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Lecture examines trade, globalization and hunger

Nov. 6, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Trade, globalization and hunger, and their relationships both domestically and internationally will be adressed in a lecture by Claudia Rodriguez-Zinn of Global Exchange at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, in Room 2303 of Sangren Hall at Western Michigan University.

"Globalization is fundamental to our world society and has led to enormous changes in the way we lead our lives," says Andrea Vogler, co-chair of Students for a Sustainable Earth, which is sponsoring Rodriguez-Zinn's appearance at the university. "It is important that students are able to see and understand how the intricacies of global systems are affecting their lives directly and indirectly."

Claudia Rodriguez-Zinn is a Mexicana-Americana recently returned from living in Chiapas, Mexico, and working with women agriculture collectives in indigenous communities. She is coordinator of the Youth Leadership Program at San Francisco-based Global Exchange. The youth program explores the effects that trade and corporations have on youth both internationally and domestically.

While in Chiapas, Rodriguez-Zinn also coordinated and facilitated Global Exchange "reality tours" in Chiapas. Reality tours focus on the impact free trade agreements, such as NAFTA, have had on the local peoples and Mexico.

Students for a Sustainable Earth is a registered student organization at WMU.

Further information on Global Exchange is available at <www.globalexchange.org>.

Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

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