Globalization from the subsistence perspective 

How do we measure "wealth" and "productivity"? What do our "measurements" hide from view? The economic system loosely described with the phrase "globalization" purportedly meets people's needs through a market of goods produced by privately owned businesses and multinational corporations. Let's imagine this economic system not from the point of view of people like us, who earn a cash income or who have a monthly cash income with which we purchase goods to meet our needs, but from the perspective of traditional peoples who live outside the formal cash economy.

From the perspective of the industrialized world, so-called primitive societies where people live in simple structures that provide a minimum of protection from the elements and hunt animals and gather fruits and nuts for food or engage in small-scale farming are "poor." But from their perspective, the perspective of subsistence, they are wealthy in plentiful and nutritious food (there is more hunger today than 20 or 30 years ago) and independence in organizing their work. The issue is not whether "we" would like to live a subsistence lifestyle, but rather what is "development?" How do we measure "progress?" Economists measure development (i.e., economic growth) by gross domestic product and per capita daily income. Under such measurement systems, wars and making arms are productive and increase wealth! I would rather measure development or progress by health, meaningful work, equality, happiness, fulfillment and love and access to nutritious food, medical care and education.

Globalization from the subsistence perspective, a lecture by Betsy Bowman
Wednesday, March 22, 10:30am
Sala Quetzal, Biblioteca Pública, Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

Meet the amazing Maya

The Maya were the most advanced of all the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica. They inhabited southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. They built cities and paved roadways. 

Their priest-astronomers plotted the movements of the visible planets and stars using a mathematics that included zero, a rare accomplishment in world history. They were the only people of the New World to develop a complete written language that could express anything spoken. They made books that combined illustrations and glyphs.

Guillermo Méndez, a retired professor of humanities, will focus on architecture and art, the Bonampak murals and Mayan mathematics. The lecture is in English.

"The Magnificent Maya", lecture by Guillermo Méndez 
Wednesday, March 22, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25
50 pesos