Disaster Anarchy: Rhiannon Firth on Mutual Aid in an Age of Climate Change

On this episode of It’s Going Down, we speak with Rhiannon Firth, author of Disaster Anarchy: Mutual Aid and Radical Action, about the growth of autonomous disaster relief efforts, grassroots anarchist initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, and collective responses to climate change, both in the UK and in the US.

A total legend tweeted my book!! I feel same about everything you write @scott_crow , i'm soooo honoured that you like it! And glad your copy arrived! 😍 https://t.co/uuKnkVR7fO

— Rhiannon Firth 🧡 (@RhiFirth) July 28, 2022

During our discussion, we map out attempts by the state to both recuperate and contain mutual aid movements and focus on the need for radicals to not dilute their politics. We look back at historical examples such as Occupy Sandy and recent responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and ask how these experiments can influence the coming terrain impacted by the realities of climate chaos.

More Info: Rhiannon Firth on Pluto Press and Twitter and Disaster Anarchy: Mutual Aid and Radical Action.

Photo: Restore_the_Rock / flickr 

by It's Going Down via It's Going Down