Planet Earth has faced five mass extinctions in its lifetime. Now we may be facing the sixth. What have we learned from the previous mass extinctions that can help us avoid a total collapse? Can humanity rescue the planet that it has imperiled? Maria Armoudian talks to Annalee Newitz and Elizabeth Kolbert about how we can avoid a sixth mass extinction.
What is the celebrity industrial complex? How does it impact our democracies, our culture and our society? Joining Maria Armoudian to discuss the celebrity industrial complex, and the issues that arise from it, are Joshua Gamson, David Gilles, and P. David Marshall.
Should corporations put public purpose before profit? Once upon a time, corporations were required to have a public purpose and once they fulfilled it, they were dissolved. How did we get to where we are today and what does it mean for democracy? Maria Armoudian discusses these questions with Richard Abrams, Paul Pierson, and Scott Bowman.
What is the Code Economy? And what does it have to do with the future of work? Some people argue that machines will take over jobs, while others argue that perhaps humanity will reinvent work in a way that’s more aligned with what it means to be human. Maria Armoudian discusses these questions with Philip Auerswald.
How are non-governmental organisations, social movements and transnational networks working to combat climate change globally and locally? Maria Armoudian is joined by Astrid Carrapatoso to discuss this. Astrid has published studies on climate change policy implemented by both local, state, national and international governments.
How is the Trump presidency transforming the United States and how might the Trump-opposition movement “the resistance” effect this? Maria Armoudian speaks with Doug McAdam, Kenneth M. Roberts, David S. Meyer, and David Karpf, co-authors of a new book “The Resistance: The Dawn of the Donald Trump Opposition Movement.”
Despite efforts to preserve endangered animals, trafficking has increased in some parts of the world by an estimated 5000% according to conservationists and the poaching is pushing some animals to the very brink of extinction. In 2014, 46 countries signed the London Declaration which was set up to work towards ending wildlife trafficking through law enforcement and cross-country cooperation. Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar industry that has reportedly helped fund Al-Qaeda-related groups. What is the scope of the problem? What should be done about it? Maria Armoudian speaks with David Wilkie, Tanya Wyatt, and Marc Bekoff.
Can international finance systems be harnessed to protect human rights? While historically financiers have funded some of the worse of human rights abuses, finances also enabled great human leaps. Our guest argues that it is time to alter the financial system for the good of humanity.
What are the fault lines that have fractured the United States? What are the historical roots of the present day political turmoil, divisions, and partisanship in the US? Historian Julian Zelizer talks about his new book "Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974."
In 2001 there were over 40 groups, operating in 28 countries, who were challenging state authority and often using targeted violence to make political change. The terrorism label has been affixed to these groups but what exactly is terrorism and where does it fall on the continuum of political violence? Political scientist Richard Dekmejian talks to Maria Armoudian about the concept of terrorism.
95bFM 