0:00:04.220,0:00:06.560 Pat Mitchell: It's so great[br]to see you, my friend. 0:00:06.584,0:00:09.167 Jane Fonda: Hi Pat.[br]It's great to be with you. 0:00:09.191,0:00:14.237 PM: Jane, for the ones who may not[br]have seen the extraordinary coverage 0:00:14.261,0:00:15.959 around the world 0:00:15.983,0:00:17.925 of Fire Drill Fridays 0:00:17.949,0:00:22.204 and the impact that they have already had, 0:00:22.228,0:00:25.744 talk to us about the origin of this idea, 0:00:25.768,0:00:29.955 this particular response[br]to the climate crisis. 0:00:30.460,0:00:36.283 JF: I was very inspired by Greta Thunberg,[br]the Swedish student, 0:00:36.307,0:00:40.468 and by the young school climate strikers. 0:00:41.604,0:00:45.060 Greta says we've got to get[br]out of our comfort zone. 0:00:45.084,0:00:49.319 We have to behave[br]like our house is burning, 0:00:49.343,0:00:50.740 because it is. 0:00:51.975,0:00:54.100 And so she really struck a chord in me. 0:00:54.124,0:01:00.008 And then, learning that just about[br]100 percent of climate scientists agree. 0:01:00.032,0:01:04.984 They agree that a drastic[br]emergency is upon us, 0:01:05.008,0:01:08.058 that it is human-caused. 0:01:10.450,0:01:11.606 But they said 0:01:11.630,0:01:13.684 we can do something about it. 0:01:13.708,0:01:16.919 We have the time, the technology, 0:01:16.943,0:01:18.165 the tools. 0:01:18.189,0:01:21.430 We have everything we need[br]except political will 0:01:21.454,0:01:22.608 to meet the challenge, 0:01:22.632,0:01:24.615 and it's an enormous challenge. 0:01:25.879,0:01:29.991 We have 11 years, many say, a decade, 0:01:30.015,0:01:31.572 and I thought, 0:01:31.596,0:01:36.506 "Oh, I'm so lucky[br]that I am healthy and living 0:01:36.530,0:01:42.715 in a decade where we who are alive[br]can actually make the difference. 0:01:42.739,0:01:45.639 We can make the difference 0:01:45.663,0:01:48.413 as to whether there's going[br]to be a livable future or not. 0:01:48.437,0:01:51.143 What a glorious responsibility we have. 0:01:51.167,0:01:52.974 We have to step up to the plate." 0:01:52.998,0:01:54.910 And when you're famous, 0:01:54.934,0:01:56.940 there's a lot of things that you can do. 0:01:56.964,0:01:58.712 You have a bigger platform. 0:01:59.450,0:02:01.109 So I decided that, like Greta, 0:02:01.133,0:02:04.025 I was going to put my body on the line 0:02:04.049,0:02:08.311 and move to the center[br]of American power, Washington, DC, 0:02:08.335,0:02:11.802 and have a rally every Friday[br]like the students do. 0:02:11.826,0:02:13.269 And we work with the students. 0:02:13.293,0:02:17.300 They speak at my rallies,[br]and I speak at their rallies. 0:02:17.324,0:02:18.836 And then after we speak, 0:02:18.860,0:02:24.518 we engage in civil disobedience[br]and risk getting arrested. 0:02:24.542,0:02:26.916 Civil disobedience is a powerful tool 0:02:26.940,0:02:29.836 that has changed history many times, 0:02:29.860,0:02:34.995 both in the United States in the '60s[br]during the civil rights movement, 0:02:35.019,0:02:37.881 of course in India with Mahatma Gandhi. 0:02:39.231,0:02:43.480 And I didn't know in the beginning[br]if it was going to work or not, 0:02:43.504,0:02:47.851 but it's made me very happy[br]to see what's happening. 0:02:48.732,0:02:51.883 PM: It's also led[br]to your being arrested -- 0:02:51.907,0:02:55.426 multiple times, actually, 0:02:55.450,0:03:01.311 spending at least a night or two[br]in Washington, DC jails. 