Commonwealth Club of California Podcast

In the 1990s and 2000s, in the midst of the decades-long civil war, and with the complicity of much of the country's military and political establishment, Colombian paramilitary groups with close ties to drug cartels massacred, raped and tortured thousands. In There Are No Dead Here, three ordinary Colombians—a prosecutor, an activist and a journalist—risk everything to uncover the truth about the paramilitaries' hold on the government. Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno's gripping narrative takes readers from the sweltering Medellín streets, where criminal investigators were hunted by assassins; through the countryside, where paramilitaries wiped out entire towns; and into the corridors of the presidential palace in Bogotá. The result is an unforgettable portrait of the valiant men and women whose tireless work offers hope amid the cascade of corruption and brutality. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Linda Calhoun

Hopping on an airplane is one of the worst things anyone can do for the climate, quickly blowing away the emissions savings earned by a vegetarian who walks to work and otherwise treads lightly on the Earth. So how do people still justify international travel? To see the wonders of the Arctic and Himalayas before they melt? Advocates for eco travel say going abroad can still have a positive benefit when done mindfully. Climate One Adventurers Scholarship Greg Dalton founded Climate One in 2007 after traveling to the Arctic with scientists and journalists. Each year, Climate One pays it forward by sending a Bay Area high school student to have their own life-changing journey at the top of the world. Students currently in grades 9-12 who attend this event are eligible to apply for a Climate One Scholarship to travel in July with Students on Ice. Students must attend this Climate One program at the Commonwealth Club to be eligible and are responsible for their own airfare to Ottawa. Applications are due March 30th.

From the beat of the drum to the stroke of the brush to the power of the spoken word, art has been central to the Bay Area’s long history of activism. It’s those movements that have partnered closely with artists that have had some of the strongest ripples, from immigrant rights to the LGBTQ pride movement. In its many forms, art has the power to touch hearts, change minds and strengthen communities during difficult times. Today, as we face a new set of challenges, protest art is experiencing a renaissance in the Bay Area. With the click of a mouse, movement artists are engaging new audiences on a whole new set of platforms. Join the San Francisco Foundation, together with some of the Bay Area’s most renowned “artivists,” to discuss the role of art in today’s social justice movements.

In 2007, a short blog post on Valleywag, the Silicon Valley gossip site of Gawker Media, outed PayPal founder and billionaire investor Peter Thiel as gay. Thiel's sexuality had been known to close friends, but he didn't consider himself a public figure and believed the information was private. According to author Ryan Holiday, Thiel then began to plot his revenge. Thiel’s plan found him with an unlikely ally: wrestling star Hulk Hogan. After receiving an unsanctioned sex tape featuring Hogan, Gawker published the controversial video. Holiday says this was the opportunity Thiel was looking for; he would pit Hogan against Gawker in a multiyear proxy war through the Florida legal system, culminating in a $140 million dollar judgment against Gawker, leading to its bankruptcy and closure. Only later would the world learn that Gawker's demise was not incidental—it had been masterminded by Thiel himself. The verdict and the reveal of Thiel as its mastermind stunned the world. Why had he done this? How had no one discovered it? What would this mean for the First Amendment? For privacy? For culture? Join us as Ryan Holiday recounts this wild tale.

Michelle Munson will discuss how the expanded use of cloud computing and other developments in the information technology sector will usher a new era in which content such as pictures, videos and other data will prove key. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Gerald Harris NOTES MLF: Science & Technology

Russia: Preparing for the Post-Putin Era Following the Russian elections on March 18, Vladimir Putin will likely have just won a fourth (and probable final) term as president. Come for a discussion with Ambassador John Beyrle on “Russia: Preparing for the Post-Putin Era.” Beyrle served as an American diplomat for more than three decades in foreign postings and domestic assignments focused on Central and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Russia. He was twice appointed ambassador—to Bulgaria (from 2005–08) and to Russia (from 2008–12). During the latter assignment, he led the implementation of policies resulting in improved United States–Russian relations, highlighted by the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization and liberalized visa formalities. Beyrle’s diplomatic service included two earlier tours at the U.S. embassy in Moscow, most recently serving as deputy chief of mission. He also served as counselor for political and economic affairs at the U.S. embassy in the Czech Republic and a member of the U.S. delegation to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, negotiated in Vienna. In Washington, he served as special adviser to the secretary of state for the New Independent States and director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian affairs on the staff of the National Security Council. As a staff officer in the 1980s, he traveled extensively with George Shultz and James Baker, former secretaries of state. Beyrle currently serves on the board of directors of the U.S. Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law.

Mongolia is a unique land of both incredible beauty and misunderstood history. One of the last remaining countries of nomadic herders, it is the most sparsely inhabited country in a landlocked territory and one of the most isolated spots on Earth. Yet eight centuries ago it was the center of the world—home of the largest empire in history and the birthplace of Genghis Khan, the man The Washington Post named the most important person of the last thousand years. How did Genghis Khan’s life shape the last eight centuries of history? How is he relevant to us today? Jack Weatherford will share his research and insights. MLF ORGANIZER NAME Norma Walden NOTES MLF: International Relations In association with the Travel department

The rape of Europa is a Greek myth that tells of a Phoenician princess stolen across the sea from Tyre to Crete. Her five brothers are sent to find her. Although none are successful, one brother, Cadmus, finds the city of Thebes, marries a local girl named Harmonia, and is credited with giving Greece agriculture, the alphabet and metalworking—the pillars of civilization. The myth’s names tell its story: Europa means “west,” Cadmus derives from the word for “east,” and Harmonia (“harmony”) was how Greeks defined beauty. The Greek myth is thought to depict the arrival of ideas, art, stories and technical skills from the Near East to Europe in the middle of the first millennium B.C. It was a seedtime that fertilized rocky, resource-poor, illiterate Greece, giving birth to western civilization. Douglas Kenning relates the history that this richly layered myth evokes, both as it was once told and as it is told now, using century after century of beautiful paintings to illustrate this history. MLF Organizer Name George Hammond Notes MLF: Humanities

