Conversations With Remarkable Minds

Naylor, Thomas - Economy Society Politics - 11.08.24

“Secession: How Vermont and All Other States Can Save Themselves from Empire”; “Affluenza: The All Consuming Epidemic” Is the US fixable, or has it passed a tipping point where it is no longer governable; the benefits of states seceding from Washington

Professor Thomas Naylor is one of the country’s most independent-thinking economists. He is a professor emeritus of economics at Duke where he has taught since 1964, and is the founder of the Second Vermont Republic -- a nonviolent citizen’s network & think tank advocating for the breakup of mega-nations such as the US, Russia & China. The Republic calls for the creation of  small, democratic, affluent, socially responsible nations with a high degree of environmental integrity such as Sweden, Finland & Switzerland.  Prof. Naylor has written numerous articles in academic & popular publications, including the New York TImes, Christian Science Monitor & The Nation. Among his many books are “Affluenza: The All Consuming Epidemic” & “Secession: How Vermont and All Other States Can Save Themselves from Empire”

Norberg-Hodge, Helen - Economy Globalization Culture - 12.05.28

“Ancient Futures”; “The Economics of Happiness” [film] Failures and destruction wrought upon societies by corporate globalization; a new economics based upon localization to rebuild communities.

Helena Norberg-Hodge is an author, activist and filmmaker, a pioneer of the “new economy” global movement. Earth Journal included Helena among the 10 major environmentalists; she has appeared worldwide in the media. Since 1975, she has worked with the people of Ladakh [Little Tibet] in the western Indian Himalayas, to find ways of enabling their culture to meet the modern world without sacrificing social & ecological values. For these efforts she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award. Helena is the founder & director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture based in the US & UK, a founding member of the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, & a co-founder of both the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network.
She is the author of “Ancient Futures”, and producer & co-director of the award-winning film, “The Economics of Happiness”.

Northrup, Christiane - Women's Health Mind-Body Healing - 12.01.11

“Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change”; “The Secret Pleasures of Menopause”, A body-mind-spirit approach to menopause; how women can prepare for their second stage in life.

Dr. Christiane Northrup is a board-certified OB/GYN physician and a pioneer in women’s health and wellness. Her work is based on the unity of body, mind & spirit. She is the author of two NY Times best-selling books: “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom” & “The Wisdom of Menopause”. Her book “Mother-Daughter Wisdom” was voted as book of the year by Amazon in 2005. She has won numerous awards for her research, publications and private practice and frequently appears on major media networks and publications. “The Secret Pleasures of Menopause”, “Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change” www.DrNorthrup.com

Pagels, Elaine - Religion Scriptures Revelations - 12.04.06

“Revelations: Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelations.” What is the true history of this controversial book?; uncovering its origins and the roots of dissent, violence, and division in the world's religions.

Prof. Elaine Pagels has earned international acclaim for her scholarship and writing on the early history of Christianity and how texts that did not support the institutionalization of an emerging Christian Church were marginalized & condemned leading to increasing corruption & lack of religious tolerance. She holds the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion seat at Princeton where she has taught since 1982. As a graduate student at Harvard she was part of the team deciphering the famous cache of gnostic manuscripts discovered at Nag Hammadi in the Egyptian desert. Prof. Pagels has published 8 books on gnostic texts & history, several becoming best sellers and receiving numerous awards. “Revelations: Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelations.”

Pearce, Fred - Environment Climate Change - 07.09.27

“When Rivers Run Dry The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-first Century”; “With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change” Discussing global warming, climate change & the 12 tipping points.

Fred Pearce, is an award-winning author and journalist based in London. He has reported on environmental, science, and development issues from eighty-five countries over the past twenty years. Environment consultant at New Scientist since 1992, he also writes regularly for the Guardian newspaper and Yale University’s prestigious e360 website. Pearce was voted UK Environment Journalist of the Year in 2001 and CGIAR agricultural research journalist of the year in 2002. His many books include “When Rivers Run Dry The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-first Century”; “With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change”.

Perez-Rocha, Manuel - Globalization Economy NAFTA - 12.04.09

NAFTA Plus and the SPP Advocacy Project; Domestic and international consequences we are experiencing now- many years after NAFTA's launch.