0:03:01.335,0:03:06.321 And while all of us, I think, recognize[br]the emergency and the actions 0:03:06.345,0:03:10.075 that you so kindly mentioned[br]others have taken, 0:03:10.099,0:03:13.973 I'm not sure that we[br]would put our bodies at risk, 0:03:13.997,0:03:16.853 our lives, our careers 0:03:16.877,0:03:18.449 and our lives on hold, 0:03:18.473,0:03:19.977 as you have done. 0:03:20.327,0:03:25.258 Do you have any concerns[br]about that at this point? 0:03:26.131,0:03:31.234 JF: Well, I realize that not everybody[br]can leave work and go 0:03:31.258,0:03:32.689 and do what I'm doing. 0:03:32.713,0:03:35.220 But I must say that[br]requests are pouring in, 0:03:35.244,0:03:37.264 not only from around the United States 0:03:37.288,0:03:40.471 but from other countries, 0:03:40.495,0:03:43.385 people who want[br]to start Fire Drill Fridays. 0:03:43.409,0:03:46.484 And the people who are coming[br]and getting arrested with me 0:03:46.508,0:03:48.952 and engaging with civil disobedience, 0:03:48.976,0:03:51.756 many of them have never done it before, 0:03:51.780,0:03:54.189 and they find it to be transformative. 0:03:54.699,0:03:59.197 But the fact is that there are[br]so many things that people can do, 0:03:59.221,0:04:03.682 starting with talking about it, 0:04:03.706,0:04:06.742 expressing how you feel about it[br]and talking about it, 0:04:06.766,0:04:08.230 even when it's uncomfortable. 0:04:08.254,0:04:10.466 At a holiday dinner table 0:04:10.490,0:04:13.121 and maybe Uncle Bob doesn't agree, 0:04:13.145,0:04:16.656 but, you know, maybe Uncle Bob[br]is worried about his grandkids, 0:04:16.680,0:04:20.566 maybe he loves birds. 0:04:20.590,0:04:24.089 There's always a way in with people 0:04:24.113,0:04:29.279 to get them to feel concerned[br]about the climate crisis. 0:04:29.303,0:04:32.591 Of course, voting is very, very important, 0:04:32.615,0:04:36.134 and we have to vote for the people[br]that are the bravest, 0:04:36.158,0:04:39.397 the boldest of our elected officials, 0:04:39.421,0:04:41.729 because the task ahead of us -- 0:04:41.753,0:04:45.302 all over the world, but certainly[br]here in the United States -- 0:04:45.326,0:04:48.040 we have to get rid[br]of this current administration, 0:04:48.064,0:04:50.487 and we have to elect people[br]that are really brave, 0:04:50.511,0:04:52.133 that will step up -- 0:04:52.157,0:04:53.232 (Applause) 0:04:53.256,0:04:56.981 and do the bold actions that are needed,[br]the way Franklin Delano Roosevelt did 0:04:57.005,0:05:00.440 during the 1930s,[br]during the Great Depression, 0:05:00.464,0:05:07.061 when he really changed[br]a great deal about American society. 0:05:07.085,0:05:09.265 And that's what is needed now. 0:05:09.812,0:05:11.781 PM: So Jane, we should also explain, 0:05:11.805,0:05:15.083 because many people who are here[br]are thinking, what can they do? 0:05:15.107,0:05:18.272 Can they come to Washington[br]and join you in this action? 0:05:18.296,0:05:22.685 We should explain, not everyone[br]who participates in Fire Drill Fridays 0:05:22.709,0:05:25.226 is under threat of being arrested. 0:05:25.250,0:05:28.022 There are other parts[br]of what you're doing, 0:05:28.046,0:05:33.056 like you are currently[br]in the Greenpeace offices in Washington. 0:05:33.080,0:05:36.810 So explain what else[br]is a part of Fire Drill Fridays 0:05:36.834,0:05:40.034 and how we could participate[br]in civil disobedience 0:05:40.058,0:05:42.827 without the risk of getting arrested. 0:05:43.272,0:05:47.978 JF: First of all, you want to try[br]not do anything as a lone individual. 0:05:48.002,0:05:50.679 You know, it's by our powers combined. 0:05:50.703,0:05:54.126 There's strength in numbers. 