June 22nd
The Climate Crisis: Capitalism
or Human / Animal / Most Plants Survival?
Meeting # 3,771 - Kim Scipes, PhD, long-time political and labor activist
The speaker states that: "Capitalism requires growth; growth requires energy, most energy is derived from fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases that are attacking the atmosphere around the planet, allowing more heat inside the atmosphere, and trapping this excess heat from escaping into space. End result: temperature of Earth keeps increasing; melting ice raising ocean levels, threatening infrastructure of coastal cities around the globe, causing additional migration; destroying coral reefs—the protector of the bottom of the aquamarine food chain on which one-third of humanity is dependent; generating more energy into hurricanes and typhoons; increasing drought in some places, increased precipitation in others; and threatening human health in short term, and extermination of humans, animals and most plants by turn of 22nd Century.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is now at 425 parts per million (ppm) according to NASA; until the year 1750, it never exceeded 300 ppm in 800,000 years!
Alternative visions are needed. Come listen and discuss."
Kim Scipes, PhD, is a long-time political and labor activist who has recently retired from Purdue University Northwest in Westville, Indiana after 18 ½ years. He has published four books and over 265 articles across the US and in 11 countries around the world. He has also worked as a printing press worker, high school teacher, and office worker prior to getting his PhD at age 51 from University of Illinois at Chicago. His web site—with links to publications and climate crisis resources—can be found at https://www.pnw.edu/personal-faculty-pages/kim-scipes-ph-d . Dr. Scipes is working on a new book tentatively titled Combatting the Climate Crisis Through Transforming Trade Unions: A Global Working Person’s Manifesto.
June 8th
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM)
Advocating for Migratory Birds
Meeting # 3,770 - Annette Prince, Director
It is estimated that more than a billion migratory birds die in North America each year from collisions with buildings. From residential structures to high-rise buildings, collision deaths are ranked as one of the greatest threats to bird populations after habitat loss.
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM) is a conservation project working since 2003 to address the problems that lights and building designs pose to birds that pass through urban areas. Volunteers recover thousands of dead and injured birds from more than 200 different species each spring and fall. The project raises awareness, educates and advocates for bird safety measures. Learn about efforts and methods to protect migratory species from the hazards of lights and glass at our homes and in our communities.
Annette Prince has worked on local and national conservation projects as well as wildlife education and rehabilitation programs over the last thirty-five years. She joined the grass-roots project – Chicago Bird Collision Monitors sixteen years ago and became its director in 2005 helping to advance its mission to rescue, educate and advocate for the protection of birds impacted by urban hazards/threats.
Information http://www.birdmonitors.net/
June 15th
A Short History of the Dialectic Materialism of Maxism, and
How It Reflects Reality
Meeting @ 3,771 - Sidney Cohen, long-time college regular
June 1st
Life’s Not Financially Fair - Why?
Meeting # 3,769 - Tom O'donnell - a young man says no one knows the reason
The speaker states that "Life hasn’t been financially fair for the last 5,000 years…For the average person, money is hard to come by, thus making house, food, clothes, etc. hard to come by and that makes life hard, sad and problem filled…
- I asked people why this is, no one knew, I researched and discovered reason is due to an unfair property law…In my presentation I will explain the origins and what life was like before the unfair law took over…
- Solution - I propose people learn root cause and brainstorm ways to use their power to make a small change in the law so life becomes fair.”
June 29th
All Aboard! The Intercity Express (ICE)
High Speed Rail Sustainable Transportation in Europe / Germany
Meeting # 3,782 - college regular Mike Lee
Intercity Express (ICE) is the flagship of the German state railway, Deutsche Bahn, travelling at speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph), which has been integrated into Germany's pre-existing system of railway lines.
