Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

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Failure to Appear: Resistance, Loss and Identity Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

In May 1969, Freeman was an anti-war pacifist working in Chicago as a draft counselor for a Quaker social action committee. She and a group of fellow activists broke into a Southside Chicago draft board, dragged 40,000 draft records out into the parking lot, and set them ablaze. Her federal trial began in May 1970, only a few days after four Kent State protestors had been killed by the National Guard. During her trial, the jury was not permitted to hear any testimony about the defendants’ ideals or motivation and it became clear that the judge was seeking unprecedentedly long sentences. So a few days before the trial ended she fled with her friend and co-defendant, a radical Catholic priest. In Failure to Appear, Freeman recounts her precarious life as a fugitive for almost two decades, her struggle to find her true identity amid the lies she told about herself, the pain and confusion of being "hidden in a closet within a closet," and how she finally found a way back out of both closets with her values intact.

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Sunny Panyanouvong-Rubeck: Looking to Make History Aug 07, 2020

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If Republican Sunny Panyanouvong-Rubeck wins her election to be a judge in the North Carolina 26th Judicial District, she would become the first Lao-American judge in U.S. history. Join us for a conversation about politics, identifying with the GOP, and the issues that are impacting immigrants and communities of people of color. In 1981, her family was sponsored by a Baptist church when they arrived as refugees to the United States. Panyanouvong-Rubeck says she dreamed of a judicial system that treated everybody with fairness and equality. She credits her ability to seek election to a judgeship to America’s heartfelt welcoming attitude and its commitment to the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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India, Israel and Berkeley Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Our distinguished panel will discuss the ties between Israel, India and Berkeley, demonstrated in the Berkeley-based Magnes Collection of jewish Art and Life's beautiful collection of Indian Jewish artifacts. Deputy Consul General Zamir, who was previously stationed in Mumbai, will talk about his experiences there. The little known facts that Jews have lived in India for thousands of years and that presently about 80,000 Indian Jews live in Israel, will also be discussed. MLF ORGANIZER Celia Menczel NOTES MLF: Middle East

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Establishing a Culture of Intentional Integrity at Work Aug 05, 2020

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Robert Chesnut , in his book Intentional Integrity, offers a 6-step process for leaders to foster and manage a culture of integrity at work. He explains the rationale and legal context for ethics and practices, and he presents scenarios to illuminate the nuances of thinking deeply and objectively about workplace culture. His experience is based on his broad experience at Airbnb, EBay and other tech environments. MLF ORGANIZER Elizabeth Carney

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Legacy Letters: Our Responsibility to Document This Time in History Aug 05, 2020

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Join us to take on the responsibility to document, communicate and preserve our lives and our times for those who’ll live in tomorrow’s world. Using a legacy letter format, we’ll address our experience, learning and love in this pivotal moment in history. This program is designed for beginning as well as practiced writers. MLF ORGANIZER Denise Michaud NOTES: MLF: Grownups

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Maria Ressa: Independent Journalism Under Attack Aug 05, 2020

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Perhaps nowhere is the worldwide erosion of democracy, fueled by social media disinformation campaigns, more starkly evident than in the authoritarian regime of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Journalist Maria Ressa places the tools of the free press—and her freedom—on the line in defense of truth and democracy, and as a result she has faced a series of lawsuits, most recently resulting in a conviction for "cyberlibel" for reporting on Duterte. What makes this outspoken journalist continue her work? What is the situation for independent journalists in The Philippines, where Duterte continues to receive sky-high approval ratings? Join us for an interview with Maria Ressa and Filipino-American documentary filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz. Diaz's new film, A Thousand Cuts, tells Ressa's story and explores the conflicts between the press and Duterte's government.

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Lavender Talks: The Next Generation of LGBTQ+ Leadership Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

Join San Francisco Pride and The Commonwealth Club for the latest edition of Lavender Talks, a moderated panel discussion emceed by Michelle Meow (host of "The Michelle Meow Show" and a former president of the SF Pride Board of Directors). On Thursday, July 30, panelists Imani Rupert-Gordon (executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights), Masen Davis (interim executive director of Transgender Europe), Tony Hoang (managing director of Equality California), and Fausto Cardenas (the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Queering Democracy community organizer) will discuss the challenges faced by LGBTQ-centered nonprofits as the fight for equal rights enters its sixth decade. NOTES In association with San Francisco Pride Made possible by the generous support of Gilead and Comcast And thanks to San Francisco Pride Legacy Partners: Bud Light Hilton San Francisco Union Square KPIX 5 CBS Bay Area Kaiser Permanente Genentech Gilead GLBT Historical Society KBCW TV Parc 55 San Francisco Smirnoff Recology T–Mobile

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Robert Reich: Dismantling a Rigged System Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

Robert Reich is at the forefront of the progressive fight for higher worker wages, expanded health care and stronger unions. He argues that years of stagnant wages and volatile job markets show that the financial system is fixed and serving only a select few with enough money to control it. Reich shows how wealth and power have eviscerated the middle class and undermined democracy to its core. He exposes how people at the top propagate myths about meritocracy, corporate social responsibility and the “free market” to accumulate extraordinary capital and influence. How can we restore confidence back in our political and economic system? Join us for a conversation with Robert Reich as he calls upon Americans to instill fundamental change and demand that democracy works for the majority once again.

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Jennifer Palmieri: She Proclaims Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

From sports to politics, women are taught to conform themselves to the rules and dictates of a male-dominated world. Jennifer Palmieri, former White House communications director and the communications director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, reflects on her career to call out a societal infrastructure that not only subordinates women to men but also pits women against women. In her new book, She Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man’s World, Palmieri challenges us to imagine a world in which a female-oriented workplace and life is no challenge. In fully rejecting our traditional systems, Palmieri argues, women can build a world that allows them to advance as equals. Join Palmieri at INFORUM for a discussion on politics, feminism and dismantling the patriarchal values that continue to stymie female success. This program will be moderated by Aimee Alison, founder and president of She The People.

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Dr. William Perry & Tom Collina: The New Nuclear Arms Race And Presidential Power Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

The U.S. president has the power to end the world in minutes. Right now, no one can stop him. Since the Truman administration, America has been one “push of a button” away from nuclear war—a decision that rests solely in the hands of the president. Without waiting for approval from Congress or even the secretary of defense, the president can unleash America’s entire nuclear arsenal. Almost every governmental process is subject to institutional checks and balances. Our guests ask, Why is potential nuclear annihilation the exception to the rule? They say that for decades, glitches and slip-ups have threatened to trigger nuclear winter: misinformation, false alarms, hacked warning systems, or even an unstable president. And a new nuclear arms race has begun, threatening us all. At the height of the Cold War, Russia and the United States each built up arsenals exceeding 30,000 nuclear weapons, armed and ready to destroy each other—despite the fact that just a few hundred are necessary to end life on earth. As we approach the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, join an important discussion on the terrifying history of nuclear launch authority, from the faulty 46-cent microchip that nearly caused World War III to President Trump’s tweet about his “much bigger & more powerful” button.

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