0:05:54.150,0:05:56.889 There's also community in numbers, 0:05:56.913,0:05:59.862 and one of the hardest things[br]about what we're facing now is: 0:05:59.886,0:06:02.595 this is a collective crisis, 0:06:02.619,0:06:06.079 coming at a time when[br]the whole notion of the collective, 0:06:06.103,0:06:08.580 of the commons, of the public sphere, 0:06:08.604,0:06:13.502 is being eroded quite deliberately[br]by neoliberalism and conservatism. 0:06:13.526,0:06:18.054 And so reconnecting with groups of people, 0:06:18.078,0:06:20.824 like-minded people in a common action, 0:06:20.848,0:06:23.013 is solace to the soul. 0:06:23.037,0:06:27.095 It gives you such strength.[br]It's a great antidote to depression. 0:06:27.119,0:06:29.760 So find out what organizations 0:06:29.784,0:06:33.875 that are concerned about[br]the climate crisis are in your area. 0:06:33.899,0:06:37.177 Of course, Greenpeace has chapters[br]all around the world. 0:06:37.201,0:06:41.404 And even if you just start yourself,[br]have house parties, 0:06:41.428,0:06:45.117 invite people over[br]to talk about what's happening. 0:06:45.141,0:06:48.874 Find an article that you can all read[br]and discuss together. 0:06:48.898,0:06:51.914 Obviously, if there's[br]a climate action where you live, 0:06:51.938,0:06:53.214 try to join it. 0:06:53.238,0:06:57.169 It's not necessary[br]to engage in civil disobedience 0:06:57.193,0:06:59.035 and risk getting arrested, 0:06:59.059,0:07:02.265 but it is going to become[br]the new normal, I think. 0:07:02.289,0:07:06.838 It feels like it is here in DC[br]with Fire Drill Fridays. 0:07:06.862,0:07:09.404 People seem to want[br]to come back and do it again. 0:07:09.428,0:07:12.050 My grandkids just[br]got arrested last weekend. 0:07:12.074,0:07:13.780 It was a transformative experience. 0:07:13.804,0:07:15.012 (Laughter) 0:07:15.036,0:07:20.547 My fellow actor Sam Waterston,[br]who is a self-described centrist, 0:07:20.571,0:07:25.364 he had never spoken at a rally[br]or risked getting arrested, 0:07:25.388,0:07:27.496 and he was arrested with me. 0:07:27.520,0:07:31.276 Last week, I see that he was arrested[br]at the Harvard-Yale game. 0:07:31.300,0:07:33.432 He sent me a picture[br]of himself in handcuffs, 0:07:33.456,0:07:35.501 saying, "Now look what you started!" 0:07:35.525,0:07:36.646 (Laughter) 0:07:36.670,0:07:43.147 You know, we're at a point,[br]I think, in this crisis 0:07:43.171,0:07:46.098 where people are looking[br]to take the next step. 0:07:46.771,0:07:49.381 They want to put their bodies on the line, 0:07:49.405,0:07:52.370 as Greta Thunberg has exhorted us to do. 0:07:52.394,0:07:55.605 And they find it very rewarding, 0:07:55.629,0:07:57.147 and they want to do it again. 0:07:57.171,0:07:59.394 So I think that this is good,[br]what we're doing. 0:07:59.418,0:08:04.361 I met with the Senate [Climate Change[br]Task Force] a few weeks ago, 0:08:04.385,0:08:06.127 and I asked the senators, 0:08:07.029,0:08:09.131 "Is there something else[br]we should be doing? 0:08:09.155,0:08:10.701 Should we be doing more?" 0:08:10.725,0:08:13.245 And Senator Ed Markey said to me, 0:08:13.269,0:08:15.911 "You're building an army.[br]That's what we need. 0:08:15.935,0:08:17.106 Make it bigger. 0:08:17.130,0:08:18.844 We need pressure from the outside." 0:08:18.868,0:08:21.646 And I think that's true[br]all over the world. 0:08:21.670,0:08:26.024 People need to be amassing[br]armies for the climate, 0:08:26.048,0:08:28.421 armies for the environment, 0:08:28.445,0:08:29.617 in the streets, 0:08:29.641,0:08:32.360 shutting down governments if necessary. 