Tackling Global Poverty: Douglas Alexander in-conversation with Deacon Blue frontman, Ricky Ross.
Published On Mon 4 Feb 2019 by Dominic Glasgow
Global poverty and the issues it creates will be explored by the Chair of UNICEF UK, Douglas Alexander, and broadcaster and musician, Ricky Ross at the first Saturday Series public lecture of 2019 at the University of Dundee next week.
The ‘in-conversation’ event ‘Tackling Global Poverty’ will be chaired by the Deacon Blue frontman as he discusses with Douglas Alexander how we can best tackle the challenges of worldwide deprivation and the future of politics in uncertain times.
Douglas Alexander, the former International Development Secretary, has served at the highest level of British politics, in the cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, during which he helped develop innovative approaches to complex global challenges.
He said, “I look forward to catching up with Ricky in Dundee next week. While the uncertainty of Brexit continues to dominate political headlines and headspace here in the UK, there are global challenges such as climate change, tackling poverty, ending the spread of preventable disease, ensuring access to food, clean water, education and opportunity for children across the world, that can and must be resolved.
“Tackling international poverty is a challenge and a responsibility for all of us. In 2015 world leaders came together to agree on the Sustainable Development Goals as a roadmap to how we can build a better, sustainable world for all our citizens, but with a funding gap in the billions, it is clear that we need to think beyond aid and development to achieve these goals.
“We need to consider how best to deploy private capital, encourage investment, job creation and income generation in the countries most affected by poverty, and develop a collaborative approach to resolve these global problems.”
Ricky Ross, broadcaster and songwriter, is well known for his activism as well as founding Deacon Blue more than 30 years ago. The Scottish band have had hits including; ‘Dignity’ ‘Wages Day’ and ‘Twist and Shout’ amongst many others.
The pair recently worked together on the BBC 4 Radio series ‘Belonging’. Broadcast in December 2018, the series covered various issues facing our communities and our country.
‘Tackling Global Poverty’ is the first talk of this year’s 2019 Saturday Series, the oldest continuous free series of public talks in Scotland.
The event takes place from 6 - 7pm on Saturday 9 February, and free tickets can be booked online via the university website at www.dundee.ac.uk/saturdayseries.
The audience is advised that overflow theatres may be in use with the main theatre filled on a first come, first seated basis.
The event will be followed by a drinks reception.
For media enquiries contact:
Dominic Glasgow
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385131
Email: d.w.glasgow@dundee.ac.uk