Platform
Meetings –2012
April 15
"Our RACE TO THE BALLOT Against Amendment One"
Jen Jones, Director of Communications
Equality North Carolina
The North Carolina Same-Sex Marriage Amendment, to appear on the May 8, 2012 ballot as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. The measure would define marriage in the state as between one man and one woman. Same-sex marriage is already banned in the state of North Carolina, but the proposed measure would add the ban to the state constitution. The text of the measure reads: Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.
April 8
"Human Migrations and DNA"
Film and Discussion
Program Committee, Moderators
"The Human Family Tree" is a standard science documentary about human migration. The information is offered to support the claim that we are all African, that every living man traces back to one 60,000-year-old African man and every living woman to one 200,000-year-old African woman, and that race is solely a product of adaptation to the environment. Although this has been asserted for years, it still feels revolutionary, one that we as a species aren’t necessarily ready to grapple with.
April 1
"Health Care Reform"
Randy Best, Moderator
Group discussion about some of the issues raised in Joseph Coletti’s insightful platform about the ethics of free-market health care reform. This discussion focused on out-of-pocket costs for health care in European countries compared to those of the US, similarities of Switzerland’s free market system of health care compared to ours, an ethical approach to eliminating incentives for health care providers and receivers which lead to high health care costs, and the appropriate role of the federal government in our national health care system.
March 11
"NC Implementation of the New Health
Care Law"
Adam Searing, Director
North Carolina Health Access Coalition
Adam Searing joined the Justice Center as Director of the North Carolina Health Access Coalition in 1997. The Health Access Coalition is North Carolina’s leading voice for progressive health care reforms that address the needs of the uninsured and underinsured. The project advocates both for more comprehensive and effective public health care programs and on behalf of average consumers in the private market. Adam grew up in Chapel Hill and received his graduate degrees in law and public health there from the University of North Carolina in 1994.
February 12
"Amazing Transformation: How Fish Learned to Walk and
Took Over the World"
Alexander Glass, Instructor
Nicholas School of Environment
Duke University
A Darwin Day celebration. Professor Glass will tell us how fish acquired human form through evolution. Glass's experience lies in paleontology, evolution, fossil echinoderms, geology, nature of science, and science education. Glass has a strong interest in relationship between science and religion, particularly the public's debate over creation and evolution.
February 5
" Don't Forget the Shoes"
Fran Schindler, EHST Member
We will show a TEDTalks video by Mark Bezos. It is primarily inspirational in nature and underscores the personal satisfaction and community contributions of volunteering. A discussion will follow focusing on personal responses to the talk. Fran will raise questions for people to keep in mind as they watch the film.
January 29
Forget Poverty: John Rawls and the Difference Principle
James Coley
EHST member and former host of Ethics Matters
Philosopher James Coley will lead a presentation on Rawls and the Difference Principle, and their relevance to justice and economics in America today. This will include an excerpt from the online Harvard ethics course taught by professor Michael Sandel. Please join us to learn about and discuss the philosophical issues that lie behind the Occupy movement, the concern about growing inequalities of wealth, and this week’s State of the Union address by president Obama.
January 8
"OCCUPY: Past, Present, and Future.”
Burt Gurganus, Heather Epes, Michal Osterweil, Spokespersons
Occupy Raleigh movement
The movement is composed of a] group of concerned citizens who wish to raise awareness and demonstrate before the State Capitol in support of economic justice and against corporate influence over our elections and political process. Our purpose is to engage the public in this dialogue and make the voices of the people heard. We want local and national legislators to hear our concerns about ways to remedy economic injustice and the unfair influence the wealthy have over the political system. We are a peaceful, nonviolent movement that aims to encourage people to participate in democracy and use their voices to influence positive change. We are not a traditional political party nor are we trying to overthrow government…rather, we are a populist uprising that seeks to place the political power back in the hands of the people where it belongs.” www.occupyraleigh.org
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