Topic: Unrest

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[ Episode #52 // Market Monsters ]

Oct 28 2012

Mini Episode

The monstrosity of capitalism gains new strength as political leaders fight for a return to growth by dissecting society. Though many nations are rising up against the monetary elite, most North Americans are still zombified. Could some of our monster stories describe the feeling of living in a capitalist system? Will the failure of capitalism lead to a zombie apocalypse or a zombie uprising?

In Extraenvironmentalist #52 David McNally joins us for our 2012 Halloween Special to talk about his recent book, Monsters of the Market. David describes how Frankenstein's Monster, vampires and zombies might be metaphors for the monstrosity of the system that has become more apparent since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis started. Is capital itself a vampire? Then, KMO joins us to further detail the zombie narrative and to recommend some films for this Halloween season. Last of all, we make a big announcement.

You can find our previous interview with David McNally in XE #30 and KMO in XE #3.

Also, You can find David's recent article on the zombie apocalypse in Jacobin.

// Music (in order of appearance)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (DJ Ottobot Remix) via Soundcloud
Dead Man's Bones - My Body's a Zombie for You via Soundcloud
Kay Starr - Headless Horseman via Covering the Mouse
Kirby Krackle - Zombie Apocalypse via Youtube
Andrew Gold - Thank You For Being a Friend (Teenager Cover) via Soundcloud
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil (Allure Remix) via Earmilk

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)

[Break] - 36m
Clips from Frankenstein (1931)
Cops petrol bombed as Greeks fume at new €10 bln cuts call
'Germany enforces same austerity that paved way to Third Reich'
EU Facing Complete Collapse
Taming the Vampire Squid

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[ Episode #38 // Hard Times ]

Mar 17 2012

Mini Episode

Debt is placing a stranglehold on the global economy, restricting the ability for growth to occur at a rate fast enough to prevent the monetary system from unraveling. To delay a massive deleveraging, governments are turning on the central bank taps to fill the system with liquidity. With severe structural issues that continue to avoid inclusion in the political discourse, can ordinary people prepare to maintain control over their assets to ensure success of future decentralization initiatives? How is preparing for this world different for our generation than for our parents?

In Extraenvironmentalist #38 we talk about living in hard times with Nicole Foss of The Automatic Earth. Nicole tells us about the Canadian housing bubble and why the initial collapse might just be faster than the one America experienced in 2005. Seth and I ask about what life was like in the Great Depression and how the process of labor exploitation may continue into the near future. We ask Nicole if misunderstandings about economic collapse could have us preparing for the wrong thing.

Also, we get to meet our blog editor Louisa Clarence-Smith who tells us about WWOOFing and her experiences working on farms in Scotland and Italy.

For more from The Automatic Earth, check out our interview with TAE writer Ashvin Pandurangi back in XE #13.


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
St. Lucia - All Eyes on You via Soundcloud
Cody ChestnuTT - Under the Spell of the Handout via Indieshuffle
Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight (Cosmo Black Remix)  via Hard Candy
Alpine - Hands (Goldroom Remix) via Fader
ANDREYA TRIANA – Lost Where I Belong (Banks Remix) via Aerial Noise

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
[First Break]
Sunshine and Eclipse
Rioting Across America During the Great Depression
Stories From the Great Depression
[Second Break]
Making a Difference: Rebuilding From a Tornado
 Bill McKibben: Rebuilding Community
[End]
Jiddu Krishnamurti - Fear

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[ Episode #36 // Art Into Action ]

Feb 16 2012

Mini Episode

With an educational system that trains artists to develop their talents into commercial skills, our culture is missing out on the ability for art to disrupt normalcy. Why should we hope for systemic reform when the vast majority of water cooler conversations turn to American Idol and the fashion at awards shows? Will concerted efforts from artists allow us to breach difficult topics and address the economic elephant in the room? Can we use art to support behavior change, moving deeper than simply building awareness?

In Extraenvironmentalist #36 we discuss art and activism with Steve Lambert. Steve describes how his work as an artist has allowed him to create temporary utopias that prompt people to question the fundamental assumptions of society. We ask Steve how his varied work experience has helped him understand our education system and barriers to reform. What if the people around us aren't lazy and are just optimizing where their agency can have an effect?

Give Steve a follow on Twitter to keep track of his thoughts... and jokes.


