“Economy in Crisis: Fantasies, Realities, Possibilities”

Fairhaven College and the Center for Law, Diversity & Justice are honored and to have Richard Wolff, Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts as the presenter at the World Issues Forum, October 28th.  Please forward this email to faculty, students, staff and community members with interest in our economic situation.  Thank you.

“Economy in Crisis: Fantasies, Realities, Possibilities”
Richard Wolff, Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Visiting Professor at the New School University in New York.

October 28, Noon-1:20pm, Fairhaven College Auditorium

Our economy's crises since 2008 continue. Millions face ever deeper income and wealth inequalities, ecological dangers, politics corrupted by money. We are living through the worst economic decline since capitalism's great 1930s depression. Reforms enacted then failed to prevent today's crises. A real solution requires more than reforms. We must change how we organize our enterprises (offices, factories, and stores). We can run them democratically, not dependent on state subsidies, taxbreaks and loopholes. Each employee can have an equal vote on what the enterprise does, how, and where, and what is done with the profits all help to produce. As Prof. Wolff explains, democratic enterprises - long overdue but already visible in worker cooperatives across the country - offer our best way out of today's economic crises.  Co-sponsor: Center for Law, Diversity & Justice
 
BIOI: Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Visiting Professor at the New School University in New York. Wolff’s recent work has concentrated on analyzing the causes and alternative solutions to the global economic crisis. His groundbreaking book Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism inspired the creation of Democracy at Work, a nonprofit organization dedicated to showing how and why to make democratic workplaces real. Wolff is also the author of Occupy the Economy: Challenging Capitalism and Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Global Economic Meltdown and What to Do About It. He hosts the weekly hour-long radio program "Economic Update," which is syndicated on public radio stations nationwide, and he writes regularly for The Guardian and Truthout.org. Wolff appears frequently on television and radio to discuss his work, with recent guest spots including "Real Time with Bill Maher," "Moyers & Company," "Charlie Rose," "Up with Chris Hayes," and "Democracy Now!." He is also a frequent lecturer at colleges and universities.

More info about World Forum Issues at https://fairhaven.wwu.edu/issues

Upcoming February Event

Campaign Update & Action Alert: Nov. 30

·      Deb Cruz is asking our team to consider endorsing the group “Commit2Respond”, which is a group of UU’s and other people of faith working on climate justice. http://www.commit2respond.org Please check it out and let me know what you think!

·      Together w/MTA-Whatcom and Public Citizen, we held a screening of the documentary “Pay 2 Play” at the Bellingham Public Library on Fri., 11/21. It was well-attended (approximately 65-75 people were there!) and included a post-show discussion, led by a visiting speaker from Public Citizen. We collected some signatures, including a few new volunteers. Afterward, I was contacted about making a presentation about Represent.Us to a future meeting of the Whatcom Co. Democrats.

·      Would you like to help the campaign from the comfort of your home, especially during this cold, dark time of year? If so, we need your help! Our next job is to study local (city & county) laws related to the provisions in the AACA. We need to find out what we already have “on the books” in terms of conflicts-of-interest, transparency in campaign cash, limits on contributions, etc. – specifically, all 11 provisions of the Represent.Us model legislation, the American Anti-Corruption Act.

o   This probably involves scouring the websites of local government, and placing phone calls to them.

o   If you know anyone in local government, you could also reach out to him/her for help in finding out this info.

o   Please email or call me if you can commit to helping with this over the next 1-2 months.

·      The next meeting of MTA-Whatcom will be Wedn., 12/3, 6:15-8pm, in the BUF Conference Room.

Campaign Update & Action Alert: Nov. 16

Thanks to all of you who participated in our activities on Nov. 6, when Matt Vaughan visited from the Represent.Us nat’l headquarters office!

 9 volunteers came out to spend at least an hour or two helping us table at WWU. We got an additional 57 AACA co-sponsors, 14 of whom are also interested in volunteering on the campaign!
 14 people attended the evening workshop that Matt held.


 There are two opportunities this week to see the “Pay 2 Play” documentary about corruption from money-in-politics. Both film screenings are free & open to the public. Please let me know if you’re available to help me with tabling after either of these events:

 On the WWU campus: Wedn., 11/19, 7-9pm, in Miller Hall – rm. 239.
 At the Bellingham Public Library: Fri., 11/21, 7-9pm, in the downstairs lecture hall


 The next meeting of MTA-Whatcom will be Wedn., 12/3, 6:15-8, in the BUF Conference Room.

Go, Granny D! Production at BUF!

Join BUF's Reclaim Democracy Ministry Team as we join the League of Women Voters and the Bellingham Friends Meeting in presenting this acclaimed production!

July 21st at BUF, 7:00-9:00 pm.