Inconsistency, contradictions, hypocrisy, deceptions: This episode looks at how right-wing movements are exploiting notions of antisemitism, how ecosocialists and others have thought about capitalist growth on a finite planet, and how climate legal cases against big oil are progressing. Hosted by Frann Michel.
The Palestine Exception to Academic Freedom
On May 1st the U.S. House passed legislation adopting a highly contested and broad definition of antisemitism that defines criticism of Israel or Zionism as antisemitic--legislation that holds important implications for what can be taught and what forms of speech or scholarship falls under the rules of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Presidents of universities and superintendents of public schools continue to be called before congressional hearings to explain how they are managing what some politicians describe as rampant antisemitism on campuses. Jan Haaken talks with Jennifer Ruth, a professor at Portland State University who has published extensively on academic freedom and free speech issues. They talk about the McCarthyite dynamics of these hearings, the history of what some scholars term the Palestine Exception to academic freedom, and how students and faculty are organizing in response.
Joe Clement brings us a review of debates over how to address the contradiction between environmental survivability and capitalist economic growth.
Left and the Law: Oregon taking Big Oil to Court
In their Left & the Law segments on the Old Mole, Jan Haaken and Mike Snedeker regularly report on lawsuits against oil companies. Many of these cases are based on evidence of lies and deceit on the part of oil executives. They have known for decades that their products are causing death and destruction on a level that threatens many forms of life on the planet. Today, Jan and Mike provide an update on the growing number of cases in jurisdictions across the country, focusing specifically on two important cases in Oregon: The Juliana vs US case (AKA youth vs gov) and the case against fossil fuel companies filed in Multnomah County over the devastating heat wave of 2021.
- KBOO