Old or Poor Readings — Don’t Use for START

“Discussion Guide for What Would Democracy Look Like?,” by Carolyn McConnell, Yes! Magazine, Winter 2003.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=551

Questions such as: What ways do you stay hopeful in dark times? What keeps you acting on what you believe when success seems distant or unlikely? What can (or do) you do to help friends and co-workers keep their spirits up? Pamela: I wonder if this could help us with study questions—doesn’t seem to stand on its own.

Biodiversity Action Plans

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Baps/intro.htm

The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is the UK's initiative to maintain and enhance biodiversity. Pamela: Very brief intro — no content. I wouldn’t use.

Convention on Biological Diversity

http://www.cbd.int/convention/

Pamela: Home page. Would need a specific article to be useful.

“The Third Wave of Therapy: Happiness Isn’t Normal: What’s the best form of psychotherapy? How can you overcome sadness? Controversial psychologist Steven Hayes has an answer: embrace the pain,” by John Cloud, Time Magazine, February 13, 2006, 19 p.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1156613,00.html

or

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1156613,00.html

or

http://www.healthyplace.com/news_2006/therapy.asp

An alternative to cognitive therapy’s emphasis on controlling what goes on in your mind. Pretty long and detailed about different currents in psychotherapy.

Description of Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate — The Essential Guide for Progressives by George Lakoff, Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2004, 1 sp.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931498717/102-1045981-3392120?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance

Brief reviews from Amazon on the need for progressives to reframe their values. Already used? Pretty generic.

“Thinking of Jackasses: The grand delusions of the Democratic Party,” by Marc Cooper, a review of Don’t Think of an Elephant, by George Lakoff, The Atlantic Monthly, March 15th, 2005, 8 sp.

http://www.powells.com/review/2005_03_15.html

Conceptual reframing is a feel-good superficial activity and less important than building a truly populist base and focusing on real needs. Randy: This review of Don’t Think of an Elephant is nasty, but makes some good points. Pamela: Bashing Lakoff to make a point — I think we can do better.

“Reflections on Strategy in a Dark Time,” by Richard Flacks, Boston Review, December 1995/January 1996, 23 p.

http://bostonreview.net/BR20.6/flacks.html

Radical democracy — a relic of the 60s, or an idea whose time has come? Randy: Probably too old.

“Arguments For and Against Street Fighter Violence,” by Carol Moore, 77 p.

http://www.carolmoore.net/sfm/arguments.html Skim; carefully read what you find of interest.

Outlines the tenets of the new street fighter violence which are boldly proclaimed by many progressives, leftists, and left anarchists, then describes the influence and political background of violence guru Ward Churchill, then presents point by point, explanations of and counter-arguments to these tenets.