Michio Kaku
Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist, best-selling author, and popularizer of science. He’s the co-founder of string field theory (a branch of string theory), and continues Einstein’s search to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into one unified theory.
He has also been a Maoist-oriented Marxist for many decades, a fact totally omitted in printed materials about him except in the Marxist press. Kaku is like the two-faced figure of Janus, with only one face being shown to the general public, not his radical one.
Education
He received a B.S. (summa cum laude) from Harvard University in 1968 where he came first in his physics class. He went on to the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley and received a Ph.D. in 1972. In 1973, he held a lectureship at Princeton University.[1]
Academia
Kaku holds the Henry Semat Chair and Professorship in theoretical physics at the City College of New York, where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, as well as New York University (NYU).[2]
Writing and media
Kaku is the author of several scholarly, Ph.D. level textbooks and has had more than 70 articles published in physics journals, covering topics such as superstring theory, supergravity, supersymmetry, and hadronic physics.
Michio’s new book, Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration of the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel has already hit the NY Times Bestseller List.
Other Books Include:
- Parallel Worlds - 2006
- Einstein’s Cosmos - 2005
- Visions - 1999
- Beyond Einstein - 1995
- Hyperspace - 1994
Kaku has appeared on television (Discovery, BBC, ABC, Science Channel, and CNN to name a few), written for popular science publications like Discover, Wired, and New Scientist, been featured in documentaries like Me & Isaac Newton, and hosted many of his own including BBC’s recent series on Time.[3]
ASI activist
Brenda Sunoo, Jan Sunoo, Michio Kaku, and Eddie Kochiyama were all active in Asians in the Spirit of the Indo-Chinese (ASI), at City College in the early 1970s. The group was designed to guarantee an Asian presence in the Anti-Vietnam War movement.[4]
WVO leader
In the 1970s, Michio Kaku was a leader, with Jerry Tung, of the Workers Viewpoint Organization, forerunner to the Communist Workers Party.[5]
Greensboro support
After the infamous November 1979 Greensboro Massacre of 5 Communist Workers Party members by the Ku Klux Klan, the CWP stepped up its political offensive, blow for blow. The Party’s task, as formulated by General Secretary Jerry Tung, was to reach out to all who would listen, and proceeding from a spirit of uniting with them around this question, to struggle to ’ provide direction and organization for all who were being drawn into the struggle. Within thirty days of November 3rd, the CWP began a national tour of the widows of the CWP 5, Party speakers like Central Committee member Philip Thompson, and prominent friends. In New York, for instance, attorney William Kunstler and anti-nuke activist Dr. Michio Kaku spoke at the forum. General Secretary Jerry Tung personally attended the event.[6].
AAFE founder
A native of California, Michio became involved with Asian Americans for Equality as a founder in the 1970s, and hosted organizing meetings in his Chinatown apartment. [7]
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Speakers at other New York City Physicians for Social Responsibility meetings from August 1981 to January 1982 included Michio Kaku, physics department, City College of New York, a frequent MFS rally speaker who links his antinuclear sentiments to the Hiroshima atomic bombing in which members of his family died; H. Jack Geiger, a founding PSR member and president of IPPNW; Barry Commoner, Citizens Party; and Joe Fahey of Pax Christi and the Manhattan College Peace Studies section on the European Nuclear Disarmament movement. Among the featured speakers in national PSR presentations have been Kosta Tsipis; Gene LaRocque, CDI; John Constable; H. Jack Geiger; Howard H. Hiatt.
Organizing Committee for Federation for Progress
Michio Kaku was listed as a "signer" of "A National Call To Form a Coalition Opposed to the Reagan Administration", on a pamphlet obtained in Washington, D.C. on March 27, 1982. This "call" was a product of the marxist mélange of people who supported the "Organizing Committee for Federation for Progress which eventually became the national marxist organization known as the Federation For Progress. The (FFP) existed mainly in the 1980s before losing much of its national structure though a residual faction maintained some activities later on.
FPP conference
According to the Communist Workers Party newspaper Workers Viewpoint March 9 1983, page 3, more than 300 people gathered in Los Angeles to organize a large solidarity conference to coincide with the 1984 los Angeles Olympics.
