Saturday, February 16, 2013

Consumed

To download an audio file (save it on your hard disk): Click on this link for instructions.

New World Notes News
Vol. 6, Nos. 7-8 -- February 16, 2013


This fortnight in New World Notes, radio programs #259-260, February 19 & 26

C o n s u m e d
in Two Parts

In brief

Consumerism and overconsumption, from the perspective of "evolutionary psychology." This two-part series features the video documentary, Consumed: Inside the Belly of the Beast.

I'm not so sure of the "evolutionary" part of "evolutionary psychology." People act in certain ways, and it's hard to see what is gained by asserting that we act that way because, through natural selection, we evolved to act that way. But there's much more to the movie than this--and the conventional psychology, sociology, and economic history brought to bear here all seem insightful.

As Annie Leonard puts it (in The Story of Stuff), we're trashing the planet, and we're not even having fun. So why can't we stop? Well, maybe we can.

Plus additional reflections by K.D. And, in Part 2, also some commentary by philosopher/economist Charles Eisenstein.

Notes, credits, & links

Adapted to radio by K.D. Thanks to Robin Upton for introducing me to the video. Robin's own radio adaptation of Consumed may be found in installment #634 of his show, Unwelcome Guests, available at www.unwelcomeguests.net .

New World Notes is produced under the auspices (Latin for "bad influence") of WWUH-FM, a community service of that beacon of light in darkest Connecticut, the University of Hartford.

You can listen to any installment of New World Notes online or else download it (as an mp3 audio file) for later listening. The show is archived at both radio4all.net and (from #90 onwards) The Internet Archive. Either link should get you a reverse-chrono listing of available installments. Or browse the show's Web site: Each installment has a page, and each page has links to the recorded audio. See the gray sidebar on the right ("CONTENTS [Links]") for a table of contents.

Series overview:
Political and social commentary in a variety of genres. Exploring the gap between what we want ... and what they're trying to make us settle for.

Coming soon (Tuesday air debut date shown)
  • March 5 -- GMOs-2
Catch New World Notes (all times Eastern):
A-Infos Radio Project http://www.radio4all.net

Friday, February 8, 2013

GMOs

To download an audio file (save it on your hard disk): Click on this link for instructions.

New World Notes News
Vol. 6, No. 6 -- February 8, 2013


This week in New World Notes, radio program #258, February 12, 2013

GMOs


First some reflections on the antiGMO: local produce--now but a fond memory here in New England. Then we look at GMOs--genetically-modified plants sold as food.

The show includes TV-news and press coverage on failed GMO labelling bills in California and Connecticut--and on guerilla labellers stalking Connecticut's supermarket aisles. Plus selections from Gary Null's video documentary, GMO: Ticking Time Bomb.

Notes, credits, & links

IMHO, some of GMO: Ticking Time Bomb (Part 1) is best viewed while wearing a tinfoil hat, though much of it seems very sound indeed. Our show rebroadcasts only the latter. The complete video is here.

New World Notes is produced under the auspices (Latin for "very noses") of WWUH-FM, a community service of that beacon of light in darkest Connecticut, the University of Hartford.

You can listen to any installment of New World Notes online or else download it (as an mp3 audio file) for later listening. The show is archived at both radio4all.net and (from #90 onwards) The Internet Archive. Either link should get you a reverse-chrono listing of available installments. Or browse the show's Web site: Each installment has a page, and each page has links to the recorded audio. See the gray sidebar on the right ("CONTENTS [Links]") for a table of contents.

Series overview:
Political and social commentary in a variety of genres. Exploring the gap between what we want ... and what they're trying to make us settle for.
Coming soon (Tuesday air debut date shown)
  • February 19 & 26 -- Consumed
Catch New World Notes (all times Eastern):
A-Infos Radio Project http://www.radio4all.net