November 1998-February 1999

The Y2K Computer Bug:

Societal Collapse or Apocalypse Not?

The Mainstream Media Project's objective in launching this campaign was to help frame the debate about the Year 2000 computer problem in responsible terms. Without overstating nor underplaying the threat we wanted to provide practical information about how to deal with possible disruptions. We also sought to use the Y2K phenomenon as an opportunity to consider the implications of our dependence on technology and prompt communities nationwide to strengthen their capacities for self-reliance and resilience. These are themes seldom discussed in the mainstream media.

Forty-eight authorities on Y2K participated in the campaign, addressing the origins of the problem and its possible impacts on the national and global economy, environment, health care, power systems, and global security. They also discussed opportunities for social transformation, psychological, religious, and spiritual dimensions of Y2K, and how the Y2K phenomenon fits into the history of millennialist movements.

Radio producers and hosts reacted so positively to the campaign that many of them scheduled series of interviews over days, weeks, and even months. Between the end of November and late February we scheduled 497 interviews, including 73 on nationally or regionally syndicated networks and 421 on individual stations in every state in the U.S.

Guest Speakers by Topic

How We Got into This Predicament in the First Place

Berni Reiter, Pioneering Computer Scientist; Consultant to Pentagon and Fortune 500 companies

William Ulrich, Author, The Year 2000 Software Crisis: Challenge of the Century

Embedded Microchips: Hidden Mischief-Makers

Rick Cowles, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility's Y2K Working Group

Mark Frautschi, Expert on Y2K impacts of embedded chips

Roleigh Martin, Authority on Y2K's impacts on core infrastructures

Y2K Scenarios: What Could Happen

David Isenberg, AT&T Research Scientist; Founder of website featuring Y2K scenarios

Effects on the U.S. and Global Economy

Capers Jones, Software Management Expert

Tony Keyes, Author of The Year 2000 Computer Crisis, An Investor's Survival Guide; Host, "The Y2K Advisor"

Effects on Health Care and Hospitals

Joel Ackerman, Founder and Director, Rx2000 Solutions Institute

Craig Smith, President, Swiss America; Author

Laurene West, Director of Systems Development for one of the nation's largest managed care organizations

The Bug in the Bomb: Effects on Nuclear Security

Ira Helfand, Co-Founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility

Michael Kraig, Scoville Fellow, British American Security Information Council (BASIC)

Michael Mariotte, Director, Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Zachary Selden, Senior Research Analyst, Business Executives for National Security

Effects on Food Supplies

Geri Guidetti, Biologist; Founder and Director, Ark Institute

Effects on the Environment

Chris Clarke, Editor, Earth Island Journal, magazine of Earth Island Institute

Doug Mosel, Northern California Earth Institute

Effects on the Rest of the World

Jim Hickman, Social Entrepreneur; Pioneer of 1980's U.S.-Soviet Citizen Exchanges and Post-Cold War U.S.-Russian Economic Cooperation

J.R. Olivero, Producer/Director, Y2K International Information Programs, U.S. Dept of Commerce

Response by Governments (Federal, State, and Local)

Steve Davis, Co-Author, Y2K Risk Management

Chuck Lanza, Chief, Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management

Costis Toregas, Director, Y2K Initiative, Public Technology International

Response by Citizens: Community Preparedness and Resilience

Tony Brown, President of Tony Brown Productions; Author; Radio Talk Show Host

Mary Ann Gallagher, Computer Design Expert organizing public Y2K dialogues

Kris Gandillon, Executive Director, Wildwood Y2K Community Action

Judy Laddon, Publisher, Author, and Co-Editor, Awakening: The Upside of Y2K

Paloma O'Riley, Co-Founder, Cassandra Project

Larry Shook, Journalist, Co-Editor, Awakening: The Upside of Y2K

Eric Utne, Publisher, The Utne Reader; Editor, Y2K Citizen' s Action Guide

Y2K Will Be No Big Deal

Nicholas Zvegintzov, Oxford-Trained Computer Scientist

Opportunities for Social Transformation

Tom Atlee, President, Co-Intelligence Institute

Douglass Carmichael, Authority on socially transformative aspects of the Y2K problem

Rick Ingrasci, Director, Whidbey Island CyberCafe

David La Chapelle, Author, Artist, and Wilderness Retreat Guide

Margaret Wheatley, President, Berkana Institute; Co-Author, The Year 2000 Problem: Social Chaos or Social Transformation?

Psychological, Religious and Spiritual Dimensions

Kate Allen, Executive Director, Joseph Project

Karen Anderson, Founder of Y2K Women; Marriage and Family Therapist

Gordon Davidson, President, Center for Visionary Leadership; Co-Author, Psychological Challenges of Y2K

Michael Dowd, Pastoral Minister; Co-Founder, Portland-Metro Citizen Y2K Task Force

Jay Earley, Psychotherapist and Computer Scientist seeking Y2K solutions that encourage rethinking of institutions

Rev. Dacia Reid, Unitarian Universalist Minister; Director, UUY2K Project

Peter Russell, Futurist; Author of many books on emergence of global mind

Y2K and the Apocalypse

Richard Landes, Director, Center for Millennial Studies, Boston University

Stephen O. Leary, Annenberg School of Communications, University of Southern California; Founder, Internet website, "Y2K Media Watch"

Aaron Lynch, Author, Thought Contagion: How Belief Spreads Through Society