At a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the publication in 1969 of his first political book, American Power and the New Mandarins, Noam Chomsky spoke about current events around the world. He was introduced by Amy Goodman. Topics included the settlement of a lawsuit against the Shell oil company in Nigeria, the global economic crisis and other crises, social and political movements, military power, and U.S. political policies. Noam Chomsky, professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the author of dozens of books, including Hegemony or Survival; Failed States; and the forthcoming Hopes and Prospects. This benefit event called "Crisis and Hope: Theirs and Ours" was held by the Brecht Forum at Riverside Church in New York City. Co-sponsors were The Education Ministry of The Riverside Church, Mission and Social Justice Commission of The Riverside Church, Theatre of the Oppressed at The Riverside Church, The Theater of the Oppressed Laboratory, and Bluestockings Books.