Cynthia Kaufman

Author: Cynthia Kaufman

Cynthia Kaufman is the Director of the Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action De Anza College where she also teaches Philosophy. She is the author of four books on social change: Challenging Power; Democracy and Accountability in a Fractured World (Bloomsbury 2020); The Sea is Rising and So are We: A Climate Justice Handbook (PM Press 2021); Getting Past Capitalism: History, Vision, Hope (Lexington Books 2012) and Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change (2nd Edition PM Press 2016). She is a lifelong social change activist, having worked on issues such as tenants’ rights, police abuse, union organizing, international politics, and most recently climate change. She received her PhD and M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and her B.A. in Development Studies from University of California, Berkeley.

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 Cynthia Kaufman climate change

Is Reinvestment a Good Strategy for the Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement?

Fossil fuel divestment is emerging as a powerful strategy in the fight against climate change. Right now there are hundreds of campaigns in the US as well as globally. Despite the movements' successes, there is much confusion about the roles of politics and economics in divestment work. It is crucial that we keep our focus … Continue reading Is Reinvestment a Good Strategy for the Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement?

May 22, 2021June 9, 2021 Cynthia Kaufman capitalism, climate change, racism

Racism, Capitalism, and the Climate Crisis

For the past few years, I have worked with Fossil Free California, a mostly white group, trying to get the gigantic California pension funds to divest from fossil fuels. Two years ago, we embarked on an internal process to look at how race and racism operate within our organization. We started to question how a … Continue reading Racism, Capitalism, and the Climate Crisis

May 18, 2021June 9, 2021 Cynthia Kaufman climate change

Investing in Destruction: California Teachers Pension Money Should Not Be Funding Line 3

Environmental organizers across the country are converging in Northern Minnesota in support of Indigenous Water Protectors, to stop the construction of the Line 3 pipeline expansion. Across the country, people are protesting, sending letters, and making calls to demand that President Biden shut down the construction of Line 3 just as he called for the … Continue reading Investing in Destruction: California Teachers Pension Money Should Not Be Funding Line 3

May 18, 2021June 9, 2021 Cynthia Kaufman capitalism, climate change, disruption

The System Will Not Solve the Climate Crisis Without a Push: That’s Where You Come in

This is an all hands-on-deck moment where civil society, that means you and I, need to throw everything we have into changing the politics of business as usual Bill Gates is the most recent billionaire to write a book on what needs to be done to solve the climate crisis. The point of his book, … Continue reading The System Will Not Solve the Climate Crisis Without a Push: That’s Where You Come in

May 18, 2021June 9, 2021 Cynthia Kaufman climate change

Who Funds the Climate Crisis?

First the good news: The technology needed for a carbon-free economy in every country in the world already exists. It is affordable, most of it will make our lives better, and making that transition rapidly would cost less than cleaning up the disasters anticipated by inaction on climate.Now the not so good news: To achieve … Continue reading Who Funds the Climate Crisis?

March 20, 2021 Cynthia Kaufman Uncategorized

The main goal of Norwegian economist Per Espen Stoknes’ new book, Tomorrow's Economy: A Guide to Creating Healthy Green Growth, is to offer the concept of healthy green growth as an alternative to simple GDP growth. Stoknes teaches in a business school, and the economic tools he creates around this concept will probably be very … Continue reading A Just Transition to a Fair and Sustainable Society or Healthy Green Growth?