Intro to Sociology

What did we learn?

or

What should you take with you?

Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened

• Climate Change

• Civil War in the Middle East

• $8 Trillion Debt and a $318 billion budget deficit

• Neoliberalism and resistence to imperialism in the poorer nations of the world.

Winona LaDuke

• What will your communities look like in 50 years?

Ethnocentrism

• “Today, many families are on welfare because of their race and no desire to work, or because they are new to the country and receive handouts.”

• What is wrong with this statement?

Social Movements

• People and institutions do not suddenly realize the error of their ways without being pressed by people of good conscience!

Misinformation• You must work to educate yourself!

No Easy Answers

• Effective solutions to problems cannot be found if they are reduced to overly simplistic moral arguments.

• The “war on terror”, “evil-doers”, “rogue states” . . .

People Resist Exploitation

• Sarayacu are consciously creating the world in which they want to live.

What future do you want?

• If there is to be positive change, you must make it happen.

• Ask questions.

– Who benefits?

Katrina

• Chaos

– Or

• Collective Action?

Real Heroes and Sheroes of New Orleanshttp://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=72&ItemID=8686

• “Now--secure with these two necessities, food and water--cooperation, community and creativity flowered. We organized a clean-up and hung garbage bags from the rebar poles. We made beds from wood pallets and cardboard. We designated a storm drain as the bathroom, and the kids built an elaborate enclosure for privacy out of plastic, broken umbrellas and other scraps. We even organized a food-recycling system where individuals could swap out parts of C-rations (applesauce for babies and candies for kids!).

• This was something we saw repeatedly in the aftermath of Katrina. When individuals had to fight to find food or water, it meant looking out for yourself. You had to do whatever it took to find water for your kids or food for your parents. But when these basic needs were met, people began to look out for each other, working together and constructing a community.”

What can you do?

• You have a choice between what is right and what is easy - Winona La Duke.

• Have the courage to address issues on a daily basis.

• Participate by informing yourself – don’t be a victim of ignorance or deceit.

• Participate by engaging the world you live in.