The drive to put prices on everything is a basic feature of capitalism. Political theorist Alyssa Battistoni asks then why capitalism has failed at putting a price on so much of nature, which she believes helps illuminate capitalism’s destruction of the natural world. She also argues that the relationship that capitalism forces us to have … Continued
Is it possible to eat animal products ethically, as proponents of small-scale animal agriculture advocate? Or, as critical theorist John Sanbonmatsu argues, is consuming animals unjustifiable not just for reasons of disease and the climate emergency, but also because of the emotional complexity and intelligence of non-human animals? Sanbonmatsu makes the case for opposing and … Continued
As wildfires continue smoldering in Los Angeles, looming over the horizon is another worrying development — the growing spread of bird flu. This strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) — first detected in the United States in February 2022 — has swept through poultry and dairy farms across the country and has jumped over … Continued
One of conservation’s greatest achievements happened mostly by accident and is still hiding in plain sight for most of us. When settlers established cities in the United States, they decimated the existing ecosystems. But in recent decades, as environmental historian Peter Alagona illustrates, there has been a remarkable return of wildlife to urban areas across … Continued
All around us, species are dying in record numbers. The means that have been used to prevent mass extinction are patently not working, throwing the broad field of ecological conservation into crisis. Robert Fletcher and Brahm Büscher argue that conservation has been entwined with colonialism and capitalism since its beginning — and that it’s time … Continued
Belief conjures up political fanaticism and blind religiosity. But evolutionary anthropologist Agustín Fuentes argues that belief is also connected to our capacities to imagine, create, and change the world for the better. He reflects on why the ability to commit passionately and wholeheartedly to an idea is a central part of what makes us human. … Continued
we discuss the ongoing crisis at the border and the treatment of humans…migrants, being held inside US Immigration detention centers. Later Poor News Network explores America’s War on the Poor.
Alexander Harcourt, Professor Emeritus at UC Davis and author of the forthcoming book Humankind: How Biology and Geography Shape Human Diversity. And social justice advocate Hilary Klein, author of Compañeras: Zapatista Women’s Stories, about women’s involvement in the Zapatista movement, the indigenous rebellion in Chiapas, Mexico.
