EPISODE · May 15, 2026 · 56 MIN
CLIMATE ONE: Protest and Beyond: Annie Leonard On What You Can Do
from Commonwealth Club of California Podcast · host Commonwealth Club of California
Protest is the ultimate in equal-opportunity political action. As Annie Leonard, former executive director of Greenpeace USA says, "Making change is like laying a stone path across the garden. Peaceful protest may be every 4th or 8th or 200th stone; it helps us get where we want to go but also we need a lot of other stones too.” Leonard explores the history of protests in her new book “Protest: Respect It. Defend It. Use It.” And while protest is the loudest and most visible tool, it’s only one of many ways to take action. Through community building, through civic engagement, through elected office, through corporate boardrooms, through churches and nonprofit agencies, there are countless paths to exercising power and promoting positive change. In this episode we hear from three leaders working in three different arenas, all toward the same goal. Guests: Annie Leonard, Environmental Activist, Author of “Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It” Danielle Lee, Founder, Climate Action Club James Coleman, City Councilor, South San Francisco For show notes, transcript, and related links, visit climateone.org/podcasts Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 04:00 – Annie Leonard shares the story of the Section 504 sit-ins protest in San Francisco 06:30 – Different ways protest can be effective 08:30 – Leonard on why she puts her body on the line (gets arrested) during protests 16:00 – Leonard on the lawsuit Energy Transfer brought against Greenpeace USA over Standing Rock protests 22:00 – Protecting, defending, and using the right to protest 26:00 – Danielle Lee on organizing younger people around climate and environment 30:30 – Systemic versus personal action 37:00 – James Coleman on the decision to run for office as a tool for effective change 41:00 – Impact of local government 46:30 – How change actually happens 50:00 – Climate One More Thing ********** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today at patreon.com/ClimateOne. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Protest is the ultimate in equal-opportunity political action. As Annie Leonard, former executive director of Greenpeace USA says, "Making change is like laying a stone path across the garden. Peaceful protest may be every 4th or 8th or 200th stone; it helps us get where we want to go but also we need a lot of other stones too.” Leonard explores the history of protests in her new book “Protest: Respect It. Defend It. Use It.” And while protest is the loudest and most visible tool, it’s only one of many ways to take action. Through community building, through civic engagement, through elected office, through corporate boardrooms, through churches and nonprofit agencies, there are countless paths to exercising power and promoting positive change. In this episode we hear from three leaders working in three different arenas, all toward the same goal. Guests: Annie Leonard, Environmental Activist, Author of “Protest: Respect It, Defend It, Use It” Danielle Lee, Founder, Climate Action Club James Coleman, City Councilor, South San Francisco For show notes, transcript, and related links, visit climateone.org/podcasts Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 04:00 – Annie Leonard shares the story of the Section 504 sit-ins protest in San Francisco 06:30 – Different ways protest can be effective 08:30 – Leonard on why she puts her body on the line (gets arrested) during protests 16:00 – Leonard on the lawsuit Energy Transfer brought against Greenpeace USA over Standing Rock protests 22:00 – Protecting, defending, and using the right to protest 26:00 – Danielle Lee on organizing younger people around climate and environment 30:30 – Systemic versus personal action 37:00 – James Coleman on the decision to run for office as a tool for effective change 41:00 – Impact of local government 46:30 – How change actually happens 50:00 – Climate One More Thing ********** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today at patreon.com/ClimateOne. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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CLIMATE ONE: Protest and Beyond: Annie Leonard On What You Can Do
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