The Daily The Sunday Read: 'The Valve Turners'
Jan 17, 2021
Michael Foster, a significant figure among the Valve Turners, is a dedicated climate activist who engaged in civil disobedience by shutting down oil pipelines to combat climate change. He discusses the motivations behind their bold actions, contrasting societal perceptions of climate urgency with the urgency felt by activists. Topics include the emotional toll of activism on families, legal battles faced by protesters, and personal reflections from his own experiences in jail. Foster's journey highlights the intense struggle and commitment required to fight for environmental justice.
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Valve Turners' Demographics and Motivation
- The Valve Turners are middle-aged, white, educated individuals motivated by climate change fears.
- Their privileged position compels them to push boundaries of civil disobedience.
Climate Change Perception
- Most Americans treat climate change seriously, but not literally.
- The Valve Turners, however, take climate change both seriously and literally.
Early Activism Inspiration
- Michael Foster's activism may be rooted in his high school play, 'The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail'.
- The play explores Thoreau's refusal to pay a poll tax due to opposition to the Mexican-American War.
