Sunday, March 25, 6 – 8 p.m., Last Sunday
The March “Last Sunday” gathering will focus on the ecological crisis we face, featuring UT economist James Galbraith and PODER activist Erika González, with music by Tish Hinojosa. Our goal this month is to look both at the implications of the crisis at the global level and hear from a local activist about what we can do in our community to work for ecological health and environmental justice.
Tish Hinojosa, a San Antonio native who now calls Austin home, is known for her distinctive cross-cultural music in the contemporary Latin and folk worlds. Hinojosa’s voice and vision find expression in rock, Tejano and international styles, starting with her 1989 debut album “Homeland” to her most recent studio record in 2005, “A Heart Wide Open.” Hinojosa’s award-winning children’s record, “Cada Nino” (Every Child) included an illustrated songbook in Spanish and English. In addition to her music, Hinojosa contributes to a variety of cultural and political movements for justice, including work on behalf of children, bilingual education, civil liberties, immigration, farm workers, and multicultural organizations.
James Galbraith is known both for scholarly analysis of economic inequality and his lively writing in Mother Jones, Texas Observer, and The Nation. Galbraith, who teaches economics and public policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, travels widely as a speaker and economic adviser. In his talk, Galbraith is going to examine the economic implications of rapid climate change.
Erika González is co-director with Susana Almanza of the People Organized in the Defense of Earth and her Resources, which works to redefine environmental issues as questions of social and economic justice. Since 1991 the group has addressed the social, economic and environmental impacts of industries on East Austin’s communities of color. González will talk about PODER’s current projects in the context of the problem of environmental racism and the need for environmental justice.
Although Last Sunday regulars Eliza Gilkyson and Robert Jensen will both be out of town during the March gathering, Jim Rigby will be there to once again connect the political and the spiritual in his remarks.
Folks from Austin area environmental groups will be at Last Sunday with information about their work. When the program from the stage is over, we’ll turn our attention to their work and informal discussions about organizing.
More information at http://thirdcoastactivist.org/lastsunday.html
Location: Saengerrunde Hall, 1607 San Jacinto, next door to Scholz Garten.