Beyond Militarism

New World Notes #585, 28:33 (May 21)
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Armed Forces Day / Memorial Day special!

Is American militarism a problem? What are the causes of this militarism? Why are we now calling every guy who ever put on a uniform a "hero"? And can militarism be stopped?

Former career soldier Stan Goff addresses these questions with impressive insight and erudition.

We supplement Goff's analysis with a few minutes of Martin Luther King's fine address on American militarism and war, Beyond Vietnam (April 4, 1967). Plus some background and commentary by KD.

Thanks to Michael Welch, the Global Research News Hour, and station CKUW-FM (Winnipeg, Manitoba) for the recorded interview with Goff, which I have edited and condensed.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #412, In January 2016. Files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as # 412.
 

Illustrations by Eric Drooker (top), Robert Shetterly (above).

Surveillance Capitalism

New World Notes #581, 28:15 (May 14)
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Shoshana Zuboff--with Ralph Nader--discusses how Americans have lost their privacy, their freedom, and their personal autonomy. Digital technology is the means of these losses. But the real cause of the problem is "surveillance capitalism," which has taken control of our digital technology.

And now it's not just social-media companies. For instance, Ford Motor Company has decided to have its automobiles record, analyze, and deliver for sale information on (literally) your every move.

Introduction by KD.

Zuboff's and Nader's words are excerpted from a long conversation broadcast as installment 255 of The Ralph Nader Radio Hour (January 26, 2019). Many thanks to all concerned.

Shoshana Zuboff is professor emerita at Harvard Business School. Her latest book is The Age of Surveillance Capitalism (Hachette, 2019). 

James G Anderson on Climate Change

Part 1: New World Notes #582, 29:05 (April 30)
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Part 2: New World Notes #583, 27:59 (May 7)
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Harvard climate scientist James G. Anderson interviewed--and the news is not all depressing.

In Part 1, Anderson lucidly explains why "global warming" is a bad term to use (it understates the problem's breadth and severity). He makes short work of the claim that climate change is natural, not man-made. And he has interesting things to say about the ozone layer ... the Kyoto Protocol ... and why electricity is overwhelmingly the best fuel, not only for transportation but for heating too. Plus a song by David Rovics.

In Part 2, Anderson discusses--among other matters--how vulnerable the U.S. is to climate chnge, what steps need to be taken, and how to persuade the American people to act. Plus a short talk on climate and the environment by political scientist Michael Parenti (2006) and another song by David Rovics.

Thanls to Dale Lehman (WZRD, Chicago) for the original recording, which I have gently edited and condensed.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #462-463, in January 2017. Files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as #462 and 463.