Please note that as of September 2011, we are posting highlights of event videos on this website, not the full videos. For videos in full from September 2011 onwards, please go to our UStream page.
Global Ethics Corner: Who Does Everest Belong To?
| 05/20/2013
A fight on Mt. Everest between Nepalese Sherpas and European climbers has again raised questions about tourism and the world's tallest mountain. Should the Sherpas, who live and work on the mountain, control access to the peak? Should the tourists have any say?
When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God | 05/20/2013 What does it mean to have frequent conversations with God, as so many evangelicals say they do? Anthropologist Tania Luhrmann spent over 10 years as an active member of evangelical churches in different parts of the U.S., and uses her personal experiences, interviews, and scientific training to report on the evangelical faith.
Human Trafficking Around the World: Hidden in Plain Sight | 05/16/2013 Victims of trafficking are both young and old, male and female. They can be found working in factories, fields, brothels, private homes, and innumerable other settings. They may be hidden behind walls or seen in plain view. How can trafficking be stopped?
Global Ethics Corner: Food for Peace?
| 05/13/2013
Food for Peace, which ships American farm products to developing nations, has long been criticized for crowding out local agriculture. Now, to the dismay of the U.S. farming and shipping industries, President Obama is proposing sending nations cash grants. Is "Cash for Peace" a better idea?
Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st Century | 05/16/2013 In this in-depth, erudite talk, George Weigel discusses the historic shift taking place in the Catholic church; the character of the new mode of Catholicism that is coming into being; his personal impressions of the new pope; and the flourishing church in Africa.
Global Ethics Corner: Should Childhood Vaccinations Be Mandatory?
| 05/06/2013
Childhood vaccination programs have been met with skepticism and hostility in the U.S. Some oppose them on religious grounds, while others worry about preservatives. Do governments have a right to make sure children are immunized against contagious diseases?
Global Ethics Corner: Was the Boston Lockdown Justified?
| 04/29/2013
As authorities searched for one of the Boston Marathon bombers, the city of Boston and its suburbs were put on lockdown. Was this action justified? Does this set a dangerous precedent or should we trust the government to exercise emergency powers judiciously?
Kim Ferzan on Preventive Justice | 04/30/2013 Criminal justice is normally retrospective: You can only imprison someone for crimes they’ve already committed. But what should we do about individuals who clearly will pose threats in the future, even if they haven't done anything yet? Kim Ferzan wants to create a new class of preventive justice, separate from normal criminal law.
Thought Leader: Sir David Cannadine | 05/07/2013 "Actually, for most of human history, most people have lived at peace with each other. We constantly need to remind ourselves of that and ask how and why that has been possible. From that perspective, the aberrant mode of human behavior is war."
The Undivided Past: Humanity Beyond Our Differences | 05/01/2013 "A divided past is only part of the human story. It may be the one that makes the headlines, but, arguably, it's not the only one and it's probably not the most important one either," says David Cannadine. "Human relations are extremely messy. They are not primarily Manichean at all, but they are about blending, borrowing, interacting, and interconnecting."
Thought Leader: Louise Arbour | 05/01/2013 "I believe that we have achieved very high levels of universal norms enunciation, in legal instruments, in our literature. I think the normative environment is very impressive. The disconnect is between the norms and their enforcement."
Global Ethics Corner: What’s Going on in Guantanamo Bay?
| 04/22/2013
With over half of the detainees on a hunger strike, tensions are worse than ever at Guantanamo Bay. Is it finally time for the United States to close this detention camp? Or does it still serve a purpose in the country's ongoing wars?
The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War (2013) | 04/17/2013 Andrew Bacevich argues that militarism now permeates U.S. society. These attitudes emerged in the decades after the Vietnam War, and are at odds both with U.S. interests and with its founding traditions.
Global Ethics Corner: Kenyan Election Controversy
| 04/15/2013
After a controversial election, Kenya has inaugurated Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity, as its new president. Should Kenya, a hub for the aid community and an important Western ally, face repercussions?
To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism | 04/16/2013 Very soon, "smart" technologies and "big data" will allow us to make sophisticated interventions in everyday life. Technology will create incentives to get more people to do the right thing. But how will this affect society, once political and moral dilemmas are recast as uncontroversial and easily manageable matters of technological efficiency?
Breakout Nations: In Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracles | 04/15/2013 Which countries will be the next big thing? Most follow a four-point cycle, says Sharma: "You have economic crisis. They carry out economic reforms. After they carry out economic reforms, some sort of boom takes place. Then complacency sets in, and then you get back to having a crisis." So beware! Economic development is extremely hard to sustain.
Global Ethics Corner: When Banks Fail, Who Should Pay?
| 04/08/2013
Cyprus is the latest European state to need a bailout from the Troika of the EU, the IMF, and the ECB. But this time, individual depositors are being asked to pick up part of the tab. Should taxpayers have to bear the burden if banks fail?
Investing in an Independent Scotland | 04/10/2013 In an eloquent speech, First Minister Salmond, leader of the government in Scotland, makes the case for an independent Scotland. In addition to compelling economic reasons, he argues that clearly, "the best people to take decisions about Scotland are the people who choose to live and work in Scotland."
Ethics Matter: Zainab Salbi on Women, War, and Self-Empowerment | 04/09/2013 In this fascinating conversation, Zainab Salbi discusses her personal journey from growing up in Saddam Hussein's Iraq to becoming a global champion of women's rights. She also focuses on the realities of women's lives across the Middle East and proposes constructive ways to change negatives to positives.
Global Ethics Corner: Are We Good Because of God?
| 04/01/2013
A new book claiming that bonobos can feel empathy suggests that morality may be biological. If this is the case, what purpose does religion serve? Is it still a useful tool for moral guidance or can we get all our answers from science?
