Lessons from the Past, Warnings for the Future - Professor Sir Richard Evans FBA

The concluding lecture takes the example of HIV/AIDS and discusses how reactions to the epidemic mirrored those found in the social and cultural perception of earlier epidemics. As in earlier epidemics, sufferers have been ostracized, persecuted or blamed for their own misfortune. In South Africa the government of Thabn Mbeki dismissed AIDS as an ideological construct of neo-colonialism building on racist stereotypes of Africans as sexually irresponsible, with disastrous consequences. HIV/AIDS has spread rapidly through modern means of communication, such as air travel, just as cholera was spread by traffic on railways and steamships. Future epidemics may spread even more rapidly, and the series concludes by asking what, if anything, can be done to prevent them.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and...
Gresham College has been giving free public lectures since 1597. This tradition continues today with all of our five or so public lectures a week being made available for free download from our website. There are currently nearly 1,500 lectures free to access or download from the website.
Website: www.gresham.ac.uk
Twitter: / greshamcollege
Facebook: / 14011689941

[@kozlowka]

Thank you Gresham College for your free lectures. Never knew your college has been giving free lectures since the 16th century! ! Most impressive. Your Prof. Evans presents subject matter in an interesting manner, keeping a viewer attentive. One of the best presenters I've experienced even during my undergrad and grad years at McGill, etc.

[@emwesigwa]

This is all too familiar in the current circumstances. Thanks Gresham College and Professor Evans for an illuminating lecture

[@MrKmanthie]

I really enjoy Gresham College's lectures. Seen many; not just one person but a variety of speakers lecturing on a number of topics. Always been fascinating. I really have enjoyed Richard Evans's lecture series on "Great Plagues" which has been quite interesting and now, here I am, watching the last one in the series. (I actually did see, at least some of the lectures in this series at least a couple years ago or maybe 3, but I'm glad I came across it again & watched all 6 this time, in order, up to this final one. A very interesting man, Sir Richard & he has a quick wit, as well.

[@PifflePrattle]

I've thoroughly enjoyed this series of lectures as well others provided by Gresham college. So thank you to all those involved in making them possible.

[@arunimachandrakar4707]

PifflePrattle

[@untility2751]

ฐ+สสส

[@mascuy433]

PifflePrattle ladi

[@colinbyerly5212]

Thank you for this video !