John Perkins, the founder of Dream Change Coalition, shared the story of the time he spent as an international 'economic hit man' after being recruited by the National Security Agency. He defined an 'economic hit man' as someone who assists in cheating developing countries and US taxpayers, by funneling money from the World Bank to the wealthy in the private sector.

In his capacity as chief economist for the firm Chas. T. Main, Perkins said he traveled the world, arranging for developing countries to take out huge loans to pay for companies such as Bechtel and Halliburton to build infrastructure on their land. But then in order to pay off the debt, the countries were cajoled into signing away rights to their valuable resources, he detailed. The assets then became part of what Perkins termed the "corporatacracy," a global empire, largely based in the United States, that encompasses the highest echelons of corporations, banking and government. In what could be considered an unethical but not illegal manner, such countries are taken over without any military action, he noted.

Perkins left this line of work and now strives to reform the system. After Sept. 11, 2001, he decided to ignore the bribes he'd been offered to keep silent, and publish his expose, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, with the goal of raising consciousness about what is going on and bringing America back to its original goals.

Morgellons Disease

In the first hour, Dr. Douglas Buckner Sr. , Mary Leitao and Ken Cowles of the Morgellons Research Foundation discussed a baffling skin disease which has recently begun to receive attention. Called Morgellons Disease, the symptoms begin with an itching and crawling sensation to the skin, which then develops into lesions that often have strange fibers coming out of them, Buckner detailed.

Most sufferers end up with severe fatigue and other serious problems, said Leitao. Cowles, who has worked to publicize the condition, declared it to be a genuine medical mystery at this point. Buckner, who once had the ailment, said he is now symptom-free after a lengthy regimen of exercise, detox and antibiotics.