Robert Jensen’s provocative speech launched in Vancouver, appearing on the front pages of Z-Net, Alternet and many more. Our Radio Ecoshock provided the audio links, and thousands downloaded this powerful re-assessment of the Left, and social movements generally.
Jensen is a tenured Professor at University of Texas, Austin. He came to prominence through his work on an feminist perspective of pornography. And then zoomed into news byte of the day status when he said the attacks of 911 were nothing worse than he had seen done to other cities by American forces in pursuit of empire.
The alternative title for this speech is: “The Delusion Revolution: We’re On the Road to Extinction and In Denial.” How true that is, on many levels, but especially for environmentalists who see the sudden disruption in climate. James Hansen says we are heading toward a new hot-state climate, for example. And species are going extinct at record rates, as we heard from last week’s Radio Ecoshock guest, Dr. Peter Ward.
Robert Jensen asks whether the old model of organizing for public protests, to modify bad government policies, is just dead. Maybe, as we all crouch on the couch watching the world undress, the days of mass public movements are dead. See also the book “Bowling Alone” which charts how Americans have stopped joining public clubs, social organizations, and events.
Anyway, the dynamics have changed. The authorities have been developing new technologies and techniques to stop mass public expression. Are you ready to have your ear drums damaged, or even feel like your skin is being burned off, as you rally in public spaces? They have the tools. All that was supposed to be developed for people in far away countries, but now the anti-terror cops are ready for any public gathering.
Jensen says we must re-think, and re-group our efforts for a better world.
We run the whole speech, and then add another 15 minutes of comments from the activist audience, but mostly more strong quotes from Jensen, during the Q and A that followed, in Vancouver, August 11th, 2008.
The theme song is by John Gorka “The Old Future’s Gone”.
Enjoy – this is one of the pivotal speeches of the year.
Alex Smith
host
Radio Ecoshock
The theme song is by John Gorka “The Old Future’s Gone”.