Economics, Labor, Capitalism, Trade, Poverty (Also see Taxes)

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TV: “Occupy Wall Street, Olympia and Everywhere”

December 3, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

The democracy movement that swept Tunisia, Egypt, and many countries in the Arab world in 2011 also was demanding a fair economy instead of corruption by cronies in unaccountable governments. (See the Olympia FOR’s July 2011 TV program posted at www.olympiafor.org). Los Indignados in Spain, the anti-austerity protests in Greece, and other actions around the world are also related to this movement for democracy, human rights, and a humane economy. And now – with similar consciousness and demands – the Occupy Wall Street movement has swept the U.S., resulting in hundreds of local “Occupy” encampments, protests and other grassroots activities. […]

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TV: “Climate Change: Updates and Next Strategieis”

December 3, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

The climate crisis is increasingly serious, even though most politicians don’t want to deal with it, and mainstream media fail to report on it adequately. But while politicians and mainstream media negligently fail to act, the problems get worse. The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s February 2012 TV program brings us up to date and explores strategies for making progress. Our guests – Doug Howell from the Sierra Club and KC Golden from Climate Solutions – are exceptionally well informed. Doug and KC help us understand what the climate crisis is and the scientific causes. They debunk the claims of the […]

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TV: “Local Economics”

December 3, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

For many of the topics the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s TV series addresses – such as coping with peak oil and the climate crisis, opposing the global economic system that causes wars and oppresses people in poor countries, and strengthening democracy and human rights – we keep coming back to one solution that pertains to all of these: creating a sustainable and humane local economy so we can meet our needs with fewer resources, without damaging the rest of the world, and while strengthening our local community’s resilience and democracy. The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s April 2012 TV program focuses […]

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TV: “A Publicly Owned Electric Utility for Thurston County?”

December 3, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

Puget Sound Energy, the capitalist-owned electric and gas utility that serves Thurston County and other parts of Western Washington, was based in Bellevue, Washington until a few years ago when it was sold to a different group of capitalists based in Australia – on the opposite side of the world. In 2012 local people in Thurston County Now the Thurston County Public Utility District – which is owned by the general public of our own local community – were exploring the feasibility of buying out Puget Sound Energy’s business in Thurston County and operating it with local ownership, local management, […]

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TV: “Local Government Fairness and Accountability”

December 2, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

How many people actually pay much attention to local governments’ detailed decisions about zoning, funding streets and sewers, and so forth? Hardly anyone pays attention – except those who have a direct financial stake in those decisions, such as real estate developers and other persons who have direct financial interests in local governments’ decisions. So what happens as a result? The “special interests” are able to exploit local governments to serve their narrow economic profits, while the rest of us never know that we are being ripped off. For example, the local elites that run many local governments and media […]

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TV: “Creating a Sustainable Local Food System”

December 2, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

Increasingly, people are getting savvier about how to deal with food.  In our local community, more and more people are interested in sustainability, are growing good food locally, and are helping other people grow food.  The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s May 2013 TV program is all about “Creating a Sustainable Local Food System.” Three knowledgeable guests with interesting first-hand experience teach us a lot during this program: • TJ Johnson is a former Olympia City Council member, organizer of the October 2011 Food Summit, and a vigorous participant in the local food movement. The Food Summit attracted so many pre-registrants […]

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TV: “Solving Homelessness Problems in New Ways: A Systems Approach”

November 20, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

Watch this insightful TV interview HERE. Read a very thorough summary of what we said Program Description — June 2013. The greater Olympia and Thurston County areas have recently been addressing the homelessness problems in more thoughtful and comprehensive ways. On the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s June 2013 TV program, three guests dispel the misunderstandings that have impaired public discussions. Our guests also lay out some of the positive new directions for helping homeless people more effectively. See contact information for these guests and several great non-profit organizations at the end of this article. We begin with a clearer understanding […]

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TV: “Social and Economic Justice Can Help Ease the Climate Crisis”

November 20, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

The science is settled. The climate crisis is real. And human behavior – especially burning fossil fuels – has caused it. The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s July 2013 TV program goes past the obvious causes to examine some causes that are not usually recognized. And these unrecognized sources of the problem are also unrecognized solutions! Our TV program explores how the very real imbalances of social and economic power – actual social and economic injustices – are part of the problem. And we explore how correcting the imbalances of social and economic power can help relieve the climate crisis. Our […]

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TV: “Dangers of Genetically Modified Food”

November 20, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

In recent years more and more people have become concerned that giant corporations are doing things to the food we eat that are bad for our human health, bad for agricultural animals, and bad for the environment. A few giant corporations are tampering with the genetic makeup of food crops such as corn and soy. They are splicing into these food crops some genes from totally different species to kill weeds or insects, or to make the plants grow faster. The changed crops are referred to as “genetically modified” (GM) or “genetically engineered” (GE). Scientists are increasingly warning us of […]

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TV: “TPP: A ‘Free Trade’ Scam Much Worse than NAFTA”

November 20, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s November 2013 TV program about the TPP and other “free trade” scams was still relevant in September 2014, so we aired it again then, while the TV station was replacing its equipment for producing new programs.  Watch this program and read the summary at the September 2014 listing.

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Cut the military budget. Use the savings to fully fund human needs.

November 20, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

A budget is a numerical way to express what we value.  The U.S.’s federal budget extravagantly funds military violence and fails to support human needs.  This is morally wrong.  It also makes our nation weak.  Sure, the Pentagon has plenty of weapons.  But our people are suffering badly from poor housing, poor health, polluted communities, and so forth. We need to cut the military budget and use the savings to fully fund human needs.  The U.S. has WASTED TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS making war against people in other countries while making the American people suffer also from neglect. In 2011 and […]

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TV: “Strengthen Democracy with a Community Rights Ordinance (CRO)”

November 20, 2017 GlenAnderson 0

To watch this interview, click HERE. To read a .pdf summary of what we said during the interview, click Program Description — April 2014. The Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation’s April 2014 TV program takes a fresh look at democracy – specifically, how to make democracy more real and more vibrant by practicing it at the local level. We examine the growing movement for vibrant grassroots democracy through local efforts called “Community Rights Ordinances” – CROs. Our TV program’s three guests help us understand Community Rights Ordinances – and how we might adopt one locally, perhaps focusing on a specific concern […]