How do you respond when someone asks you, 'How are you?'
Maybe you don't think at all before the automatic, 'fine, thanks', slips out.
In FIT's new podcast series, we speak to everyday people about everyday mental health and all the things that make you want to say, 'not fine, thanks'.
In the very first episode, I speak to Disha Ravi, a young climate activist based in Bangalore about climate anxiety among young people, losing hope, and keeping the cause alive in the face of a lack of systemic action.
Here are some excerpts of our conversation.
What does climate anxiety mean?
Disha: Climate anxiety or eco-anxiety revolves around the fact that people are generally scared or anxious about how they will be impacted by the climate crisis...and just how bad the situation is getting.
"Everyone is experiencing the climate crisis or anticipating calamities in some form of the other."Disha Ravi, climate activist
The climate crisis is such a mammoth issue that's so pervasive. Does it ever make you feel hopeless, or like it may be too late to do anything now?
Disha: I personally refuse to give in to climate victimism. Data, and scientists have pointed to there is still hope, as long as we take drastic actions and that's what I choose to focus on.
"Because this is our home and we only have one of it, and I believe our home is always worth saving."Disha Ravi, Climate activist
Listen to the full podcast to listen to Disha speak about how her and other young climate activists tackle climate anxiety, the lack of systemic action, their approach to climate activism and the role that social media has to play in all of this.
Stay tuned for more episodes of Not Fine, Thanks, coming soon!
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