Manuel Pérez-Rocha helps to coordinate the Networking for Justice on Global Investment project at the Institute for Policy Research, an independent think tank for progressive policy making in Washington DC. Previously, he directed the Institute’s "NAFTA Plus and the SPP Advocacy Project," as part of the Global Economy Project. He is a Mexican national who has led tri-national efforts to promote just & sustainable alternative approaches to North American economic integration for more than a decade. For the past several years, he has contributed to the Alternative Regionalisms project of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam, & worked as a consultant to Oxfam International on trade issues in the Central America, Mexico, & the Caribbean region. www.IPS-DC.org

Perkins, John - Foreign Policy Globalization - 07.10.22

“Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.” -Exposing the litle-known government and corporate activities that America has been involved in since WW ll.

For many years, John Perkins was an economic hit man, employed to convince developing nations to accept enormous loans for infrastructure development and to guarantee that  development projects were contracted to US corporations such as Halliburton and Bechtel. He was a direct participant or witness to such dramatic modern events as the Saudi Arabian Money Laundering scandal, the fall of the Shah       of Iran, the assassination of Panama’s president Omar Torrijos, the Panama invasion, and other government and corporate intrigues leading to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.    After 911, John broke his silence with the publication of his international best seller “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.” Since then he has been a champion of Amazonian indigenous spiritual culture and environmental movements through his Dream Change and the Pachamama Alliance projects.  “Hoodwinked: Former Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded—and How to Remake Them”.                        www.JohnPerkins.org

Perkins, John - Foreign Policy Globalization - 09.11.23

“Hoodwinked: Former Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded—and How to Remake Them”. Why the world financial markets imploded – looking at the future.

For many years, John Perkins was an economic hit man, employed to convince developing nations to accept enormous loans for infrastructure development and to guarantee that development projects were contracted to US corporations such as Halliburton and Bechtel. He was a direct participant or witness to such dramatic modern events as the Saudi Arabian Money Laundering scandal, the fall of the Shah of Iran, the assassination of Panama’s president Omar Torrijos, the Panama invasion, and other government and corporate intrigues leading to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. After 911, John broke his silence with the publication of his international best seller “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.” Since then he has been a champion of Amazonian indigenous spiritual culture and environmental movements through his Dream Change and the Pachamama Alliance projects. “Hoodwinked: Former Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded—and How to Remake Them”. www.JohnPerkins.org 

 

Petras, James - Foreign Policy American Empire Globalization- 12.11.05

“The Politics of Empire: The US, Israel and the Middle East” The cost of America's empire building- both the financial cost and the cost to human life and welfare- both at home and abroad.

Prof. James Petras is the Bartle Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Binghamton Univ. and an expert in America’s interference in global politics, especially Latin America and the Middle East. He has a long commitment to social justice issues & workers’ rights and was a member of the Bertrand Russell Tribunal on Repression in Latin America. Prof. Petras is also the recipient of many awards including the Distinguished Service Award from the American Sociological Association and the Robert Kenny Award. He has written over 60 books in 29 languages and published over 600 articles in professional journals. His editorials in major news publications are in the 1000s. “The Politics of Empire: The US, Israel and the Middle East” “Rulers and Ruled in the US Empire" “Decline of US Power, and Globalization Unmasked: Imperialism in the 21ist Century.”

Randers, Jorgan - Environment Climate Change - 12.06.18

“2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years.” A global forecast for the next 40 years – a conversation with a co-author of the controversial 1972 publication "Limits of Growth"

Prof. Jorgen Randers is a professor of climate change studies at the Norwegian School of Business in Oslo Norway, where he specializes in the future of climate change & sustainable development. He has served on the boards of several corporations & is a sustainability consultant for the Norwegian government’s Commission on Low Emissions to reduce greenhouse gases. Prof. Randers is perhaps best known internationally for his co-authored 1972 publication of the controversial study “Limits of Growth’, which utilized system’s analysis to predict the state of the world in 2012. While mostly discredited at the time of its publication, the study has become increasingly prophetic in its accuracy and has stirred renewed interest. A new futurist analysis looking at the world in 2052, commemorating the 40th anniversary the original report, has just been published – “2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years.”