April 30, 2008 at 4:45 p.m.
Gerald E. Talbot Lecture Hall
Luther Bonney
Portland USM Campus
(map)
Click here to visit the John Perkins website
Click here to see the recent YouTube video with John Perkins
In his stunning memoir, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins detailed his former role as an “economic hit man".
Now, in The Secret History of the American Empire, Perkins zeroes in on hot spots around the world, and drawing on interviews with other Hit Men, Jackals, reporters, government officials, and activists, examines the current geopolitical crisis. Instability is the norm—it’s clear that the world we’ve created is dangerous and no longer sustainable. How did we get here? Who’s responsible? What good have we done and at what cost? And what can we do to change things for the next generations? Addressing these questions and more, Perkins reveals the secret history behind the events that have defined our world.
From the U.S. military in Iraq to infrastructure development in Indonesia, from Peace Corps volunteers in Africa to Jackals in the Indian Ocean, Perkins exposes a conspiracy of corruption that has fueled instability and anti-Americanism around the globe. Alarming yet hopeful, this book provides a compassionate plan to re-imagine our world.
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John Perkins spent three decades as an Economic Hit Man, business executive, author, and lecturer. He lived and worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and North America. Then he made a decision: he would use these experiences to make the planet a better place for his daughter’s generation. Today he teaches about the importance of rising to higher levels of consciousness, to waking up -- in both spiritual and physical realms -- and is a champion for environmental and social causes. He has lectured at universities on four continents, including Harvard, Wharton, and Princeton.
His Book, The New York Times bestseller, Confessions of Economic Hit Man, tells the story of his remarkable life. John’s books have been published in over 30 languages. They include: "Shapeshifting: Shamanic Techniques for Global and Personal Transformation."; "The World Is As You Dream It: Shamanic Teachings from the Amazon and Andes."; " Psychonavigation: Techniques for Travel Beyond Time"; " The Stress-Free Habit: Powerful Techniques for Health and Longevity from the Andes, Yucatan, and Far East"; " Spirit of the Shuar: Wisdom from the Last Unconquered People of the Amazon".
In this groundbreaking primer to current events in the world, John Perkins explores moments of insight from his personal journey since writing Confessions, shares lessons learned from every region of the world and offers ideas about how we can change the world right where we are.
The colloquium is sponsored by the L.L. Bean/Lee Surace Endowed Chair in Accounting.
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USM Professor Jeffrey Gramlich was appointed the first L.L. Bean/Lee Surace Chair in Accounting in the USM School of Business in 2003. His appointment was made possible by a $1 million gift from L.L. Bean, Inc., its board chair, Leon Gorman, his wife Lisa, Jim and Maureen Gorman, and Tom Gorman, who established the chair in memory of L.L. Bean CFO Lee Surace '73, '81, who died in March of 2001. Surace was chair of the USM School of Business' Advisory Council and was a frequent guest lecturer.
The USM School of Business is accredited by the prestigious AACSB International. For students seeking the finest education and companies seeking the highest caliber talent, partnership, and educational opportunities, AACSB International accreditation is one of the most important affirmations of sustained quality in the word. For more information about School of Business programs, call 780-4020.
