VANCOUVER, Wash.— “Economic Globalization and the Global Democracy Movement after Sept. 11” is the topic of two evening forums next week on the Washington State University Vancouver campus.
The keynote speaker for the 7 p.m. program on April 4 is the Honorable Roger Simmons, Consul General for the Canadian Consulate in Seattle. He will discuss “NAFTA and U.S.-Canada Relations in the New World Order.”
Since his appointment in 1998, he has worked to resolve the Pacific salmon dispute, repeal a restrictive United States border measure, expand economic links and advance Canada’s position in transboundary issues. He is particularly interested in political, border, trade, environmental and resource issues essential to Canada’s concerns for his four-state territory of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
After the address, Karen Goddin, executive director of Pacific Northwest International Trade Association will speak on “Free Trade in a Time of War: The View from the Pacific Northwest.” Scott Goddin, director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Assistance Center in Portland, Ore., will also speak on “Export Promotion after September 11: A U.S. Government Perspective.” The forum is set for the Student Services Lecture Hall.
Martha L. Cottam, professor of political science at WSU Pullman, will serve as moderator for the April 4 forum. Otwin Marenin, chair of WSU’s Department of Political Science, will serve as discussant.
On April 5, Kevin Danaher, co-founder of the international human rights organization Global Exchange and author of “Democratizing the Global Economy,” will give the keynote address on “People’s Globalization vs. Corporate Globalization.” Described by The New York Times as the “Paul Revere of globalization’s woes,” Danaher is well known for his dynamic speaking style aimed at encouraging people to expand their political vision and take charge of their lives.
In this forum he will explain why he believes the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have consistently advanced “free trade” interests of multinational corporations at the expense of local communities, working families, human rights and the environment.
The second speaker on April 5 is Andrew Appleton, a political science faculty member at the Pullman campus. His talk is titled “Globalization as What? Economic, Political and Cultural Explanations.”
Paul Thiers, assistant professor of political science at WSU Vancouver, will serve as moderator for this forum. Clay Mosher, associate professor of sociology at WSU Vancouver, will serve as discussant. The April 5 forum is set for 7 p.m. at the Student Services Building, Room 129.
The WSU Vancouver College of Liberal Arts, Program in Public Affairs and The Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service are hosting the programs.
The Foley Institute was established at WSU in 1995 to foster Congressional studies, civic education, public service and public policy research in a nonpartisan, cross-disciplinary setting. It is named for former U.S. Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley.
Both presentations are free and open to the public. WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. just east of I-5 and I-205 off the 134th Street exit. For more information, call (360) 546-9640.