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Active Child - Johnny Belinda (White Arrows Remix) via Tell All Your Friends
Django Django - Storm via Music That Isn't Bad
Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere (Rosebuds Cover)  via The Rosebuds Bandcamp
Ra Ra Riot - Oh, La (Submarines Remix) via The Burning Ear
Bonobo - The Keeper (Banks Remix) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
[First Break]
Cuts and Chaos - Desperation Drives Greek Clashes
Occupy the Dream - From Wall Street to Congress
US Economic Collapse - Dmitry Orlov + Max Keiser
[Second Break]
The Secret World of Shoplifting
Bill Moyers Interview with David Stockman
[End]
Meeting an awakened person - Thomas Hübl

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[ Episode #25 // Saving Money ]

Oct 5 2011

Mini Episode

Is it more practical to learn permaculture than to earn a business degree? As financial markets sell off around the globe and world leaders scramble to prevent national defaults from collapsing the global economy, today's youth are certain to live through a massive shift in the monetary paradigm. An education system that prepared us to receive jobs in a consumer economy injured our ability to truly learn and now we face the insult of entering a bleak job market. Is money real or is it based on societal myths? Can a monetary system built on collaboration rather than competition create a society that amplifies the positive aspects of human nature? As Mike Ruppert says: until we change the way money works, we change nothing.

In Extraenvironmentalist #25 we speak with Charles Eisenstein about his new book Sacred Economics which explains how to save the concept of money from being subject to our outdated understanding of human nature and simplistic mechanistic models of the physical world around us. While the social unrest sweeping from Cairo to Athens to Barcelona to New York is disrupting monetary dynamics can it also create an applicable positive vision? Charles explains how a negative interest currency and an economic model that integrates equity and ecology can end what we perceive to be the human nature emphasized by our current currency. Can we accept that the failure of money isn't the end of the world but that it is an opportunity to reorganize?


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Zeds Dead - Coffee Break via The Music Ninja
MGMT - All We Ever Wanted (Bauhaus Cover) via Stereogum
Michita - November via Earmilk
HEALTH - Goth Star (Pictureplane Cover) via Gorilla vs. Bear
Beatles - Eleanor Rigby (Butch Clancy Remix) via Dubtunes

// Extended Clips
Fiat Money via Renegade Economist
Trader Interview on BBC
Occupy Boston

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[ Episode #20 // Debt Unmasked ]

Aug 9 2011

Mini Episode

Rapidly rising and falling global markets are throwing the world into turmoil. The instability our societies were supposed to control has risen to the forefront. Will the incredible debt piles sitting underneath the flags of Western economies rip social fabrics into fits of unrest like the current riots in London? Before the first major financial shock of the Great Contraction in 2007, the US Government ran an annual budget deficit of only $200 billion per year. During the economic stagnation of years since that deficit is now at $1.4 trillion and quickly rising with more economic decline on the way. What happens when interest payments on this debt overtake federal income in the next few years? Are we all satisfied with sacrificing for an economic system that merely reinforces the status quo of power and greed?

In Extraenvironmentalist #20 we speak with economist Manfred Max-Neef about his career in economics during which he created development models based on fundamental human needs as opposed to power and greed. Manfred recently published Economics Unmasked: From Power and Greed to Compassion and the Common Good which leads us to discuss how universities are failing in their ability distribute a model of the world that can provide for human needs during and after the failure of capitalism. We discuss Manfred's concern that the US is sitting on a ticking time bomb of civil unrest as economic circumstances become rapidly more dire for its inhabitants. How can the American public recognize the possibilities of a debt collapse the rest of the world is actively discussing if our media is steering the collective conversation towards trivia? After we decide to put off a bank run for now, machines end up declaring their intention for the American Presidency in 2012, though with a terrible record of job creation.


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Gauntlet Hair - Top Bunk via The Music Ninja
Yin Yang Twins - Shake (Celebration Mash Up) via Youtube
M83 - Midnight City (Christian Strobe Remix) via Too Many Sebastians
Vacationer - Trip via Everybody Taste
Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar (Cee-Roo Mix) via SoundCloud
Star Wars - Imperial March (TA Dubstep Mix) via Youtube

// Extended Clips
Who Killed Economic Growth? via @postcarbon

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