Phoenix Forum to focus on global citizenship

Phoenix Forum to focus on global citizenship

by Staff Writer
UW-Green Bay News
April 5, 2007

GREEN BAY - Students and others with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints will discuss what it means to be a global citizen Tuesday (April 10) at the fourth annual Phoenix Forum at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The aim of the forum is to encourage civil public discussion of important, but often contentious, political and social issues.

The student-led forum will include sessions at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Phoenix Rooms A and B of UW-Green Bay's University Union.

About 400 university and high school students are expected to participate. Community members also are welcome.

The guest speaker will be Seth Green, president of Americans for Informed Democracy, a nonpartisan organization working to raise global awareness. Green is an expert on U.S. relations with the Muslim world, U.S. development assistance policy, international law, and globalization.

Green will give an opening keynote speech and also will be available later in the forum for additional comments and discussion.

After the opening session, participants will disperse into six discussion groups. Topics for discussion include:

• Energy use through the eyes of a world citizen.

• How does global immigration affect different segments of a population in a country losing people?

• Global warming: What is our responsibility?

• Are celebrities global citizens?

• Foreign policy with a focus on the war in Iraq.

• Human rights and civil liberties: A global perspective.

The Phoenix Forum is organized by UW-Green Bay's Public and Non-Profit Management class, which is taught by Prof. Denise Scheberle. The Civics Club and Good Times Programming are assisting in sponsoring the event.