0:08:32.384,0:08:35.149 I'm thinking of Brazil right now. 0:08:35.173,0:08:39.763 You know, we can't allow[br]the burning of our precious rainforests. 0:08:40.872,0:08:44.205 PM: And as you have done[br]so many times in the past, Jane, 0:08:44.229,0:08:46.349 you are leading these changes. 0:08:46.373,0:08:51.676 Eventually, one assumes, especially[br]the fans of "Grace and Frankie," 0:08:51.700,0:08:55.505 that you will go back to your life 0:08:55.529,0:08:58.106 and resume that program. 0:08:58.130,0:09:01.410 But will Fire Drill Fridays continue? 0:09:02.117,0:09:04.297 JF: Well, there's been[br]such an interest in it, 0:09:04.321,0:09:06.271 as I said, from all around the country, 0:09:06.295,0:09:08.695 people asking if they can start one. 0:09:08.719,0:09:11.824 And, you know, I have[br]a lot of celebrity friends 0:09:11.848,0:09:16.244 who haven't, for scheduling reasons,[br]been able to come to DC, 0:09:16.268,0:09:20.572 so we're thinking about[br]maybe doing it in Los Angeles. 0:09:20.596,0:09:23.177 But I just want to correct one thing: 0:09:23.201,0:09:24.540 I'm not leading. 0:09:24.564,0:09:28.482 It's the young people,[br]it's the students that are leading. 0:09:28.506,0:09:32.540 It's always the young people[br]that step up with the courage, 0:09:32.564,0:09:35.241 and it's pretty amazing,[br]because they're risking a lot. 0:09:35.265,0:09:38.762 It's pretty brave to take[br]a Friday off from school. 0:09:38.786,0:09:41.672 You could get bad grades.[br]You could make your teachers mad. 0:09:41.696,0:09:43.384 But they're doing it anyway. 0:09:43.408,0:09:48.131 There have been millions of them[br]at a time, all around the world. 0:09:48.155,0:09:49.356 And they're saying, 0:09:49.380,0:09:51.741 "Don't let us have to deal[br]with this by ourselves. 0:09:51.765,0:09:54.930 We didn't create this problem.[br]Come and help us." 0:09:54.954,0:09:56.485 So, Grandmas unite! 0:09:56.509,0:09:58.209 (Laughter) 0:09:58.233,0:10:01.703 (Applause) 0:10:04.999,0:10:09.003 PM: And you are in a city[br]that is probably more divided 0:10:09.027,0:10:11.297 than it has been in a very long time. 0:10:11.321,0:10:13.554 The polarities that exist there 0:10:13.578,0:10:16.470 and in many other places around the world 0:10:16.494,0:10:21.488 have kept our collective strength[br]from being unified and used, 0:10:21.512,0:10:24.618 and in that way, you have been leading us. 0:10:24.642,0:10:30.436 What would success look like to you[br]from Fire Drill Fridays? 0:10:32.150,0:10:35.896 JF: Well, I can just speak[br]as a citizen of the United States. 0:10:36.339,0:10:38.652 Success would look like 0:10:38.676,0:10:43.990 every state stops[br]all new fossil fuel expansion, 0:10:44.014,0:10:47.567 because if they keep drilling[br]and fracking and mining, 0:10:47.591,0:10:49.343 the problem will just get worse, 0:10:49.367,0:10:51.726 so that no matter what[br]we do with windmills 0:10:51.750,0:10:53.425 and solar collectors and so forth, 0:10:53.449,0:10:55.129 we'll never be able to catch up. 0:10:55.153,0:10:57.635 We have to stop all new expansion. 0:10:57.659,0:10:58.817 The other thing is, 0:10:58.841,0:11:04.037 they would phase out[br]fossil fuel emissions gradually, 0:11:04.061,0:11:07.032 making sure that the workers[br]who would be impacted 0:11:07.056,0:11:09.707 would be retrained at union wages 0:11:09.731,0:11:12.504 and get good new union jobs. 0:11:12.528,0:11:17.768 There are going to be so many good jobs[br]with the Green New Deal, 0:11:17.792,0:11:19.858 building windmills and solar collectors, 0:11:19.882,0:11:23.061 retrofitting all the houses[br]in this country, for example, 0:11:23.085,0:11:24.720 laying a new energy grid. 0:11:24.744,0:11:29.065 There's tens of millions of jobs[br]waiting to be unleashed, 0:11:29.089,0:11:32.308 and that's the other thing[br]that has gotten me mobilized. 