Humankind created war, and is therefore capable of ending it. This is the daring theme of science scholar John Horgan's new book, "The End of War." In Part 1 of my podcast interview with Horgan, he discussed evidence that human warfare has existed for only the last ten thousand years: a blip on the historical screen of human history.
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The End of War-1 (Contours Podcast)
Most of us perceive warfare as the single-most horrific tool employed by nations in the settling of disputes. But how often do we hear convincing counter-narratives that offer hope for a better way? Listen to my interview with scholar John Horgan, author of "The End of War" to hear a unique perspective on cultural evolution, and his conclusion that a warless future could be humanity's next step.
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Egypt's Uprising
The towers of fear, erected upon six decades of dictatorship, were cracked and giving way on Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.Over eighteen days, glued to our electronic gadgetry, we watched a huge diversity of Egyptians pour onto the square in unity, to protest corruption of the Hosni Mubarak regime, and to sing. An eruption of freedom was bursting along the fissure of universal human desire
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The Lost Dream (Podcast)
The year's end brings reflection on the power of great creative work. This December, I Interviewed Egyptian-American filmmaker Jehan Harney about her film "Dream of America," which documents Iraqi men who fled to America after risking their lives in defiance of Saddam Hussein. Listen to how the men's story literally made Washington Post headlines earlier in 2010. The resulting publicity garnered welcome support for the film's main subject, a father of four, whose fidelity to the U.S. led him into serious and continuing personal struggles.
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Daniel Pearl World Music Days
Loss and creative power seem to be inextricably connected. This month of October marks the 9th year of concerts performed globally in memory of Daniel Pearl, a journalist (and musician) who was brutally murdered by terrorists in Karachi, Pakistan, in early 2002.
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Ambivalence Over Afghanistan
Barack Obama is edging closer to a decision on whether to reinforce the 68,000 U.S. troops who will be fighting in Afghanistan by year's end. Since routing out Al Qaeda and their Taliban hosts in Afghanistan after 9-11, the Taliban has made a steady comeback, fueled by failures of the Bush administration, profits from the opium trade,
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