Lectures to examine globalization impacts
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
As Planet Earth enters the 21st century, it becomes subject to an
increasingly worldwide economy, culture and technology.
Titled Globalization and the Environment: What Are the Tradeoffs?, the
second annual Frank Church Lectures will feature an extensive group of speakers at Elkhorn
Resort on Dec. 2.
The lecture series, sponsored by the Environmental Resource Center (ERC)
in Ketchum, is designed to honor the late Sen. Frank Church by exploring topics connecting
the humanities and the environment. Last years event, the first, was well attended.
"Today, everyone seems to consider themselves an
environmentalist," ERC board member and Frank Church Lectures project director Nikki
Potts said, "and now, the globalization of trade, technology and culture is part of
the environmental debate."
At the forefront of the globalization debate is the World Trade
Organization (WTO). The WTO made worldwide headlines last November when thousands of
protesters converged on Seattle to rally against the WTOs trade policies.
WTO uses a one-country, one-vote democratic system to promulgate trade
regulations for its 139 member countries.
Among the issues protesters rallied against in Seattle were lack of
environmental regulations on the worldwide trading network. Potts said lecture speakers
are sure to offer views on the WTOs policies on the environment.
ERC executive director Molly Goodyear said Idaho is far from isolated from
these world trade issues.
"It really does affect us right here in our backyard," she said.
"We have companies in our backyard who are worldwide. Were certainly not
isolated from that global marketplace.
"Hopefully one of the things we can learn to export is our sense of
environmental stewardship."
Keynote speaker Tim Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation,
will speak on how the environmental effects of globalization affect individuals.
Roderick Nash, professor emeritus at the University of California at Santa
Barbara, will make his second appearance at the lectures, speaking about the Earths
historic milestones.
The views presented will not be limited to those of environmental
activists.
Bob Heine, representing DuPont, and Oscar Avalle, representing the World
Bank, will give presentations.
"The ERCs mission is to educate people to be able to make
informed decisions about environmental issues," Goodyear said. "We are hoping to
educate the public on this important global issue."
The Frank Church Lectures are free and will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.