Mir Lecture Series Hosts Gwynne Dyer & Pura Vida Foundation

This October, Selkirk College’s Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series will feature two presentations which include Canadian journalist, broadcaster and author on international affairs, Gwynne Dyer, and Executive Director and President of the Pura Vida Foundation, Marni Beninger.

Gwynne Dyer has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years. He will be speaking about his CBC “Ideas” series and book “Climate Wars”, which address the geopolitical implications of large scale climate change.

Dyer will investigate the negative effects of global warming on future generations with regards to food supply and political conflict. “The only way to avoid this future”, says Dyer, “is to get greenhouse gas emissions down drastically in the next ten to fifteen years. Even then, we would be lucky to escape a world two degrees hotter than now.”

Two days after this talk, Marni Beninger, Executive Director and President of the Pura Vida Foundation, will be presenting the documentary "Through Their Eyes". She will be sharing the goals and current projects of Pura Vida and discuss how they are improving the lives of children and youth in Latin America through fostering healthy and supportable living.

Both of the presentations are part of the Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series, which aims to bring inspiring regional and international speakers to the West Kootenay and Boundary regions to understand and build cultures of peace through learning.

“It’s exciting to be able to present national and regional speakers of this calibre to the community”, explains Conference Services Coordinator, Anni Holtby. “We are hoping that individuals attending the presentations walk away inspired and encouraged about how they can make a positive impact in the world.”

Selkirk College is currently campaigning to raise $200,000 to sustain the Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series. Funds raised will go directly into the Mir Centre Speaker Series Endowment and the annual return on the endowment investment will help support the Lecture Series for years to come.

Gwynne Dyer will be speaking at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at the Capitol Theatre in Nelson. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Capitol Theatre (250.352.6363).

Marni Beninger will be making her presentation on Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 7:00-9:00 pm at the Mir Centre for Peace in Castlegar (Selkirk College). Suggested donation for admission is $10.  

For more information on the Mir Centre for Peace Lecture Series, visit selkirk.ca/mir/campaign/ or call 250.365.1265.

First published on October 07, 2009