RSS FeedRSS FeedYouTubeYouTubeTwitterTwitterFacebook GroupFacebook Group
You are here: The Platypus Affiliated Society/Archive for category New School Upcoming Events

Forging a Left in Iran: Possibilities and difficulties

ATTENTION, LOCATION CHANGE: Tisch Hall, 40 W. 4th St. (4th and Mercer, on the South side of the street) Lower Level 2, Room. LC11.

A teach-in on labor, human rights and prospects for a Left in Iran with Ervand Abrahamian

The Platypus Affiliated Society, in collaboration with United for Iran, Amnesty International and the Network of Iranian Unions (NILU) has organized a teach-in on Iran for May 2nd, from 1-5pm at the Tisch Hall, 40 W. 4th St. (4th and Mercer, on the South side of the street) Lower Level 2, Room LC11. The keynote speaker for the evening  will be historian on Iran and outspoken voice on the recent events, CUNY professor Ervand Abrahamian. The day will consist of an opening informational (1-2pm) panel, a workshop (2-3pm), a break with refreshments provided (3-3:30pm) and the keynote address with Ervand Abrahamian followed by an audience Q&A (3:30-5pm).

We would like to raise questions about the direction of the Green movement in Iran, with an especial, though not exclusive, focus on labor organization in Iran, the role it's playing and what it may achieve in the future. This teach-in will produce political discussion around these questions and inform students, faculty, and the public at large of the ongoing events in Iran. We would like to brainstorm (during the workshop especially) what kind of political response would further possibilities in our time for a progressive leftist movement.

Please register for this free event at (we need a count for refreshments): http://iran.platypus1917.org/
Facebook Invite: Iran Teach-in with Ervand Abrahamian

This event was organized by the platypus affiliated society with the help of united for iran, amnesty international and the network of iranian labor unions (NILU).

http://newyork.platypus1917.org/

http://united4iran.org/

http://www.amnesty.org/

http://iranlaborreport.com/

Dear Platypi,

Please join us on the weekend of March 19th at the 2010 Left Forum. Platypus members from Toronto, Chicago, Boston along with New York City members will be there both presenting and chairing these panels.  Below are a list of Platypus organized panels along with their respective line-ups and time slots.

--
Session 3: SATURDAY, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The American Left and the “Black Question”: From Politics to Protest to the Post-Political
Benjamin Blumberg (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Tim Barker - Columbia University Student
Pamela Nogales - Platypus Affiliated Society
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Politics of the Contemporary American Student Left
Pam Nogales (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Ashley Weger - Platypus Affiliated Society (Depaul Chapter Head)
Hannah Rappleye - New School alumnus, former Senior Editor of the NS Free Press
Easton Smith - Sarah Lawrence student, Unite Here organizer
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Nationalism, Anti-Imperialism and International Solidarity Today
Jeremy Cohan (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society (New York University chapter)
Ryan Hardy- Platypus Affiliated Society
Spencer Leonard Platypus- Affiliated Society
TBA (Writer for Revolution Newspaper)
Peter Hudis (U.S. Marxist-Humanists)
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Marxism and Anarchism: The Relevance of Radical Traditions Today
Blair Taylor (Chair) -
Ian Morrison - Platypus Affiliated Society
Annie Day - Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP)
Peter Staudenmaier - Cornell University
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Left and Prospects for Democracy in the Middle East: Iraq
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Issam Shukri - Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI)
Kanan Makiya - Brandeis University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
­­­­­­­­
--
SESSION 6: SUNDAY, 12:00 - 2:00 PM
The Green Movement and the Left: Prospects for Democracy in Iran
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory, and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Siyaves Azeri - Worker-Communist Party of Iran
Hamid Dabashi - Columbia University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
Saeed Rahnema - York University
--
SESSION 7: SUNDAY, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Between the Old and New Left: An American Post-war Balance Sheet
Ian Morrison (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Benjamin Blumberg - Platypus Affiliated Society
Chris Mansour - Parsons The New School For Design

Dear New Yorkers,

Please join us on the weekend of March 19th at the 2010 Left Forum. Platypus members from Toronto, Chicago, Boston along with New York City members will be there both presenting and chairing these panels.  Below are a list of Platypus organized panels along with their respective line-ups and time slots.

