From raging grannies and anarchists lurking in the woods to the role of the corporate community in globalization, the issues surrounding the coming G8 Summit in Kananaskis Country have inspired a course at the University of Calgary.
The U of C’s Faculty of Continuing Education is offering the program to explain some of the issues and players behind the contentious international forum and to explore alternative conceptions of global governance.
The G8 pre-summit study group will discuss the dynamics, institutions, issues and participants of the two-day event, to be held in Kananaskis June 26-28.
“It’s very topical,” says Julie Kearns, facilitator for the course, which will be offered one evening a week from April 2-23.
“Our sense is there are a lot of Calgarians who are very frustrated at not being able to understand what the issues are behind globalization and the G8.”
The summit will attract leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States to discuss and co-ordinate policy on major global issues including economic growth, global poverty, sustainable development, peace and security and global public health and safety.
While the course is designed for the general public, business people may also want to learn about some of the issues related to globalization, says Kearns.
“A lot of folks are saying they’re only hearing one perspective from the media,” she adds.
“They keep being told these protesters are anarchists and crazies and whatever. But they say, ‘the middle-class grandmother down the road is one of those protesters, and it just doesn’t jive with what I’m hearing.’ ”
For more information on the course, call 403-220-4704.
