Worried About Avian Flu? UAA presents a debate and discussion on "Building a Safer World: The Role of the U.N. in Preparing for Global Influenza Pandemic"

The University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ) will host “"Building a Safer World: The Role of the U.N. in Preparing for Global Influenza Pandemic” on Thursday, October 27, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Library 307.

In this free public forum, the internationally award-winning UAA Speech and Debate team will debate whether the World Health Organization (WHO), a UN agency, should be empowered to restrict movement and/or impose quarantine on entire countries in times of pandemic, as has been proposed. The debate will be followed by a faculty response panel and an open community discussion. Scheduled panelists are Doug Causey, vice provost for Research; Tom Buller, associate professor and chair of Philosophy; and Larry Weiss, professor emeritus of Sociology.

The possible expansion of WHO authority is a major topic world leaders will discuss when they come together at the 2005 World Summit in New York to review issues such as terrorism, UN reform, and many others. Come learn about how the UN can best bring about a safer, healthier, more prosperous world. At this crucial juncture, the UN and its relationship with the world’s only superpower, the United States, present vital considerations for all Americans and the world’s people.

The event is part of the national project, The People Speak, which encourages dialogue about America’s role in the world. The People Speak project was launched in October 2003 to raise the level of national dialogue about America’s role in the world. UAA has sponsored two previous The People Speak debates, both of which were extremely well attended. The project was made possible by a non-partisan coalition of organizations committed to fostering open-minded discussion on critical global issues. The project resulted in over 2,500 discussions in all fifty states and has continued on a yearly basis since then.

For free parking, park in library lot east or north of library. Call 786-4605 or email aner@uaa.alaska.edu) for more information on the debate and discussion. For more info on The People Speak project, see www.thepeoplespeak.org