Opening song: "The Future" by Leonard Cohen
GUESTS:
Jonathan Ostar is a civil rights and environmental justice advocate in Portland. He currently works as the Civil Rights Administrator for Multnomah County. He is also a co-founder and previous executive director of OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, a community-based nonprofit advocating for environmental justice in the Portland metro region and across the state. Jonathan teaches EJ and civil rights at Lewis and Clark Law School, and is a recovering civil rights attorney.
Douglas Tsoi, JD, has been a lawyer, schoolteacher, and climate change activist. He is also the founder of the Portland Underground Graduate School (PUGS)
"The Failure of Environmentalism": A four-week course beginning Thursday, May 4 (6-8 p.m.). https://www.pugspdx.com/may-courses/the-failure-of-environmentalism-may-2017
Course description:
The environmental movement is failing to cope with our modern system of global capitalism and consumption. This course will explore some of the root causes of this, examining the origins of our environmental ethos, the ways in which it has been packaged and marketed by mainstream environmental organizations, and the movement's inability to acknowledge and address the culture war over core values and a vision for the future.
What does it mean to be an environmentalist? Has this label, and the current mainstream environmental movement, been successful? Scholars and activists alike question whether our 50-year experiment in mainstream environmentalism can succeed in transforming our policies, structures, practices and behaviors, prompting many to proclaim the "death of environmentalism."
There is no denying the lack of transformative results - the environmental movement is failing to cope with our modern system of global capitalism and consumption across every sector. Despite significant gains in public health and awareness, racial and socioeconomic environmental health disparities are increasing, and the percentage of Americans who identify as an environmentalist has decline precipitiously. This course will explore some of the root causes of this, examining the origins of our environmental ethos, the ways in which it has been packaged and marketed by mainstream environmental organizations, and the movement's inability to acknowledge and address the culture war over core values and a vision for the future. Discussion of select readings and media will focus on unpacking these core values and identifying current opportunities to build a new green movement for everyone.
PUGS: https://www.pugspdx.com/
The Portland Underground Graduate School was started just two years ago by Tsoi to create a learning "community of people who care about learning, about the world and about each other. That’s the goal.” Courses are taught in various locations around the city, are usually four weeks long, 90 to 120 minutes per class and start every month (except for a break in December).
From the Tribune article: PUGS classes differ from community education classes offered through a community college, Tsoi says. Those focus on practical courses such as languages or tai chi, he says, while PUGS courses focus on academics. “Also, PUGS courses are generated from what people want to take, as opposed to what an institution generates,” he adds
PUGSFest https://www.pugspdx.com/pugsfest-2017
This Saturday, April 22, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Taborspace 5441 SE Belmont St. A dozen speakers pitch their ideas -- 3 minutes each -- and you (as a participant) choose 4 one-hour sessions that you want to attend throughout the day.
Community events mentioned on the show:
Solidarity Action with migrant hunger strikers in Tacoma! Today, Wednesday April 19 4 p.m. Federal Building, 1220 SW 3rd Ave., Portland
https://www.facebook.com/events/189786314866680/
Prisoner Correspondence night with Critical Resistance Wednesday, April 19 (5 to 6:30 pm) and Fight Toxic Prisons event (6:30 pm to 9 pm)
In Other Words Feminist Community Center 14 NE Killingsworth St, Portland https://www.facebook.com/events/1206496366086675/
Pan-African Film Series--"Kwame Ture: Converting the Unconscious" Wednesday, April 19, 6 to 9 pm, Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway in Portland
https://www.facebook.com/events/394101420940334/
Church of Film: "A Grin Without a Cat" Wednesday, April 19 8 pm Clinton St. Theatre SE 26th and Clinton St. https://www.facebook.com/events/1867229530233466/
BARK Benefit (Protecting Mt. Hood Forest): Band of Comerados, Megan Martinez, Jason Reichert Wed., April 19, 9 pm Laurelthirst Public House, 2958 NE Glisan St., Portland https://www.facebook.com/events/334282456969517/