AIF Blog
January 23, 2012
Rolling Stone magazine recently published a list of leaders who make a difference by making things happen, "The Quiet Ones: 12 Leaders Who Get Things Done." Among the impressive dozen are several standouts from Aspen Ideas.Attorney General of California Kamala Harris is known for combatting violence and fighting too-big-to-fail-banks on mortgage fraud. She presented at Aspen Ideas in 2010, while she was still the DA...
January 19, 2012
The active-duty soldier suicide rate has dropped slightly according to the Department of Defense and reported yesterday on ArmyTimes.com. However, much more attention is needed for Guard and Reserve soldiers. The article points out that: "In 2010, the number of suicides increased by 59, from 242 to 301, an increase of 24.4 percent. Almost twice as many guardsmen and reservists committed suicide — 145 in 2010, 80 in...
January 18, 2012
This week, GQ released its list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Washington. Among the politerati is a number of Aspen Ideas speakers. Here's a rundown of Washingtonians who have spoken at the Festival. Watch these videos and see what they had to say here.#5 Hillary Clinton spoke at our first Aspen Ideas Festival in 2005, before we were capturing speakers on video. Watch her session on C-Span.#10 Tom Donohue#13...
January 04, 2012
Nicholas Kristof is seemingly tireless when it comes to promoting the cause of equality and opportunity for women worldwide. This is frequent topic of his column in the New York Times as well as an ongoing discussion on his Facebook and Twitter feeds. In the video below, he and his wife, journalist Sheryl WuDunn enlightened Aspen Ideas attendees about their work around the world.Kristof caught our attention again...
December 29, 2011
In a discussion with David Bradley at Aspen Ideas last June, Liaquat Ahamed, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lords of Finance, gave historical context to our contemporary economic crisis and ailing financial system.In reflecting on the last three years, Ahamed says, "So far, the striking thing is that the dog that has not barked is protectionism — that we have managed to retain a remarkably open, global trading...
December 07, 2011
Aspen Winter 11 12 IssueThe Aspen Idea is a magazine published twice yearly by the Aspen Institute. The most recent issues devotes several pages to the Aspen Ideas Festival. Coverage of the Festival starts on page 52 (scroll down or type "52" into the number box.)Most of the full-length sessions can be found here on our website. Seach by category or speaker name.
December 01, 2011
The news reported yesterday that SolarCity has received financing from Bank of America Merrill Lynch to install solar electricity systems on houses on military bases is perhaps even sweeter on the heels of the Solyandra bankruptcy. After failing to meet a deadline to get government loan backing, SolarCity and one of the country's largest banks pressed on to reach a deal. SolarCity will install solar systems on up to...
December 01, 2011
To honor World AIDS Day, here is a look back at some of the discussions that have taken place over the years at Aspen Ideas.Focus on Youth, AIDS, and Music with Wyclef Jean, A Special Benefit for YouthAIDSGrammy Award-winning musician and activist Wyclef Jean, founder and CEO of YouthAIDS Kate Roberts, and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS Stephen Lewis discuss youth and AIDS. Wyclef Jean performs after the...
November 17, 2011
US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is in the spotlight today as he testifies at a hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, about the government-backed loan guarantee to failed solar manufacturer Solyandra.In the short video clip above, Chu talks about where the phrase "glucose economy" came from and describes exciting technology for turning plant sources into fuels. Beyond traditional solar power, "...
November 08, 2011
The G20 Summit in France wrapped up over the weekend. And while the European financial crisis dominated the talks, larger issues prevail. Read more news coverage.Nouriel Roubini, co-founder and chairman of Roubini Global Economics and professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, spoke this summer at Aspen Ideas about the crippled G20. "We are in a world that has officially moved from G7 to a G20...