0:11:32.842,0:11:37.947 A Green New Deal is a framework[br]for how to take ourselves into the future 0:11:37.971,0:11:40.880 in a way that's sustainable and equitable. 0:11:40.904,0:11:43.743 So that just gives you such hope, 0:11:43.767,0:11:48.409 because if we do it right,[br]it's going to be a win-win for everyone. 0:11:48.433,0:11:51.616 And that has to be the case,[br]or it won't work, 0:11:51.640,0:11:55.242 because to make this work,[br]everybody's going to have to be involved. 0:11:55.266,0:11:57.329 And in order for everybody to be involved, 0:11:57.353,0:11:59.630 they have to see something[br]in it for themselves, 0:11:59.654,0:12:01.861 and that's what a Green New Deal does. 0:12:01.885,0:12:03.860 PM: Jane, you, as always -- 0:12:03.884,0:12:06.742 (Applause) 0:12:07.780,0:12:10.564 as you have done[br]so many times in your life, 0:12:10.588,0:12:12.722 you have taken risk, 0:12:12.746,0:12:15.684 and you have stepped up[br]to the front lines. 0:12:15.708,0:12:20.268 Do you leave this experience[br]with any new learning 0:12:20.292,0:12:25.009 or a new level of commitment,[br]hope or optimism? 0:12:25.451,0:12:27.471 JF: Yeah, I am optimistic. 0:12:27.495,0:12:30.967 People in this country are really scared[br]about the climate crisis, 0:12:30.991,0:12:34.571 and they want to do something,[br]but nobody has asked them. 0:12:35.372,0:12:37.296 We just have to ask them. 0:12:37.320,0:12:40.330 We have to get organized, you know? 0:12:40.354,0:12:42.297 And we can do that. 0:12:42.321,0:12:45.697 So I feel very hopeful. 0:12:46.411,0:12:49.760 I must say that I am going to go[br]back to work on "Grace and Frankie," 0:12:49.784,0:12:54.021 but part of my heart[br]is going to be with Fire Drill Fridays, 0:12:54.045,0:12:57.887 and I hope I can continue with that. 0:12:57.911,0:13:00.278 I just think that we do[br]have to build an army. 0:13:00.302,0:13:02.440 This coming year is the critical year. 0:13:02.464,0:13:05.208 What happens is going to be so important. 0:13:05.232,0:13:06.870 So we have to be sure, 0:13:06.894,0:13:09.634 especially someone who is healthy, 0:13:09.658,0:13:12.090 who feels relatively young, 0:13:12.114,0:13:13.862 who has a platform -- 0:13:13.886,0:13:17.341 we have to use it[br]in every possible way we can. 0:13:17.365,0:13:19.068 And if I didn't have that, 0:13:19.092,0:13:21.977 then I would find other little ways[br]that I could do it: 0:13:22.001,0:13:24.078 talk to my neighbors, talk to my friends, 0:13:24.102,0:13:25.404 talk to my family, 0:13:25.428,0:13:27.027 join an organization. 0:13:27.051,0:13:30.438 That's how, also, as I've said,[br]to stave off depression, 0:13:30.462,0:13:32.291 is to do something active. 0:13:32.315,0:13:36.483 PM: Jane, at 81, you are modeling[br]what that can be like for sure, 0:13:36.507,0:13:40.376 and I think we just recruited a new army. 0:13:40.828,0:13:45.553 (Applause) 0:13:49.680,0:13:51.482 Thank you very much, my friend. 0:13:51.506,0:13:52.832 Stay safe. 0:13:52.856,0:13:56.975 Thank you for all that you have done[br]for the planet and so much else. 0:13:56.999,0:13:58.166 JF: Thank you, Pat. 0:13:58.190,0:14:00.706 PM: Join me in thanking Jane. 0:14:00.730,0:14:02.425 (Applause)