Cogent, compelling warnings about exponential population growth, misplaced faith in technology to solve our problems, that greed and envy are treacherous underpinnings for an economic system—have been ignored for more than two centuries. These warnings have come from some of the best minds of their times and have often been endorsed by other respected scientists and thinkers, yet their influence on public policy and individual behavior has been negligible.

This is the focus of “Slow Learners: Two Hundred Years of Unheeded Warnings,” a free conversation with Oregon State University professor emeritus Richard Clinton on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 6:00 pm. at the Downtown Bend Library. This program is hosted by Deschutes Public Library and The City Club of Central Oregon and sponsored by Oregon Humanities.

Clinton is professor emeritus of political science at Oregon State University, where he currently teaches in the Honors College. Clinton was twice a Senior Fulbright Scholar-facilitator in Peru and has been the Hanna Distinguished Chair in Latin American Politics at Rollins College in Florida. He is the author of three books and dozens of journal articles, book chapters, and essays; the editor or co-editor of three volumes; and, most recently, the co-author of Environmental Politics and Policy: A Comparative Approach (McGraw Hill, 2002).

Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state's future.

Oregon Humanities (813 SW Alder St, #702; Portland, OR 97205) connects Oregonians to ideas to change lives and transform communities. More information about Oregon Humanities’ programs and publications, which include the Conversation Project, Think & Drink, Humanity in Perspective, Happy Camp, Public Program Grants, Responsive Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz at 312-1032.