Global warming is upon us and, without question, immediate action needs to be taken. But should we be asking ourselves who might stand to profit from this moment of crisis? In an essay prepared for the COP 15 climate meeting, historian Iain Boal addresses the perils of catastrophism and green capitalism.
Sunlight, by Sharr White, at Marin Theatre Company
A John Yoo-like character squares off against a liberal university president in a new play called Sunlight. The playwright Sharr White discusses his intentions and shares his perspective on torture, abuse of power, and academic freedom. Also, Andrew Lichterman weighs in on the nuclear threat in a time of global economic crisis.
Ellen Leopold, Under the Radar: Cancer and the Cold War Rutgers U. Press, 2009
In the mid-20th century, the US government and private companies joined together to develop medical applications from the byproducts of the nuclear industry. Ellen Leopold talks about the rise of radiotherapy, experiments on unwitting patients in US hospitals, and the pioneering lawsuit of a Kansas housewife called Irma Natanson, as well as the legacy of the Cold War on cancer detection and treatment today.
Keltner, Marsh & Smith, eds., The Compassionate Instinct: The Science of Human Goodness W.W. Norton, 2010
Survival of the fittest, or survival of the kindest? Where does the human capacity for goodness come from? And are human emotions social constructions, or are they wired into our nervous systems? In Born to Be Good, Dacher Keltner writes about the nature and evolutionary origins of kindness, compassion, awe, and other emotions. He also highlights Darwin's emphasis on human sympathy.
Nancy Fraser, "Feminism, Capitalism, and the Cunning of History" New Left Review
Second wave feminism arguably changed the lives of Americans more than any other movement of the New Left. Yet did it have the unintended consequence of bolstering a new form of capitalism taking shape? Noted feminist critic Nancy Fraser discusses the simultaneous rise of the women's movement and neoliberalism and argues for a renewed feminism today.
In Stuart Archer Cohen's novel The Army of the Republic, unbridled privatization spurs grassroots activists and underground militants to directly confront the power of the State. Cohen talks about organizing, revolution, corporate power, and other issues addressed in his book. Also, Gordon Edelstein directs Athol Fugard's Coming Home at Berkeley Rep.
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