Video of Programs (search and sort)

Is the United States Becoming a Plutocracy?
09/16/2012
Dr. Jeff Seward

Are all democracies in capitalist societies essentially plutocracies as Marxism suggests? Or is there a "normal" and even healthy degree of deference to capitalism in such democracies? Does this deference give way to an extremism of capitalist elites? Is the United States in danger of falling into that extreme situation? Jeff Seward, associate professor in the Department of Politics and Government at Pacific University, discusses these questions. Seward has taught comparative politics, political philosophy, and political economy since 1992. He had a previous career as a producer, reporter, and anchorman for public television stations in Boise and Seattle.

Adbusters
09/09/2012
Erin Middlewood

Adbusters, an ad-free magazine based in Vancouver, B.C., ignited Occupy Wall Street. The Occupy movement then took on a life of its own. This is a presentation by journalist Erin Middlewood. She discusses the role of Adbusters in the Occupy Wall Street movement. Middlewood has written for The Progressive and other national publications while working as a reporter for local daily newspapers. Her journalism has won numerous awards, including a Sigma Delta Chi award from the national Society of Professional Journalists in 2007.

Humanist Happiness
08/26/2012
Jennifer Hancock

This is a presentation by Jennifer Hancock, delivered here in Portland by way of Skype from Florida. By sharing her pragmatic humanist approach to living life fully and intentionally, Jennifer has transformed the lives of those who have been touched by her work. By encouraging people to be the best, most ethical, humans they can be, she consistently challenges people to think about, and to question, who they are, what they are, and more importantly, how they want to be. She is one of the few individuals in America who was raised as a Humanist and she brings her delightful sense of humor, creativity, and compassion combined with a no-nonsense approach to all of her work and her coaching. She will help you focus on what really matters in your life and will teach you the practical skills you need to live your life the way you know you should: ethically, compassionately, and responsibly. Quoting from Ms. Hancock: “Some of the most influential people throughout history have been humanists. One of the reasons is because humanists pursue happiness through the cultivation of personal responsibility. In this talk, you will learn how the humanist pursuit of happiness can help make the world a better place and why this matters.”

Nanotechnology
08/19/2012
Dr. Stacey Lynn Harper

This is a presentation by Stacey Lynn Harper, Assistant Professor of Nanotoxicology at Oregon State University. She introduces basic concepts of nanomaterials and nanotechnology with a focus on nanomaterial applications and their potential health and environmental impacts. Dr. Harper will discuss her research program to investigate the environmental health and safety of nanomaterials in order to support the responsible development of this rapidly growing industry. In her research, Dr. Harper uses rapid assays to evaluate the biological activity and toxic potential of novel nanomaterials and uses informatics to understand which features of the nanomaterials lead to health impacts. She works closely with industry, academic and government partners to ensure that environmental and human health considerations are addressed together with the development of new nanomaterials. Dr. Harper was recently awarded a prestigious NIEHS Outstanding New Environmental Researcher for her work in nanotoxicology.

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