Tim Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation and former U.S. senator from ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, will give a public talk titled "Think Globally, Act Locally: A 25-Year Odyssey" at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Wirth will speak at 7 p.m. in the Old Main Chapel. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder Center of the American West.
The United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund, of which Wirth also is president, were founded in 1998 through a $1 billion gift from CNN founder Ted Turner to support the goals and objectives of the United Nations. In addition to being well-versed in global issues, Wirth has long been committed to the environmental well-being of the Interior West.
At the request of the Center of the American West, Wirth will reflect on the following questions: To a person so aware of planetary concerns, how urgent do the environmental problems of the American West appear? How do the lessons that Wirth has learned in his global work apply to regional challenges and dilemmas?
The evening is intended to give Westerners an opportunity to think about their regional issues in relation to the rest of the world.
Wirth began his political career as a White House Fellow under President Lyndon Johnson and was deputy assistant secretary for education in the Nixon administration. In 1975, Wirth returned to his home state and successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥'s 2nd congressional district from 1975 to 1987, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. In the Senate he focused on environmental issues, especially global climate change and population stabilization. After completing one term, Wirth chose not to run for re-election.
Wirth served in the U.S. Department of State as the first undersecretary for global affairs from 1993 to 1997, where he coordinated U.S. foreign policy regarding refugees, population, environment, science, human rights and narcotics.
As president of the U.N. Foundation, Wirth has led the formulation of the foundation's mission and program priorities, which include the environment, women and population, children's health and peace, and security and human rights. The U.N. Foundation also engages in public advocacy, resource mobilization and institutional strengthening efforts on behalf of the U.N.
Prior to entering politics, Wirth was in private business in ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. He is a graduate of Harvard University and holds a doctorate from Stanford University. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees and has served as a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers.
The mission of the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder Center of the American West is to explore the distinctive character and issues of the region and to help Westerners become well-informed, participating citizens in their communities.
For information call the Center of the American West at (303) 492-4879 or visit .