E.N. Thompson Forum series to examine globalization's impact

The E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues, a preeminent speaker series at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will take on the theme of "Globalization's Promise" when its 2010-11 season launches Sept. 30.

The world, its cultures, political systems and economies have grown increasingly interconnected in recent decades. That interdependence holds tremendous benefits, but also the potential for conflict.

Forum speakers will address environmental challenges and opportunities, global public health issues, international economics and the rise of modern-day slavery, among other issues.

All lectures will be presented in the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. All are free and open to the public, but require a ticket to attend. Tickets are free and guarantee a reserved seat. Fall semester lecture tickets will be available beginning Aug. 23. Spring semester lecture tickets will be available beginning Jan. 10. To reserve tickets, call the Lied Center at (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231. Tickets may also be picked up in person or ordered by downloading a form from the forum's website, http://enthompson.unl.edu.

Dates and speakers for the 2010-11 E.N. Thompson Forum season are:

* Thursday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. -- E. Benjamin Skinner, author of "A Crime So Monstrous: Face to Face with Modern Day Slavery," will expose the fast-growing criminal industry of human trafficking in the opening lecture that shares the same title as his book. The lecture is co-sponsored by UNL's second annual Human Trafficking Conference.

* Thursday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. -- Christine Todd Whitman, former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, will offer the Governor's Lecture in the Humanities, "Staying Ahead While Going Green." The Nebraska Humanities Council sponsors the lecture.

* Wednesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. -- Former U.S. senator from Nebraska Chuck Hagel and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui will present the Charles and Linda Wilson Dialogue on Domestic Issues, "China Rising: Good News or Bad News for U.S. Workers, Consumers and Investors?"

* Wednesday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m. -- Mark Danner, a political and foreign affairs writer, reporter and professor, will present "Torture, Obama and Us: The Moral Costs of the War on Terror."

* Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m. -- Laurie Garrett, one of the country's authorities on health care and disease prevention, will offer a lecture titled "Betrayal of Trust: Critical Issues in Global Healthcare."

* Tuesday, April 12, 7 p.m. -- Pietra Rivoli, a professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, will present the Lewis E. Harris Lecture on Public Policy, "Who's Afraid of International Trade?"

Biographical information on each of the speakers is available online at http://enthompson.unl.edu.

Forum lectures will be available live online at www.unl.edu, as well as on Lincoln TimeWarner Cable Channel 21, NETSAT 105, UNL campus Channel 8 and UNL's KRNU radio (90.3 FM).

The series is a cooperative project of the Cooper Foundation, the Lied Center and UNL.

The forum was established in 1988 with the purpose of bringing a diversity of viewpoints on international and public policy issues to the University of Nebraska and the citizens of the state to promote understanding and encourage debate. Since its inception, more than 100 distinguished speakers have been featured.

WRITER: Jean Ortiz Jones, University Communications, (402) 472-8320