Featured image: An army of heavily-educated volunteers advocates to Congress for a carbon fee and dividend policy in 2016. (Courtesy Citizens Climate Lobby)
This week we interview Sam Daley-Harris, grassroots organizer and coach for advocacy groups, on his philosophy for impacting policy as an average citizen. Most people feel there are critical issues the government needs to act on, but they feel powerless to change anything and therefore don’t speak up. Sam believes that this fear can be overcome by well-organized, educational advocacy groups that train volunteers deeply about an issue. Groups like RESULTS and Citizens Climate Lobby expose their members to curricula that teach them to write op-eds and meet with Congresspeople, regardless of party or beliefs, and over time they develop relationships that make an impact. Sam discusses pitfalls that make some groups ineffective, as well as success stories that show what well-educated volunteers can achieve on many important issues.
In other news:
- Bat neuroscience has taken a huge leap forward: scientists and engineers have developed flight-ready brain scanners for bats to wear, giving us insight into how they choose their course in the air.
- One of the largest ichthyosaur fossils ever was recently discovered in England, possibly edging out the blue whale as the largest creature that ever lived.
- A new injectable microchip measures blood alcohol content continuously, sitting under your skin and consuming tiny amounts of stored power.
The playlist can be found on WPRB.com or below.
These Vibes Are Too Cosmic 