IGNITE: Festival of Radical Ideas

Jason Hickel - Abir Kopty - Jayati Ghosh - Jerome Roos - Aderonke Ige - Laura Flanders

Music by Shishani

Global activists and thinkers, dreamers and doers came together during IGNITE! to chart a path towards a society built on justice, equity, democracy, peace, and liberation. The Transnational Institute celebrated its 50th anniversary with a festival of radical ideas!

We live in dark times — obscene levels of inequality, uncontrolled corporate greed, rampant militarization, a rising far-right, and ecological breakdown. Most disturbing of all, Western governments' complicity with the ongoing genocide in Palestine has normalised brutal levels of dehumanisation with profound consequences for all vulnerable people worldwide. We need radical, systemic change.

A spark has ignited. People are taking to the streets, occupying institutions, connecting across continents, questioning systems of power, and building an inspiring global force for change. These movements tap into deep popular discontent and a desire for profound transformation.

At Ignite!, we explored what this system change looked like and how we could achieve it together.
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[atavanH]

Wow this was a fantastic talk, thank you Laura for hosting. For the first time in a long time, I have finally found some hope. I was hanging on to every single word the panel said, what an amazing set of people to bring together and talk about their ideas.

What was said were all things swirling around in my head, so it was great to hear these intelligent folks confirm my own thoughts.

It’s quite clear we need a new world order, one driven by the people to bring democracy everywhere not just in government. But also in the economy and in how we organise companies. No one person should have control of any corporation — the leader needs to be democratically elected and the board members composed of predominantly it’s workers, people that live the community where it exists, its customers, and local government.

It’s great to hear elected officials in high positions in the Democratic Party NOW talk about giving workers a seat at the table. Things are changing albeit slowly. Hopefully we can get some momentum to be able to address climate change before it’s too late.

Bless you all!

[LokiBeckonswow]

Incredible video, thank you so much to all who made this possible!

[madelinelaake]

The problems are adequately identified here, but I want more suggestions for specific actions to take. It’s one thing to make art or participate in academic circles, but poor people, simple people, have a part to play as well. What should our roles be as working class people? Pretty much every human rights issue was advanced through violence, and I don’t want violence, but if that’s what it’s going to take, how should progressives limit the damage after the anger boils over? What kinds of disruption are actually productive?

[Icatea]

Following from Bogor Indonesia. In solidarity. Ignite!

[dervesK]

Jason Hickel realigned all our thoughts

[specialiseesi]

Just discovered this gem here! Free Palestine! My support from Canada.

[eroceanos]

We need to criminalise capitalism. All the rest is talking... and that is also useful, but... War is a racket. Capitalism as well.

[sanghamitrachakravarty]

If you are in a hurry, its not a wonderful thing… couldn’t agree more
Being both (African and European) in a world which wants you to choose…Shishani…beautiful 2:49

[matustrophic]

Telling my keiki this is the Justice League