When Norman Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for—in the words of the Prize committee—“having given a well-founded hope: the green revolution,” the world learned whom to revere in the battle against global hunger. The prize now is considered an epic mistake.
The Green Revolution laid the foundations for a system of chemical agriculture that has set humanity on a path of destruction. The good news: other ways of growing food offer a pathway to sustainability. To guarantee its success, we need to unlearn our ability to be in awe.
Author, filmmaker and academic Raj Patel will explore this topic during the 2024 Issa Lecture titled “The Political Ecology of Awe” Monday, March 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. in Tinkham Veale University Center, Ballroom A.
Patel will share data on why peasants in India are leading the way to recover from Borlaug’s Green Revolution, offering reason for wonder within the web of life.
This event is part of the 2024 Cleveland Humanities Festival: Awe.