Monday Night Philosophy recognizes that reasoning has always been part of human life, but Plato played a radical role in increasing our respect for the power of reason, cutting through mythological beliefs and inaccurate opinions. He shared his passionate enthusiasm for reason with the students of his Academy (and later with us) through his philosophical dialogues. Plato carried his ideas out of the shadows of the cave of Pythagorean secrecy and spread them out in the sunlight for everyone to see. Plato even records Socrates arguing that philosophical discussions should not be recorded in writing because they will then be distorted and misunderstood. Plato's mischievous and knowing disobedience was based on his acceptance that distortions and misunderstandings would abound. But he was convinced that it was crucial to make clear, conceptual reasoning more popular if we were ever going to understand the world we inhabit. Plato's decision proved vital to our current understanding of reasoning. However, the popularity of his radical respect for reason is still in its infancy of influence on human culture. Peer ahead to see what is still to come. MLF Organizer Name George Hammond Notes MLF: Humanities

If Medicare seems like one big alphabetical maze to you, you are not alone. For most, a correct understanding of how Medicare works, how Medicare interacts with company and retiree plans, what plan options might be best for you, and when or how to sign up are not clear. Learn the ABCs of Medicare as well as the realities of what and what not to expect. Here’s what every boomer needs to know before they turn 65. MLF Organizer Name John Milford Notes MLF: Grownups

Despite the high potential for solar power generation in Kenya, more than 84 percent of Kenyans in rural communities have no access to grid electricity. A pilot project in Limuru, Kenya, is teaching young people the skills they need to build a solar-LED light system with scrap components, soldering wire for electricity in their homes, schools and neighborhoods. The goal is to help youth learn to develop renewable energy. The program also encourages entrepreneurial goals and provides students with the skills they need for economic self-sufficiency in their communities. Come learn what these young people are doing to create solar energy and power for both today and the future. MLF Organizer Name Ann Clark Notes MLF: Environment & Natural Resources

Monday Night Philosophy recognizes that reasoning has always been part of human life, but Plato played a radical role in increasing our respect for the power of reason, cutting through mythological beliefs and inaccurate opinions. He shared his passionate enthusiasm for reason with the students of his Academy (and later with us) through his philosophical dialogues. Plato carried his ideas out of the shadows of the cave of Pythagorean secrecy and spread them out in the sunlight for everyone to see. Plato even records Socrates arguing that philosophical discussions should not be recorded in writing because they will then be distorted and misunderstood. Plato's mischievous and knowing disobedience was based on his acceptance that distortions and misunderstandings would abound. But he was convinced that it was crucial to make clear, conceptual reasoning more popular if we were ever going to understand the world we inhabit. Plato's decision proved vital to our current understanding of reasoning. However, the popularity of his radical respect for reason is still in its infancy of influence on human culture. Peer ahead to see what is still to come. MLF Organizer Name George Hammond Notes MLF: Humanities

In her book “Dark Money: the Hidden History Behind the Rise of the Radical Right,” New Yorker writer Jane Mayer exposes the powerful group of individuals who bankroll our political system. Mayer traces the billions of dollars spent by the Kochs, the Mercers, and other wealthy conservative activists to influence policies related to climate change, the economy and more. And as the Trump administration rolls back regulations, the head of the US Chemical Safety Board, Vanessa Sutherland, wonders how much these billionaires will succeed in weakening government oversight of their business.

Creative, colorful, hands-on, inspiring: How many people get to describe their jobs that way? Brit Morin ran with her passion for DIY and crafting and took it to the next level. Today, she’s founder and CEO of Brit + Co, which aims to educate, inspire, entertain and inform creative women on a global scale. Morin’s entrepreneurial streak began while she was working in Silicon Valley at Google and Apple, but even then she always had creative side projects going on during her off-hours. She left Google at 25 to launch Brit + Co, which began as a small online company offering how-to videos for women, covering everything from calligraphy to coding. Under Morin’s direction, Brit + Co has grown from a fledgling venture into one of the largest digital media companies for women—130 million users strong—securing partnerships with IKEA, Starbucks, Target, Sephora and many others along the way. Not just online, Brit + Co often hosts pop-ups and conferences that welcome in-person community building, crafting and more. Morin is a partner to Slow Ventures, and her recent awards include Forbes’ 30 Under 30, Marie Claire’s New Guard, and Glamour’s Female Entrepreneur Innovator. Whether you’re into DIY crafting or are looking for new inspiration, Morin will empower you to harness your inner creativity and use it to live a more colorful life. She will be in conversation with Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo, who mentored her at Google, invested in Brit + Co, and continues to be one of Morin’s influences and inspirations.

This program is part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Cleo Wade has already been called “the millennial Oprah” by New York magazine, and this talented poet is still on the rise. With hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers waiting for her next poem or artwork to drop, she’s inspiring a generation with her words and warmth. Whether she’s advocating for women’s issues, reproductive health or LGBTQ rights or launching creative projects with her Chez Conversations art collective, Wade uses her words to empower and motivate. A combination of poems, mantras, affirmations and pep talks, her collection Heart Talk is a daily reminder to look both inward and to others for support and sustenance. Join Wade for a conversation about leveraging the power of the pen for positive impact.