free lectures week of 2/11 @ UIUC

Global Africa: Whence Its Past? Whither Its Future?
February 13, 2008
Wednesday, 4:00 pm
Third Floor, Levis Faculty Center
919 West Illinois Street, Urbana

Michael A. Gomez
Department of History and Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, New York University

One should not speak of the African diaspora as a singular, unified experience. There are myriad components and contexts to the dispersal of Africans since the fifteenth century. This lecture will assess debates over convergences and divergences, such as debates over identity (including creolization, African-centeredness, New World, among others), routes vs. roots, and the contribution of cultural studies. Gomez will explore the intersections of academic scholarship and politics through the lens of recorded history as he assesses the viability of multiple pan-Africanisms.

Biofuels and the World Food Situation
February 14, 2008
Thursday, 4:00pm
Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum
600 South Gregory Street, Urbana

Joachim von Braun
Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC

Using more of the world's crops as energy sources could threaten food supplies to hose people who are most in need, especially at prices that are competitive on the world markey. Joachim von Braun assesses opportunities and risks in the development of bioenergy to discuss the changing role of the United States in assisting famine intervention worldwide.