For the Wild: Ritual and Commitment in Radical Eco-Activism

Description

For the Wild explores the ways in which the commitments of radical environmental and animal-rights activists develop through powerful experiences with the more-than-human world during childhood and young adulthood. The book addresses the question of how and why activists come to value nonhuman animals and the natural world as worthy of protection. Emotions and memories of wonder, love, compassion, anger, and grief shape activists’ protest practices and help us understand their deep-rooted dedication to the planet and its creatures. Drawing on analyses of activist art, music, and writings, as well as interviews and participant-observation in activist communities, Sarah M. Pike delves into the sacred duties of these often misunderstood and marginalized groups with openness and sensitivity. Cover For the Wild Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: For All the Wild Hearts 1. Freedom and Insurrection around a Fire 2. At the Turn of the Millennium: Youth Culture and the Roots of Contemporary Activism 3. Childhood Landscapes of Wonder and Awe 4. Into the Forest 5. “Liberation’s Crusade Has Begun”: Hare Krishna Hardcore Youth and Animal Rights Activism 6. Circles of Community, Strategies of Inclusion 7. Rites of Grief and Mourning Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index