Join Riverside Salem UCC Environmental Cottage for a discussion of the book The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. We are going to watch a film based on the book to start the discussion and see where it takes us. Everyone is welcome.
Today’s gathering is at the cottage, 3449 West River Rd. Next Sunday the group is not meeting. The following week (4/24) will focus again on creation as we celebrate #EarthDay.
Use your library card to borrow the book on Overdrive: http://ow.ly/o1Lu50IFVj7 or purchase via Abe Books: http://ow.ly/qqxl50IFVts
All in all, the people are Rwanda are still healing and grieving from the genocide that happened in their country. They are awaiting justice to be served on those responsible, they are trying to find peace in their lives by making the best out of a tragic situation, and a lot of them have turned into social justice advocates in order to ensure nothing like this happens again.
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).
