An active citizen, says the prolific and influential scholar and and teacher Henry Giroux, is "somebody who has the capacity not only to understand and engage the world but to transform it when necessary - and to believe he or she can do that." In this provocative new interview, Giroux speaks with passion and clarity about the inextricable links between education, civic engagement, and social justice. Strongly influenced by Paulo Freire, the Brazilian...

In this important lecture, which is particularly relevant to the "War on Terrorism," Edward Said challenges the ideological assumption that the contemporary world is characterized by conflicts between different and "clashing" civilizations (Western, Islamic, Confucian).

Robert McChesney, author of the award-winning book of the same title, examines the impact of media consolidation on journalism and democracy. He argues that far from delivering on the promise of more choice and greater diversity, consolidation has undermined competition, resulting in an increasingly homogenized media landscape and a news media system high on sensationalism and low on information.

Red Moon confronts one the world's oldest and most pervasive taboo subjects. With humor and refreshing candor, the documentary provides a fascinating, often ironic, take on the absurd and frequently dangerous cultural stigmas and superstitions surrounding women's menstruation. As educational as it is liberating, the film functions as both a myth-busting overview of the realties of menstruation, and a piercing cultural analysis of the ways in which...

Video games like Modern Warfare, America's Army, Medal of Honor, and Battlefield are part of an exploding market of war games whose revenues now far outpace even the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. The sophistication of these games is undeniable, offering users a stunningly realistic experience of ground combat and a glimpse into the increasingly virtual world of long-distance, push-button warfare. Far less clear, though, is what these games are doing...

Weve been told again and again that sports and politics dont mix, that games are just games and athletes should just "shut up and play." But according to Nation magazine sports editor Dave Zirin, this notion is just flat-out wrong. Not Just a Game, the powerful new documentary based on Zirins bestselling book The Peoples History of Sports, argues that far from providing merely escapist entertainment, American sports have long been at the center...

A political scientist, historian and writer offer brief insights into various aspects of past and present Indian society. Featured are John Dunn, Nile Green and Pankaj Mishra.

In this haunting portrait of America's oil-fueled excesses, director Adolfo Doring explores the inextricable link between the energy we use, the way we run our economy, and the multiplying threats that now confront the environmental health and stability of our planet. Taking as its starting point the inevitable energy depletion scenario known as "Peak Oil," the film surveys a fascinating range of the latest intellectual, political, and scientific...

Renowned energy expert Michael T. Klare provides an invaluable account of the new and increasingly dangerous competition for the world's dwindling natural resources. Arguing that the world is facing an unprecedented crisis of resource depletion -- one that goes beyond "peak oil" to encompass shortages of coal and uranium, copper and lithium, water, and arable land -- Klare shows how the desperate hunt for raw materials is forcing governments and corporations...

The words of the women and the rhythm of their lives in the seclusion of family compounds suggests both the satisfying and the limiting aspects of a woman's role in a rural Afghan community. Filmed in the Balkh Province, an area inhabited by Tajik and other Central Asian peoples. The town of Aq Kupruk is approximately 320 miles northwest of Kabul.The theme of the film focuses on women. The film and accompaning instructor notes examine the economic,...