans acidify, grassroots movements are tenaciously defending the environmental commons and forging just and sustainable ways of living on Earth.

Scholar and activist Ashley Dawson constructs a gripping narrative of these movements of climate insurgents, from international solidarity organizations like La Via Campesina and Shack Dwellers International to local struggles in South Africa, Colombia, India, Nigeria, and beyond. Taking up the four critical challenges we face in a warming world—food, urban sustainability, energy transition, and conservation—Dawson shows how the unruly power of environmentalism from below is charting an alternative path forward, from challenging industrial agriculture through fights for food sovereignty and agroecology to resisting extractivism using mass nonviolent protest and sabotage.

An urgent, essential intervention, Environmentalism from Below offers a hopeful alternative to the gridlock of UN-based climate negotiations and the narrow nationalism of some Green New Deal efforts. As Dawson reminds us, the fight against ecocide is already being waged worldwide. Building on longstanding traditions of anticolonial struggle, environmentalism from below is a model for a people's movement for climate justice—one that demands solidarity.

The book begins by exploring the historical roots. Roots of environmentalism from below, tracing the struggles of indigenous peoples, peasants, and workers against environmental degradation and exploitation. It highlights the ways in which these movements have been suppressed and marginalized by dominant political and economic systems, but also how they have resisted and survived.

Chapter 2 examines the current state of the environmental crisis, highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change, deforestation, and pollution on communities around the world. It explores the ways in which these issues are interconnected and how they are affecting the most vulnerable populations, such as indigenous peoples, women, and children.

Chapter 3 explores the role of grassroots movements in addressing the environmental crisis. It highlights the ways in which these movements are organizing and mobilizing people around the world, from small-scale community gardens to large-scale protests and sabotage. It also examines the challenges that these movements face, such as resistance from governments, corporations, and other powerful actors.

Chapter 4 examines the strategies that grassroots movements are using to address the environmental crisis. It highlights the importance of building community-based economies, promoting sustainable agriculture, and protecting natural resources. It also examines the role of technology and social media in amplifying the voices of these movements and mobilizing people around the world.

Chapter 5 examines the impact of grassroots movements on the political landscape. It highlights the ways in which these movements are challenging the power of governments, corporations, and other powerful actors and advocating for a more just and sustainable world. It also examines the ways in which these movements are influencing policy and legislation at the national and international levels.

Chapter 6 examines the future of grassroots movements in addressing the environmental crisis. It highlights the challenges that these movements face, such as climate change denial, political polarization, and economic inequality. It also examines the ways in which these movements can continue to grow and evolve, and how they can work together with other social and political movements to build a more just and sustainable world.

In conclusion, Environmentalism from Below is a powerful and essential book that offers a hopeful alternative to the gridlock of UN-based climate negotiations and the narrow nationalism of some Green New Deal efforts. It provides a comprehensive account of the grassroots environmental movements on the frontlines of the climate crisis and highlights the ways in which these movements are organizing and mobilizing people around the world to address the environmental crisis. By building on longstanding

On the front lines of the climate crisis, environmentalism is taking shape from the bottom up. These communities, among the most vulnerable to climate change but also least responsible for it, have long been at the forefront

Environmentalism from Below is a comprehensive account of the grassroots environmental movements on the frontlines of the climate crisis. These communities, among the most vulnerable to climate change but also least responsible for it, have long been at the forefront of the fight to safeguard endangered worlds. Today, as the world's forests burn and our oceans acidify, grassroots movements are tenaciously defending the environmental commons and forging just and sustainable ways of living on Earth.

Scholar and activist Ashley Dawson constructs a gripping narrative of these movements of climate insurgents, from international solidarity organizations like La Via Campesina and Shack Dwellers International to local struggles in South Africa, Colombia, India, Nigeria, and beyond. Taking up the four critical challenges we face in a warming world—food, urban sustainability, energy transition, and conservation—Dawson shows how the unruly power of environmentalism from below is charting an alternative path forward, from challenging industrial agriculture through fights for food sovereignty and agroecology to resisting extractivism using mass nonviolent protest and sabotage.

An urgent, essential intervention, Environmentalism from Below offers a hopeful alternative to the gridlock of UN-based climate negotiations and the narrow nationalism of some Green New Deal efforts. As Dawson reminds us, the fight against ecocide is already being waged worldwide. Building on longstanding traditions of anticolonial struggle, environmentalism from below is a model for a people's movement for climate justice—one that demands solidarity.

The book begins by exploring the historical roots of environmentalism from below, tracing the struggles of indigenous peoples, peasants, and workers against environmental degradation and exploitation. It highlights the ways in which these movements have been suppressed and marginalized by dominant political and economic systems, but also how they have resisted and survived.

Chapter 2 examines the current state of the environmental crisis, highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change, deforestation, and pollution on communities around the world. It explores the ways in which these issues are interconnected and how they are affecting the most vulnerable populations, such as indigenous peoples, women, and children.

Chapter 3 explores the role of grassroots movements in addressing the environmental crisis. It highlights the ways in which these movements are organizing and mobilizing people around the world, from small-scale community gardens to large-scale protests and sabotage. It also examines the challenges that these movements face, such as resistance from governments, corporations, and other powerful actors.

Chapter 4 examines the strategies that grassroots movements are using to address the environmental crisis. It highlights the importance of building community-based economies, promoting sustainable agriculture, and protecting natural resources. It also examines the role of technology and social media in amplifying the voices of these movements and mobilizing people around the world.

Chapter 5 examines the impact of grassroots movements on the political landscape. It highlights the ways in which these movements are challenging the power of governments, corporations, and other powerful actors and advocating for a more just and sustainable world. It also examines the ways in which these movements are influencing policy and legislation at the national and international levels.

Chapter 6 examines the future of grassroots movements in addressing the environmental crisis. It highlights the challenges that these movements face, such as climate change denial, political polarization, and economic inequality. It also examines the ways in which these movements can continue to grow and evolve, and how they can work together with other social and political movements to build a more just and sustainable world.

In conclusion, Environmentalism from Below is a powerful and essential book that offers a hopeful alternative to the gridlock of UN-based climate negotiations and the narrow nationalism of some Green New Deal efforts. It provides a comprehensive account of the grassroots environmental movements on the frontlines of the climate crisis and highlights the ways in which these movements are organizing and mobilizing people around the world to address the environmental crisis. By building on

Weight: 482g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642599701