Organized by Federation For Progress, participants included CISPES, Gray Panthers, ACLU, Alliance for Survival, National Lawyers Guild, NOW, National Resistance Coalition, and United Against Black Genocide.
The conference opened with presentations from Michio Kaku, Wilson Riles, Jr. of the Oakland City Council and Nancy Baker of San Diego Coalition of Labor Union Women. It ended with a powerful presentation at the First Unitarian Church where Phillip Zwerling an advisory board member of the Greensboro Justice Fund was Minister.
California State Assembymember Maxine Waters, Ramsey Clark, Michio Kaku and San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt, "raised the political and spiritual challenges confronting the American people in the struggle for jobs, peace and equality."
Highlight of the conference was the discussion of plans for the 1984 Olympics. Participants were Carol Ono of Federation for Progress, Berkeley professor Harry Edwards, UCLA instructor Judy Chu and Mark Ridley-Thomas, president of the SCLC.
"SURVIVALFEST 84"
SURVIVAL FEST 84 was held August 5 1984 in MacArthur Park.
"Come To Hear And Strategize With Those Changing The 1980's"
- How can we support each other in electing progressive local candidates?
- How can we make electoral work serve the grassroots movements for a freeze, for U.S. out of Central America and human needs?
- How can we over turn the racist dual primary system in the South?
- Is working inside and outside the Democratic Party a viable strategy and how can it be done?
- How can we formulate demands to revitalize our basic industries without falling into the pitfall of the chauvinist anti-import solution -- letting U.S. finance capital off the hook?
This event was organized by the Communist Workers Party front, the Coalition for a People's Convention. The event was advertised in a half-page notice in the Marxist weekly Guardian, their Book Supplement - Summer 1984, p. 12, and the Communist Workers Party and Federation For Progress were listed as participants.
National endorsers of the event included Prof. Michio Kaku, Nuclear Physics, City College of New York (CCNY).
Peace Action
Michio Kaku has addressed publicly his concerns with nuclear arms development, and was on the Board of Peace Action and radio station WBAI-NY.[8]
Workers World Party event
A Workers World Party event was held on December 5, 1981, in Rochester with "Over 80 activist and organizers came from the Upstate cities of Ithaca, Buffalo, Geneva, Binghamtom and Courtland as well as Rochester." Among the speakers were: Michio Kaku - Professor, but not identified as such. Photo of Kaku giving his speech
All-Peoples Congress National Advisory Board
In 1983, the Workers World Party influenced All-Peoples Congress' National Advisory Board, included;
- Bella Abzug WOMEN. U.S.A.
- Isaiah Bennett President. A. Philip Randolph Institute. South Carolina President, Local J5A., Retail.Wholesale and Department Store Employees Union.
- Josephine D. Butler Chairperson. D.C. Statehood Party
- Reverend Victor Carpenter , Senior Minister, Arlington Street Church
- Ramsey Clark, Former U.S: Attorney General
- Lynda Clendenning, Vice President; AFSÇME Maryland State Employees Council
- Emile D'Antonio, Film Director
- Dick Gregory
- Dr. Michio Kaku Prfessor of Nuclear Physics. City College, of New York.
- Corita Kent, Artist
- Paul O'Dwyer Former President. New York City Council
- Margaret Ratner, Attorney
- Jewel Ryan White, President, National Black Communications Coalition President. Local 5011, Communications Workers of America
- Wilard Uphaus, World Fellowship of Faiths
- George Wald, Nobel Prize Laureate, Harvard University
- Quentin Young, M.D.[9]
The Guardian supporter
The Guardian, April 13, 1983, p. 2, contained a fundraising message
"We Interrupt This Newspaper to Bring You An Urgent Message"
- $35,000 Matching Fund deadline: May 1
- Contributions needed immediately for the Guardian to continue publication
Source:[10]
"35: 1948-1983" "Now, during its 35th anniversary year, join us in offering much-needed support to the Guardian - an essential voice committed to today's struggles for peace, liberation and social justice" -
Listed supporters included Michio Kaku, Professor of Physics, CCNY.
