discussion

Saturday, February 13, 2010, 6:00 p.m. Join Victor Wallis and Sylvia Escarcega in a discussion concerning the potential political and ethical contributions of indigenous thought and social movements to building alternatives to capitalism. Victor's paper, "Beyond 'Green Capitalism'" recently published in Monthly Review (61:9, February, 2010) provides a starting point for the conversation. In it, he notes the connection between the present economic recession, the crisis-ridden character of capitalist economy and the ecological limits to the capitalist growth model. But he goes on to observe that most of the world is still caught up in capitalist institutions and does not yet recognize the link between socialism and ecologically appropriate responses. He finds hope and examples in the Global South, insurgent socialism and indigenous resistance.

Thursday, February 4, 2010, 7:00 p.m. In the face of a deepening economic crisis and continuing brutal raids on immigrant workers and their communities, this event brings together union workers, immigrant organizers and community activists. It is part of the campaign by the Boston May Day Committee and its affiliates to unite workers across sector and borders. Join the conversation and help build toward May Day 2010!

Visit BostonMayDay.org for more information 

Thursday, January 28, 2010, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. While Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez continues to capture headlines, a much larger story involving a wider cast of characters has gone largely ignored. Venezuela Speaks!, published by PM Press, is a collection of interviews with activists and participants from across Venezuela’s social movements. From community media to land reform, cooperatives to communal councils, from the labor movement to the Afro-Venezuelan network, Venezuela Speaks! sheds light on the complex realities within the Bolivarian Revolution.

A Discussion with Aarti Shahani, Mizue Aizeki & Joe Nevins

Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 5:30 p.m. Immigration reform will soon be on the national legislative agenda. All options on the table punish immigrants for global economic and policy failures. To consider the different bills, in particular the one that many progressives may offer critical support--HR 4321 aka the Guiterrez Bill--three important thinkers, Aarti Shahani (founder of Families for Freedom), Mizue Aizeki and Joseph Nevins (most recently authors of Dying to Live: A Story of U.S. Immigration in an Age of Global Apartheid) will join us for an early evening conversation and light dinner.

See here for summaries: 1. from the Immigration Policy Institute (this is an Adobe Acrobat [PDF] file)

Friday, November 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m. An analysis of the events and the future of Honduras after the signing of the Guaymuras Accord of Tegucigalpa/San Jose for national reconciliation and the strengthening of democracy. Featuring: Rodolfo F. Pastor, Visiting Prof. of History -Faculty of Arts and Science, Harvard University and former Minister of Culture of Honduras under President Manuel Zelaya and Simon Rios, founding member of the Committee in Solidarity with Honduras and musician. Sponsored by the Commitee in Solidarity with the Honduran Resistance

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 6:30 p.m. Mexico-US Solidarity Network invites you to join us for a discussion of popular education in Zapatista indigenous communities and the role of urban academics as resources in constructing an autonomous education system.

Patricia Hernández, a sociologist specializing in education & gender, has worked since 2001 with indigenous communities to develop their primary and secondary schools, following a model of "autonomous education." She worked intensively with indigenous teachers—called "education promoters" (promoter@s)—to develop the secondary school for indigenous children living in the Zona Selva Tzeltal. Local leaders, who oversaw the project, wanted the community's demands for land, food, peace, justice and democracy to serve as the content for classes on history, language and mathematics.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 6:30 p.m.Join us for a discussion to explore the following questions: What is the G-20? What kinds of policy decisions or economic strategies come out of G-20 summits? How do these policies and decisions affect our communities and our lives? What needs to be done to build a stronger, more democratic economy from the bottom up? We hope to have a speaking panel, TBD. Contact A New Way Forward Boston for more information or sign up for the Boston ANWF Google Group.

Friday, August 14, 2009, 7:00 p.m. Come hear reportbacks & updates from eyewitnesses of the Honduran coup. A fundraiser for groups fighting the business/military dictatorship, we will have food, dance, & drink, plus live musical performances to be announced. Visit Honduras Resists! for latest the news and updates.

Friday, July 24, 2009, 7:00 p.m. The e5 forum returns with Thomas Ponniah hosting Maggie Zhou (Secure Green Future) and John Andrews (Green-Rainbow Party) on the future of the Climate Change movement. Victor Wallis (editor, Socialism and Democracy) will join as a discussant.