Alert! #207: Occupy the System: Confronting Global Capitalism -- the 2012 Left Forum

Show Notes:

This episode of Alert gives a taste of Left Forum, a unique phenomenon in the U.S. and the world, that convenes the largest annual conference of a broad spectrum of left and progressive intellectuals, activists, academics, organizations and the interested public. Over a thousand speakers participate in 300 panels. The conference is held each spring in New York City and takes place this year from March 16-18 at Pace University. This year's theme is "Occupy the System: Confronting Global Capitalism." We speak with three of the participants about their contributions -- Joel Kovel. Barbara Epstein, George Katsiaficas.

(1:10-6:22) HEADLINES

(6:22-9:58) Around the Left - Activities and Events of Interest across the country.

(10:05-18:42) Barbara Epstein - Teaches at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She writes on social movements and is chairing the discussion on the return of socialistic humanism.

(18:49-27:23) Joel Kovel - A physician and political activist, editor of the journal Capitalism Nature Socialism, and co-founder of the Eco-socialist International Network. He chairs the panel on Living without Money.

(28:18-37:52) George Katsiaficas - Long time activist who has written extensively on the global uprising of 1968 and European social movements. He spoke on the Occupy Movement in a Global context.

(38:00-52:00) Music is the Weapon - Mitch Podolak laments nuclear power with Valdy, Fred Hellerman, Christy Moore, Utah Phillips and Joan Baez.