Dr. David Lyon - Surveillance, Security, and Democracy

Dr. David Lyon, Director of the Surveillance Project at Queen's University, gave a provocative and stimulating presentation today about surveillance, security, and democracy. With a knowledge of data gathering that is both extensive and intensive, Dr. Lyon was a very appropriate speaker to complete our Fall 2018 series. Thank you, Dr. Lyon!

Dr. Lyon's new book, The Culture of Surveillance, looks fascinating. Here is the blurb about the book from Amazon.ca:

From 9/11 to the Snowden leaks, stories about surveillance increasingly dominate the headlines. But surveillance is not only 'done to us' – it is something we do in everyday life. We submit to surveillance, believing we have nothing to hide. Or we try to protect our privacy or negotiate the terms under which others have access to our data. At the same time, we participate in surveillance in order to supervise children, monitor other road users, and safeguard our property. Social media allow us to keep tabs on others, as well as on ourselves. This is the culture of surveillance. 

This important book explores the imaginaries and practices of everyday surveillance. Its main focus is not high-tech, organized surveillance operations but our varied, mundane experiences of surveillance that range from the casual and careless to the focused and intentional. It insists that it is time to stop using Orwellian metaphors and find ones suited to twenty-first-century surveillance — from 'The Circle' or 'Black Mirror.' 

Surveillance culture, David Lyon argues, is not detached from the surveillance state, society and economy. It is informed by them. He reveals how the culture of surveillance may help to domesticate and naturalize surveillance of unwelcome kinds, and considers which kinds of surveillance might be fostered for the common good and human flourishing.

Thank you also to all our wonderful members who support Later Life Learning's ongoing lecture series. As soon as details of the Spring 2019 series become available, our members will be informed.

In the meantime, enjoy the autumn weather and get bundled up for winter!

If you have any questions, please email Later Life Learning Belleville at LLLBelleville@gmail.com  .

Dr. Stephen Tapp - Trade Policy in the Trump Era

On Wednesday, October 17, Dr. Stephen Tapp, Deputy-Chief Economist with Export Development Canada, spoke to an appreciative audience on the topic of "Trade Policy in the Trump Era" - a daunting task, indeed!

Dr. Tapp was certainly up to the task, however, giving a clear and insightful analysis of Canada's economic strengths and challenges. He was an excellent speaker and was able to translate complex economic data into terms a layperson could understand. He also brought clarity and reassurance to the Later Life Learning audience.

Thank you, Dr. Tapp!

Join us next week for the fifth and final speaker in the current series. Professor David Lyon will wrap up the series by discussing "Surveillance, Security, and Democracy." Dr. Lyon is Director of the Surveillance Project at Queen's University. Another very topical lecture! It will be good to welcome Dr. Lyon back to Later Life Learning Belleville.

The lecture will be held on Wednesday, October 24, at St. Thomas' Anglican Church, 201 Church Street, Belleville, 10 am to 12 noon. Single tickets ($15) will be available at the door. Those who have pre-ordered lunch will gather at Dinkel's Restaurant, 44 Bridge Street East, Belleville, following the lecture.

For more information, contact Larry Tayler, Membership Co-ordinator. (LLLBelleville@gmail.com)

Conflict in the Name of God

Louis Delvoie, a dear friend of Later Life Learning Belleville, delivered an excellent lecture this morning on the topic of "Conflict in the Name of God: The Resurgence of Religious Politics". Given the disruptions that are currently roiling the planet, there can be no more relevant topic than this. Given Louis' many years of service in the Canadian Diplomatic Corps, he is uniquely qualified to address this issue. 

The following quotation from one of Louis' recent columns in The Kingston Whig Standard sums up his views:

"In short, the mutual incomprehension which often characterizes relations between the secular and the religious does not seem likely to disappear anytime soon."

In addition to being a distinguished speaker in our series, Louis is also part of the triad that arranged the speakers for this series. The other two people are John Allan and Charles Pentland. Our thanks to all three of these learned gentlemen for their contributions to Later Life Learning Belleville,

And thank you, Louis, for your fine lecture today!

Next Week!

Join us next week, Wednesday, October 17th, at 10am, for the fourth lecture in our current series. Dr. Stephen Tapp, Deputy-Chief Economist with Export Development Canada, will be talking to us about "Trade Policy in the Trump Era." Another highly relevant topic!

Tickets are available at the door for $15. The lectures are held at St. Thomas' Anglican Church, 201 Church Street, Belleville. For more information, please contact Larry Tayler, Membership Co-ordintaor. (LLLBelleville@gmail.com)

Jamie Swift and the Politics of Memory: Rewriting History

Kingston author Jamie Swift presented a fascinating lecture today (October 3) based on his latest book, The Vimy Trap. 

His view is that history is malleable and not limited to just one 'standard' interpretation, a point of view that he amplifies in this book by referring to the place that the Battle of Vimy Ridge occupies in the Canadian psyche. 

He is a first rate speaker - very stimulating indeed! Thank you, Jamie Swift!

Next Wednesday, October 11, join us for the third in our current series. A dear friend of Later Life Learning Belleville, Louis Delvoie, will be discussing "Conflicts in the Name of God: The Resurgence of Religious Politics."

The lecture will be at St. Thomas' Anglican Church, 201 Church Street, Belleville, and starts at 10 am. Single tickets will be available at the door for $15. 

For further information, contact Larry Tayler, Membership Co-ordinator, at LLLBelleville@gmail.com .