Speakers named for fall lecture series

ORONO – University of Maine philosophy professor Doug Allen, coordinator of the Socialist and Marxist Lecture Series, has announced the list of topics and speakers for the fall of 2005.

Talks are free, open to the public and held 12:30-1:45 p.m. Thursdays in the Bangor Room in the Memorial Union, unless otherwise noted.

The series takes up a number of controversial and timely issues, and recruits local, national and international experts in those subjects.

The series is sponsored by Marxist-Socialist Studies Interdisciplinary Minor and co-sponsored by Maine Peace Action Committee and Memorial Union and with generous support of the Memorial Union and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Speakers do not necessarily present socialist or Marxist viewpoints.

The schedule is:

. Sept. 22: “The Antiwar Movement: History, Strengths, Weaknesses and Future Directions,” Isaac Curtis, history, doctoral student, University of Pittsburgh and UMaine graduate and Maine Peace Action Committee student activist. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Call 581-3860.

. Sept. 29: “Peak Oil: Are Energy Crises, More Wars and Breakdown of Capitalism Coming Soon?” Eric Olson, long associated with Maine Peace Action Committee and Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, teaches physics at Eastern Maine Community College and Unity College and follows energy issues in his blog at deepblade.net. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Coe Room, Memorial Union. Call 581-3860.

. Oct. 6: “U.S.-China Relations and their Implications,” Professor Ngo Vinh Long, history. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Call 581-3860.

. Oct. 20: “If War Is Not the Answer, Then What Is? Nonviolent Action for Everyone,” Larry Dansinger, involved in various nonviolent actions since the late 1970s, does training for nonviolent actions in Maine. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Call 581-3860.

. Oct. 27: “Is the U.S. Sliding toward Fascism?” Professor Burt Hatlen, English. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Call 581-3860.

. Nov. 3: “The Role of Progressive Veterans and the GI Resistance During Vietnam and Today,” Michael Uhl, writer, co-founder of Citizen Soldier and charter member of Veterans for Peace, contributes often to The Nation and is teaching a Vietnam War course in the UMaine Honors College. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Call 581-3860.

. Nov. 10: The Dialectics of the African Peace Movement,” Akwasi Aidoo, director of TrustAfrica, educated in Ghana and the United States, has taught at universities in Ghana, U.S. and Tanzania. He has headed Ford Foundation’s offices in Senegal and Nigeria, and is board member of Oxfam American and other nonprofit organizations. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Call 581-3860.

. Nov. 17: “Zapatistas vs. Neoliberalism,” Nancy Hill, human rights observer in threatened Zapatista towns, spends springs in Chiapas, Mexico. As “alternative economy intern” for Mexico Solidarity Network, she sells fair trade items from Zapatista Women’s Cooperative. Part of the Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series. Call 581-3860.

For additional information, contact Prof. Doug Allen, coordinator, Marxist-Socialist Studies, The Maples, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469; 581-3860. douglas.allen@umit.maine.edu.