World Food Day teleconference set for Oct. 16, 2007
Arizona State University’s West campus is the site of a panel discussion that is part of a live uplink to World Food Prize ceremonies during a celebration of the 24th annual World Food Day on October 16.
Sponsored by the campus Women’s Resource Center, the event will take place in La Sala-C on the West campus, 4701 West Thunderbird Road in Phoenix, 9 a.m. – noon.
“Those who attend will gain a greater awareness of global hunger issues and how our daily actions can make a difference locally and globally,” says Wanda Tucker-Hicks of the Women’s Resource Center in ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
“Climate change has been included as a small segment of past topics, but this is the first teleconference which focuses on the impact of climate changes and hunger,” adds Tucker-Hicks.
The links between climate change, hunger and poverty will be the focus of the 2007 teleconference, titled “Climate: Changes, Challenges and Consequences,” while three international leaders in the field will discuss the many cross-cutting issues of global climate change and the potentially disastrous consequences for millions of poor and chronically undernourished people.
Panelists include Suzanne Hunt, an independent consultant who works with the National Resources Defense Council and the Global Bioenergy Partnership; Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig, a research scientist and leader of the Climate Impacts Group at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies; and Dr. Stephen H. Schneider, Stanford university professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies and founder and editor of the interdisciplinary journal Climate Change.
“The overwhelming majority of the world’s climate scientists are convinced that the looming crisis in climate change is caused primarily by humankind’s activities and will require immediate and far-sighted actions by all nations, rich and poor,” notes the World Food Day Web site.
World Food Day (WFD) is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness, understanding and informed, year-around action to alleviate hunger. It is observed each October 16th in recognition of the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. The first World Food Day was in 1981. In the United States the endeavor is sponsored by 450 national, private voluntary organizations, and hundreds of walks, fund-raisers, faith celebrations, food-for-all lobbying, government observances, and individual initiatives will occur on October 16.
For additional information, contact Wanda Tucker-Hicks at 602-543-3426.