Federation for Progress
The Federation For Progress was another attempt to create a new Marxist united front organization, much like similar efforts of the People's Alliance and the National Committee for Independent Political Action
The FFP put a half-page ad in the "socialist" oriented weekly newspaper, In These Times ITT in the July 14-27, 1982 issue, p. 8, entitled: "A natural follow-up to June 12: A national conference July 30-August 1 at Columbia Un., in New York City".
It was a follow-up conference to the major "anti-defense lobby" march and protest in New York on June relating to the U.N. Second Special Session on Disarmament.
The FPP Interim Executive Committee consisted of;
- Judy Chu - Professor Asian-American Studies, Los Angeles
- Michio Kaku- nuclear physicist
- Frances Hubbard - teacher of community health and social medicine, City University of New York CUNY
- Dr. Arjun Makijani - nuclear disarmament activist
- Manning Marable - Professor of Political Economy
- Musheer Robinson - Executive Director, Black and Latin Workers Health & Safety Resource Center, Newark, NJ
- Tony To - Federation For Progress National Staff
- Kitty Tucker - Non-Nuclear World, Supporters of Silkwood Karen Silkwood
"Survival Day 84" speakers
Survival Fest 84, "Survival Day 84" speakers included Michio Kaku.
Conference on Socialism and Activism
The Maoist-oriented weekly newspaper, The Guardian of November 27, 1985, on Page 14, featured a half-page announcement about the upcoming Conference on Socialism and Activism to be held on December 6-8, 1985, at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. It was "sponsored" by The Guardian, The Nation Institute, The Progressive (magazine), and WBAI-FM (one of the Pacifica stations).
Keynote Speakers were;
- Rev. William Sloan Coffin, Jr. - Riverside Church
- Sidney Lens - Senoir Editor, Progressive Magazine
- Prof. George Wald - Nobel Laureate
- Barbara Ehrenreich- Co-Chairperson, DSA
- Dr. Michio Kaku - Nuclear Physicist
- David Paterson - New York State Senator
- Anne Braden - Southern Organizing Committee SOC aka Southern Organizing Committee for Economic Justice SOCEJ
- Representatives from African National Congress ANC
Kaku was also listed as being one of five members of the "Steering Committee" in an ad for the conference in the Marxist weekly the "Guardian", Oct. 9, 1985, along with Barbara Koeppel, a film maker; Joe Miller, a longtime supporter of communist fronts and causes;Carolyn Kazdin; and veteran Marxist organizer from Chicago, Sidney Lens. "Join Us At The Conference on Socialism and Activism", New York City, Dec. 6, 7, 8, Teachers College, Columbia University: "Our Movement Is At A Critical Juncture - Where Do We Go From Here?"
South End Press Books
The Guardian, November 5, 1986, Guardian Book Supplement, Fall 1986, had a full-paged ad listing, with a brief synopsis, of some of their "books for the movement", which were as follows:
- "Beauty Secrets: Women and the Politics of Appearance", Wendy Chapkis
- "The Looking Glass World of Nonfiction TV", Elayne Rapping (a writer for the Maoist Guardian)
- "To Win a Nuclear War", Michio Kaku and Daniel Axelrod
"Based on recently de-classified "Top Secret" documents, this shocking survey of U.S. plans to wage nuclear war from 1945 to the present demonstrates how the U.S. has brought the world to the brink of nuclear war dozens of times. From the Berlin Crisis through Star Wars, the authors introduce us to the war-planners and trace the evolution of their strategies, technologies and institutions." 400 pp., $11.00
Asian Americans for Equality event
On May 28 1986, Prof. Michio Kaku attended a premier showing of a new film on China, "A Great wall" at Equality House, New York. the showing was organized by Asian Americans for Equality, a front for the Communist Workers Party.
Here Kaku is pictured with director Peter Wang, and then Asian Americans for Equality President Margaret Chin, a member of the CWP.
