Lou Douglas Lecture by fair trade entrepreneur Rink Dickinson part of fair trade information activities at K-State

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News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

LOU DOUGLAS LECTURE BY FAIR TRADE ENTREPRENEUR RINK DICKINSON PART OF FAIR TRADE INFORMATION ACTIVITIES AT K-STATE

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University is wrapping up the fall season of the Lou Douglas Lecture Series on Public Issues with events dealing with fair trade.

The lecture series, sponsored by UFM Community Learning Center, is presenting a week of events in cooperation with K-State's CrossRoads of ECM and women's studies program, and the Manhattan Mennonite Church.

Highlighting the week will be the Lou Douglas Lecture Series presentation by Rink Dickinson, co-founder and co-executive director of Equal Exchange, the oldest and largest for-profit fair trade company in the United States. Dickinson's lecture, "A Taste for Justice," will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.

Equal Exchange was founded to create a new approach to trade; one that engages consumers and builds honest and fair trade relationships through cooperative principles. Equal Exchange offers organic gourmet coffee, tea, sugar, cocoa and chocolate bars produced by democratically run farmer co-ops in Latin America, Africa and Asia. A fair trade book sale coordinated by Claflin Books and Copies will follow the lecture.

Leading up to the lecture, K-State's women's studies program will present the Fair Trade Film Series in the auditorium at the Manhattan Public Library, 629 Poyntz Ave. The series is organized and facilitated by K-State students in "Introduction to Women's Studies." Presentations include: "Fair Trade: A Way We Can Fight Hunger," 6:30-8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, featuring three films on topics like child labor, the impact fair trade has had on the global South and fair trade as a way to fight world hunger; and "The Case for Fair Trade: Exploring Challenges and Alternatives," 6:30-8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, featuring three films on topics like outsourcing, marketing through youth-conscious corporate labeling and industrial use of biodiverse resources.

CrossRoads of ECM is joining other groups and institutions to sponsor the conference, "Fair Trade in the Heartland," Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4, at CrossRoads of ECM, 1021 Dennison Ave., and at the K-State Student Union. The conference offers presentations, panel discussions and workshops on aspects of fair trade, from organizing on campus to conscious consumerism.

The sessions will be led by students and faculty from the University of Kansas and Rockhurst University, as well as leaders from national organizations. Cost is $10 for students and $25 for the general public. Registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 27. More information and online registration is available at: http://www.lawrencefairtrade.org/

Other fair trade activities include:

* A fair trade marketplace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7-9, in the Union's K and S ballrooms. The marketplace offers fairly traded products from Equal Exchange, Ten Thousand Villages, MarketPlace India and other small vendors.

* "Fair Trade Fashion, Dialogue and Discussion," Tuesday, Nov. 7. K-State students from Brazil, India, Colombia and African countries will present a panel discussion, "International Students and Fair Trade," from 11 a.m. to noon in the Union courtyard, with apparel from Novica, MarketPlace India and Jubilee Community House's Women's Sewing Cooperative in Nicaragua on display from noon to 1 p.m.; and "Involving Women Artisans of India in Social Change," an informal conversation with Pushpika Freitas of MarketPlace India, as well as displays and a film, 1-2:30 p.m. in the Union's Sunflower Room.

* "Awaking Your Consciousness," an informal discussion with Summer Lewis, a K-State alumna and interfaith program liaison for Equal Exchange, 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Union's Sunflower Room.

* "Is Fair Trade or Free Trade Best for Local Agriculture?" a panel discussion from 3-4:30 p.m. Nov. 9, in the Union's Cottonwood Room. Panelists include Dickson, the Lou Douglas lecturer; Jim French, a Kansas farmer and staff for Oxfam America; and Theresa Selfa, K-State assistant professor of sociology. Rhonda Janke, associate professor of horticulture, forestry and recreation, will be the moderator.

* The annual German Mennonite Meal and International Craft Sale of fair trade goods from Ten Thousand Villages will be noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, at Pottorf Hall in Cico Park. The meal features Russian and German foods of the ethnic Mennonite traditions and costs $8 for adults and $4.50 for children 12 and younger. Money raised will benefit the mission of the Manhattan Mennonite Church. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time by calling 785-539-4079.

K-State students helping to organize events include: Sarah Mitts, senior in management, Coffeyville, coordinator for the international student panel discussion; Shannon Garretson, graduate student in speech, Wamego, interactive introduction to the lecture; and Larissa Noonan, graduate student in business administration, St. Joseph, Mo., coordinator for the fair trade marketplace.

The Lou Douglas Lecture Series on Public Issues honors the memory of Douglas, a professor of political science at K-State who was widely known for his ability to inspire students, faculty and citizens to instigate change. He was a longtime member of the UFM Community Learning Center's board of directors until his death in 1979.