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How Capitalism Breeds Vector-Borne Disease / Brent Z. Kaup & Kelly F. Austin

Oct 28
Episode 1867: How Capitalism Breeds Vector-Borne Disease / Brent Z. Kaup & Kelly F. Austin
Coffee exploitaton

We are no doubt partly to blame. We consume agricultural products like coffee, for example, which are linked to land use changes that then impact disease. And while we are responsible as consumers for our consumption, I think we also need to point a lot of responsibility to the companies that are facilitating this consumption and also facilitating the types of consumption, right? And also hiding a lot of the ecological impacts from us. They purposefully don't make links between things like coffee and deforestation and deforestation and malaria because who wants to be thinking about potentially giving kids malaria as they're enjoying their morning cup, cup of Joe, right? Are we somewhat complicit or enablers as consumers? Of course, but again, the companies really hide a lot of the destruction that occurs from our viewpoint. And of course, it's these companies that are making the majority of the profits. In terms of coffee in particular, some studies show that it's these huge roasting companies that make up to 90 or 95 cents on every coffee dollar sold while less than 5 cents is going to the typical coffee farmer in someplace like rural Uganda.

Brent Z. Kaup and Kelly F. Austin join This Is Hell! to talk about their new book "The Pathogens of Finance: How Capitalism Breeds Vector-Borne Disease" published by University of California Press. The Pathogens of Finance explores how the power and profits of Wall Street underpin the contemporary increases in and inadequate responses to vector-borne disease.

Brent Z. Kaup studies how the transformation of nature affects social inequalities and societal well-being. In addition, he seeks to understand how the materiality of nature shapes markets, policies, and social movements.  Through his research, he has examined an array of topics including genetically modified crops in the Midwest, extractive industries in Bolivia, and the bugs in his own backyard. His areas of specialization include Environment, Energy, Political Economy, Socioeconomic Change and Development, and Globalization. Brent Z. Kaup is Professor of Sociology at William & Mary and author of Market Justice: Political Economic Struggle in Bolivia

Kelly F. Austin grew up outside of Santa Cruz, California. She attended college at Oregon State University, and went to earn her PhD in Sociology at North Carolina State University. Kelly arrived at Lehigh University in 2012, and in addition to being a member of the Sociology and Anthropology department, has also served as Director of the Health, Medicine and Society program, Director of the Global Studies Program, and is currently Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs for the College of Arts and Sciences. Kelly lives in Fountain Hill and spends summers in Bududa, Uganda working with Lehigh undergraduates and local community groups. 

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Brent Z. Kaup Kelly F. Austin

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Brent kaup 3
Guest

Brent Z. Kaup

Brent Z. Kaup studies how the transformation of nature affects social inequalities and societal well-being. In addition, he seeks to understand how the materiality of nature shapes markets, policies, and social movements.  Through his research, he has examined an array of topics including genetically modified crops in the Midwest, extractive industries in Bolivia, and the bugs in his own backyard. His areas of specialization include Environment, Energy, Political Economy, Socioeconomic Change and Development, and Globalization. Brent Z. Kaup is Professor of Sociology at William & Mary and author of "Market Justice: Political Economic Struggle in Bolivia."

 

Kelly f austin
Guest

Kelly F. Austin

@kelly_f_austin

Kelly F. Austin grew up outside of Santa Cruz, California. She attended college at Oregon State University, and went to earn her PhD in Sociology at North Carolina State University. Kelly arrived at Lehigh University in 2012, and in addition to being a member of the Sociology and Anthropology department, has also served as Director of the Health, Medicine and Society program, Director of the Global Studies Program, and is currently Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs for the College of Arts and Sciences. Kelly lives in Fountain Hill and spends summers in Bududa, Uganda working with Lehigh undergraduates and local community groups.