--
Session 3: SATURDAY, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The American Left and the “Black Question”: From Politics to Protest to the Post-Political
Benjamin Blumberg (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Tim Barker - Columbia University Student
Pamela Nogales - Platypus Affiliated Society
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Politics of the Contemporary American Student Left
Pam Nogales (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Ashley Weger - Platypus Affiliated Society (Depaul Chapter Head)
Hannah Rappleye - New School alumnus, former Senior Editor of the NS Free Press
Easton Smith - Sarah Lawrence student, Unite Here organizer
--
Session 4: SATURDAY, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Nationalism, Anti-Imperialism and International Solidarity Today
Jeremy Cohan (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society (New York University chapter)
Ryan Hardy- Platypus Affiliated Society
Spencer Leonard Platypus- Affiliated Society
TBA (Writer for Revolution Newspaper)
Peter Hudis (U.S. Marxist-Humanists)
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Marxism and Anarchism: The Relevance of Radical Traditions Today
Blair Taylor (Chair) -
Ian Morrison - Platypus Affiliated Society
Annie Day - Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP)
Peter Staudenmaier - Cornell University
--
SESSION 5: SUNDAY, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Left and Prospects for Democracy in the Middle East: Iraq
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Issam Shukri - Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI)
Kanan Makiya - Brandeis University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
­­­­­­­­
--
SESSION 6: SUNDAY, 12:00 - 2:00 PM
The Green Movement and the Left: Prospects for Democracy in Iran
Laura Lee Schmidt (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society; History, Theory, and Criticism of Art and Architecture, MIT
Siyaves Azeri - Worker-Communist Party of Iran
Hamid Dabashi - Columbia University
Christopher Cutrone - Platypus Affiliated Society; University of Chicago
Saeed Rahnema - York University
--
SESSION 7: SUNDAY, 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Between the Old and New Left: An American Post-war Balance Sheet
Ian Morrison (Chair) - Platypus Affiliated Society
Benjamin Blumberg - Platypus Affiliated Society
Chris Mansour - Parsons The New School For Design

Join Platypus members this Wednesday, February 17th at 7:30pm for a teach-in on the Iranian Revolution and a discussion on the current situation in Iran led by Platypus Review editor Pam C. Nogales C.

This event will be held at the New School, 80 Fifth Avenue, Rm. 802

Undoubtedly, the Left today should demand the overthrow of theocratic regimes; the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is no exception. However, how the regime is overthrown, who participates in this act and how they understand their political practice, has irreversible effects. In 1977-79, the international Left overlooked this consideration by uncritically supporting those seeking to overthrow the Shah. In so doing, the Left helped a right-wing popular movement establish the theocratic dictatorial government the protesters fight against today. How are we as leftists to make sense of this political failure so as to help rebuild an emancipatory Left today? How do the current protests challenge the Islamic Republic? What are the prospects for overthrowing the Iranian regime and what would take its place?

1. Against the status quo: An interview with Iranian trade-unionist Homayoun Pourzad

2. The failure of the Islamic revolution: The nature of the present crisis in Iran

Red Channels and the Platypus Affiliated Society present:

The Poverty of Student Life, a film screening and discussion

SFimg

Monday, November 23, 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm @ The Brecht Forum, 451 West Street

San Francisco State: On Strike - Newsreel, 1969, 25 minutes
Community Control - Newsreel, 1969, 50 minutes
TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 75 minutes | Digital Projection

Discussion with:

Pam C. Nogales C. of the Platypus Affiliated Society

Luz Schreiber of the Committee in Defense of the Children's Learning Center at Hunter College, and Ollin Imagination

Jitu Weusi - teacher, principal, member of the African American Teachers Association, co-founder of The East (1969-1985)

[more TBA]


*  *  *

Platypus Review articles on student politics:

1. Politics of the contemporary student Left

2.  Violence at the RNC

3. The New School occupation and the direction of student politics: an interview with Atlee McFellin

4. Five questions to the student Left