Addressed Communist Party USA, front meeting
An ad/notice was placed in the Guardian, November 8, 1989, concerning an upcoming U.S. Peace Council national conference. The text of the notice was:
"End The Cold War Fund Human Needs" U.S. Peace Council's Tenth Anniversary National Conference - Boston, Mass., Nov. 10-12, 1989
Speakers Included:[11]
- Leslie Cagan
- Rep.John Conyers - (D-Mich)
- Prof.Gerald Horne
- Prof. Michio Kaku
- Robert Krimsky
- Prof. Manning Marable
- Jack O'Dell - Rainbow Coalition Operation PUSH
- Dennis Rivera - Local 1199 Drug & Hospital Workers Union
- Angela Sanbrano- CISPES
- Bernie Sanders
- Holly Sklar
- Zehdi Terzi - Palestine Liberation Organisation
- Dessima Williams - Grenada Foundation
Conference to Counter the Combat Culture
Conference to Counter the Combat Culture, was held at the Julie Richman High School in New York City on May 3-5, 1991, and sponsored by the Brecht Forum, 79 Leonard Street, NYC, NY 10013, this conference had as its themes the following:
- military budget vs. human services
- New World Order abroad and at home
- racism in the Gulf War
- gender and war-making
- war, families and children
- new organizing strategies
- alternative media/communications
- the fires burn on in the Gulf
- the psycho-politics of patriotism
- teaching about the Gulf War
Participants included,Michio Kaku - Professor physicist, CUNY, (from the list on the ad/notice)[12]
Women Strike for Peace
10/21/95 - Women Strike for Peace 34th Anniversary luncheon, with Michio Kaku, Greg Mitchell, Rep Nydia Velazquez (D-NY). Southgate Hotel, 371 7th Ave at 31st St.Reservations: Zelda Davidow. [13]
Nuclear Y2K Symposium
Monday, March 8, 1999, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. a Nuclear Y2K Symposium, was held in Canon House Office Building, Caucus Room 345, Speakers: Dr. Helen Caldicott, Rep. Ed Markey, Sen. Tom Harkin, Bill Ulrich, David Lochbaum, Michio Kaku, Rock Cowles, Paul Gunter, Michael Murphy, Judith Johnsrud, Dan Plesch, Dr. Ted Taylor, Bruce Blair, Michael Kraig, Stephen Young, and others.[14]
AAFE 40th Anniversary Gala
Asian Americans for Equality celebrated their 40th Anniversary Gala, November 18, 2014, at Tribeca 360, 10 Debrosses St NYC.
Honored "Agents of Change" included Michio Kaku;[15]
- Michio Kaku is theoretical physicist, professor, futurist, communicator, NYTimes best-selling author, and popularizer of science. Michio has made frequent appearances on radio, television, and film, and writes extensive online blogs and articles. A native of California, Michio became involved with AAFE as a founder in the 1970s, and hosted organizing meetings in his Chinatown apartment. Michio has addressed publicly his concerns with nuclear arms development, and was on the Board of Peace Action and radio station WBAI-NY.;[16]
References
Template:Reflist Federation For Progress
- ↑ Kaku webpage, accessed may 6, 2011
- ↑ Kaku webpage, accessed may 6, 2011
- ↑ Kaku webpage, accessed may 6, 2011
- ↑ Legacy to Liberation: Politics & Culture of Revolutionary Asian Pacific America, By Carolyn Antonio, page 246
- ↑ [Legacy to Liberation: Politics & Culture of Revolutionary Asian Pacific America, By Carolyn Antonio, page 248]
- ↑ [The 80’s, Vol. II, No 1, January-February 1981]
- ↑ AAFE bio, accessed Nov 15, 2014
- ↑ AAFE bio, accessed Nov 15, 2014
- ↑ All-Peoples Congress press release, 1983
- ↑ The Guardian, April 13, 1983, p. 2, fundraising message
- ↑ Guardian, November 8, 1989
- ↑ Guardian April 3, 1991, p. 13
- ↑ CREED NYC Calendar #10 9/2/95
- ↑ Calendar * History * Protests * Current Events * Vigil * Nuclear Y2K Symposium
- ↑ AAFE Agents of Change, accessed Nov 15, 2014
- ↑ AAFE Agents of Change, accessed Nov 15, 2014