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Environmental Policy Roundtable
Details... Sep 8: Joshua Farley: Economics, Evolution and Ecology: Does the Free Market Have a Niche? The first Ecological Economics Student Group meeting will be held on Friday, September 8 -- this Friday -- in the SPA student lounge, Van Munching Hall, 12:00 - 1:30. Our kickoff speaker will be Joshua Farley, Executive Director, Institute for Ecological Economics. The title of his talk is "Economics, Evolution and Ecology: Does the Free Market have a Niche? (An Introduction to Ecological Economics)" The format is half and hour or so of presentation, followed by an hour of discussion. The meeting is open to all interested students and faculty and will be followed by a free pizza lunch sponsored by the School of Public Affairs. The Ecological Economics Student Group is a student organized discussion forum for graduate students to present, debate and discuss ideas and new work within the broad domain of ecological economics. Sep 22: John Cavanaugh: Deadly Embrace - Nicaragua, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund The ecological economics seminar series for this fall is proud to announce that on Friday September 22nd. We will be showing the highly acclaimed documentary film Deadly Embrace - Nicaragua, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. This film looks at the debt crisis, structural adjustment, and its affects on the citizens of Nicaragua. Following the film will be a discussion with John Cavanagh. John Cavanagh is the director of the Institute of Policy Studies in DC. He has a BA from Dartmouth College and a MA from Princeton University. He worked as an international economist for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (1978-1981) and the World Health Organization (1981-1982). He directed IPS's Global Economy Project from 1983-1997. He is the co-author of 10 books and numerous articles on the global economy. Please join for what should be an informative and exciting conversation. High noon in the student lounge of the school of public affairs (Van Munching Hall RM.1113) Please respond if you have any questions. Oct 20: Sean Sheehan: Sustainable Living in the US UMD - Ecological Economics Student Group Presents Sustainable Living in the US Our discussion will be lead by Sean Sheehan From the Center for a New American Dream Will discuss sustainable lifestyles and choices and a variety of other issues surrounding his groups mission of a sustainable North America The groups mission is to help institutions and individuals reduce consumption to enhance the quality life and protect the environment Motto: More fun, less stuff!! The Presentation will be followed by a Q&A with Pizza Dec 8: Arjun Makhijani: Capitalism as Global Apartheid Dr. Makhijani has a PhD. in engineering from the University of CA, Berkeley, where he specialized in plasma physics and controlled nuclear fusion. Has worked in India's villages, organized for nuclear disarmament in the US, and written widely on energy, environmental, and economic issues. His book From Global Capitalism to Economic Justice (An inquiry into the Elimination of Systemic Poverty, Violence, and Environmental Destruction in the World) addresses the underlying economic source of global environmental and social problems: "Capitalism as a global system, which now encompasses virtually all people- rich and poor-around the world, is strikingly similar to South African Apartheid: "liberal democracy" and relative material wealth for a minority, and poverty and exploitation for the majority. Even the well off pay a heavy price; in global environmental destruction we are all dispossessed." This book gives a devastating critique of global capitalism, and the "end of history" thesis, that with the triumph of capitalism over communism, almost everyone everywhere will be better off. It also presents a vision which unites the benefits of individual and local initiative, with measures leading to a more equitable distribution of wealth locally and globally. Quotes Juliet Schorr, "One of the nation's leading environmental scientists has now turned his considerable talents to economics. The result-a profoundly disturbing account of global capitalism is compelling. I hope and expect this book to provoke serious discussion and ultimately action. Makhijani is worth paying attention to." IEER provides activists, policy makers, journalists, and the public with understandable and accurate scientific and technical information on energy and environmental issues. Their aim is to bring scientific excellence to public policy issues in order to promote the democratization of science and a safer, healthier environment. Maryland Ecological Economics Student Group is an organized discussion forum for graduate students to present, debate, and discuss progressive or provocative ideas within the broad domain of ecological economics. |
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