Featuring Mark Dunlea: IPCC Report, NY State Legislative (In)Action & April Albany Climate Rally
Educated at RPI and Albany Law School, Mark teaches “Climate Change and Advocacy” at Bennington College. He’s a co-founder of the Green Party in NY State, a co-founder of the NY Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), a community organizer for ACORN, and the Hunger Action Network, a coordinator for People of Albany United for Safe Energy (
PAUSE) in Albany, the 350.org affiliate in Albany, steering committee member of 350NYC, founder of the
Green Education and Legal Fund….co-host of a nightly new program on the
Sanctuary for Independent Media. Mark opposed nuclear power way before most environmental groups did and Mark helped organize the successful NY City pension-fossil fuel-divestment effort.
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Meeting ID: 824 7402 7244
Passcode: 100by2030
In the United States, the term “socialism” has been widely misunderstood and used to discredit even modest reforms. This symposium will explore achievements and missteps in implementing socialism in China, India, Scandinavia, and Latin America. It will weigh socialism’s value in addressing global challenges of climate change, economic inequality, and human rights abuses.
Registration is free. Register for both the in-person and virtual symposium by emailing dussourd@buffalo.edu. The Symposium Flyer is available here, and Symposium Poster here.
In-person attendees must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and photo ID to enter 10 Capen Hall.
PROGRAM
See abstracts and speaker bios here
9:00 IN-PERSON CHECK IN
9:15 WELCOMING REMARKS
9:30 – 11:30 UNDERSTANDING SOCIALISM: ACHIEVEMENTS AND MISSTEPS
“Socialism in China: Past and Future”
Ying Chen, Assistant Professor of Economics, New School for Social Research
“Experiments with Socialism in India: Comparing Kerala and West Bengal”
Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst
“Would Democratic Socialism Be Better?”
Lane Kenworthy, Professor of Sociology and Yankelovich Chair in Social Thought, University of California San Diego
11:30 – 12:30 LUNCH
12:30 – 1:50 SOCIALISM AS A RESPONSE TO GLOBAL PROBLEMS
“Eco-Socialism and the Green New Deal”
Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics; Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst
“Why 21st Century Socialism Will Focus on Democratizing Workplaces, not Government Economic Interventions”
Richard Wolff, Visiting Professor, The New School; Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst
2:00 – 3:20 SOCIALISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS
“Latin America’s ‘Left Turns’: Socialism, Democracy, and Social Citizenship Rights”
Kenneth Roberts, Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, Cornell University
“Rethinking Economics for Social Justice: The Radical Potential of Human Rights”
James Heintz, Andrew Glyn Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst
3:20 – 3:30 CLOSING REMARKS & WRAP-UP DISCUSSION
Sponsors: Alison Des Forges Memorial Committee; University at Buffalo: Departments of Comparative Literature, History, Political Science, and Africana and African-American Studies; Gender Institute; Humanities Institute; James Agee Chair in American Culture; Office of the Vice Provost for International Education, The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy; Jack Walsh in Honor of Connie Walsh.
This symposium honors the life and work of human rights activist Alison Des Forges (1942-2009).
Special Guests:
- Yvonne Taylor, Co-founder of Seneca Lake Guardian
- The Honorable Austin J. Tylec, Mayor of North Tonawanda, NY
Over the past 4 years, computerized bitcoin mining has taken hold in unused power plants across NY State such as Somerset Coal plant, Fortistar Plant in North Tonwanda and the Greenidge Plant on the shores of Seneca Lake. NY State is now home to about 20% of the nation’s bitcoin mining operations. At the same time, NY State enacted the Climate and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) which seeks an 85% reduction in NY State carbon emissions in NY State by 2050, and all electricity generating sources be CO2 emission free. Gov. Kathy Hochul — through the PSC — is about to rule on an air permit allowing the Greenidge Bitcoin mining plant to operate. How can NY State reach its climate goals with bitcoin mining operations emitting more CO2 than the former coal plants did?
Zoom info:
Topic: Bitcoin Mining Issues in NY State
Time: Mar 24, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Meeting ID: 841 6772 4807
Passcode: BitcoinCO2
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