UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State will kick off its 2003 World Hunger Week activities with an address by George McGovern, 22-year U.S. congressman and 1972 Democratic presidential nominee. McGovern will speak on his lifelong efforts to end world hunger at noon on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the University Park campus.

McGovern's book, "Ending Hunger in Our Time," will be available for purchase. His speech will be followed by a reception in the Eisenhower Chapel Frizzell Room.

McGovern perhaps is best known for speaking out against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, but he also has been recognized for his work on behalf of American farmers and hungry children throughout the world. In 1960, President John F. Kennedy named him the first director of the Food for Peace Program. In this position, he oversaw the donation of millions of tons of food to developing nations.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton appointed him Ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In 2001, he was appointed the first United Nations Global Ambassador on Hunger. In this role, McGovern continues his leadership in the battle against world hunger.

Audience members are encouraged to bring a canned good to donate to the local food bank.

Other events scheduled at Penn State to mark 2003 World Hunger Week include an Information Fair at Heritage Hall in the Hetzel Union Building in observance of World Food Day, Oct. 16. World Food Day activities also will include:

9:30 am -- "The Promise," a video produced by Heifer International.

10-11:30 a.m. -- Overview of World Hunger Issues, presented by a Faculty Panel, including Dave Abler, Agricultural Economics/Rural Sociology, Overview of World Hunger; Koushik Seetharaman, Food Science, Biotech as a solution?; Michael Jacobson, Forest Resources, How Feeding the World Puts Pressures on Our Natural Resources.

Noon-1 p.m. -- World Food Day Teleconference, Collaboration or Calamity: Africa in Peril.

1:15 p.m. -- Fighting Hunger Today, a video produced by the Food & Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and then RISE to the Challenge: End World Hunger, a video produced by Bread for the World.

2-3:30 p.m. -- Hunger Issues/Solutions in 3 Different Countries, presented by a graduate student panel, including Faruque Zaman on Bangladesh, Augustus Kesselly on Liberia/Africa and a panel member from Brazil.

3:30 p.m. -- Remedies: Healing the Earth, a video produced by Heifer International.

All Day -- Informational displays, including Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, World Food Day, Food Bank, Crop Walk, Empty Bowls, Oxfam and Heifer International.

Boxes will be available to collect donations for the State College Area and Centre County Rural Food Banks.

For more information, contact Marilyn McPheron at 814-863-0249 or mbm8@psu.edu.

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Contact:

Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-863-9877 fax #256