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For more information contact mark.a.kinders@uwrf.edu or brenda.k.bredahl@uwrf.edu.

Discussions Set on Farmland Preservation, Israel-Palestine Conflict

By Samantha Wenwoi

APRIL 6, 2007---The next two presentations of the University of Wisconsin- River Falls "Coffee with the Times" news series will delve into maintaining viable farmland in a time of increasing urbanization and the history of the turmoil between Israel and Palestine .

Alicia Acken Cosgrove of the UW Cooperative Extension will lead "Farmland Preservation" on April 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the Falls Room of the University Center. The discussion is free and open to the public.

Cosgrove said she decided to create dialogue on farmland preservation because it is a subject that concerns residents in the River Falls area. "I know urbanization/farmland preservation is a topic of interest in River Falls," she said.

She hopes that attendees walk away with "greater understanding of local issues, state initiatives and some ideas of how to impact policy."

UWRF art Professor Steven Derfler will lead "Twice Promised Land: 100 Years War, Israel and Palestine into the 21 st Century" on April 17 at 12:15 p.m. in the Falls Room of the University Center. The discussion is free and open to the public.

The subject is especially relevant as violence in the Middle East has reached alarming levels. That many in the Western world are unaware of the contentious history between Israel and Palestine also makes dialogue significant, Derfler said.

"The events in the Mideast that have been spiraling out of control for the past few years seem to always have a basis in the Arab world's relationship with Israel, and the Palestinians as the ones most closely affected. Too many people in the U.S. and the west have no sense of history in the region.

"I hope that those involved will take away a greater sense of urgency with regard to finding just and lasting peace in the Mideast between Israel and her neighbors."

The remaining discussion in the Coffee with the Times news series is "Race: How is This Big Story Not Being Covered," on April 25. Discussion leaders are Cyndi Kernahan of the UWRF psychology department and Sandy Ellis of the UWRF journalism department.

The American Democracy Project and the New York Times Readership Program at UWRF sponsor the Coffee with the Times news series. For more information, contact UWRF journalism department chair Colleen Callahan at colleen.a.callahan@uwrf.edu or 715-425-3169.

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