International Relations Committee
Recent Seminars
Child Labor in the Global Economy
By Dr. Eric V. Edmonds, Associate Professor, Dept of Economics, Dartmouth College who described the scope and types of child labor in poor countries, why it exists, and how to alleviate it. He addressed questions such as how to evaluate the heart-breaking stories about child labor in developing countries that we have all read. What are the scope and causes of child labor? What types? What are its consequences on schooling of boys and girls? How does globalization affect it? How is it influenced by the policies of rich countries? What can be done to curb its deleterious effects without hurting the children and their families? Read the outline of Professor Eric Edmonds's talk and also a report in the eDartmouth: http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid=2005111701040.
(Jointly sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Upper Valley and by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College in November 2005)
Find out more about Professor Edmonds's work on his web site: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~eedmonds
International Trade Benefits the Poor
In a talk, "International Trade, Poverty and Inequality in the Developing World," Dr. Nina Pavcnik said that increased international trade and reduction in trade barriers help reduce poverty in poor countries. However, some industries and workers can be hurt in the process, and should be helped to adjust. Also, inequality between skilled and unskilled workers can increase, even though most workers' income is going up.
Dr. Pavcnik, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Dartmouth, who has published extensively on trade, economic development, and child labor spoke at the Rockefeller Center on November 18, 2004.
This lecture was the fourth consecutive annual joint presentation by the International Relations Committee of the LWVUV and the Rockefeller Center. In line with the League's positions on global affairs, this series aims to better inform League members, members of the communities and Dartmouth students on timely international issues. Previous presentations covered the World Trade Organization and environmental issues, U.S. and United Nations policies, and media reporting on the Iraq war.
Read the outline of Professor Nina Pavcnik's talk as a pdf file.
Professor Pavcnik, discussed the linkages between international trade, inequality, and poverty and described evidence from recent trade liberalization episodes in developing countries. Find out more about her work on her web site: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~npavcnik/
Ten Years Later: What Progress since the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women?
What do you know
- About the United Nations conference to assess progress and problems since the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women?
- About the United States position at this conference?
Increasingly, it is being realized that Gender equality is good for all of us and that empowerment of women is the single most effective strategy for economic improvement in the developing world.
(April 2005)
The International Relations Committee aims:
- To better inform League members and the Upper Valley community on timely aspects of international relations that are related to League positions, and
- To encourage discussion of international issues among League members.
The Committee seeks new members and co-sponsors. To get acquainted with the Committee, either as an individual or as an organization, contact: voterinfo@uppervalleyleague.org.
The League of Women Voters has a strong tradition of promoting U.S. policies that contribute to peace and development worldwide
One of the League's principles is that "cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems and that development of international organizations and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace." Since the 1920's, the League has taken numerous actions to promote U.S. actions that foster peace and cooperation: support for freer trade during the depression years, support for the United Nations in the early 1940s, support for aid to developing countries during the nation-building period of the early 1950's. In the 1960's, the League played an important role in creating the climate for normalization of U.S. relations with the People's Republic of China. In recent years, the League focused on the following international issues:
- Arms control: Reduce the risk of war through support of arms control measures.
- Military policy and defense spending: Limit reliance on military force; examine defense spending in the context of total national needs.
- Trade: Support systematic reduction of tariff and nontariff trade barriers and support broad long-range presidential authority to negotiate trade agreements.
- United Nations: Support measures to strengthen the United Nations, in recognition of the need for cooperation among nations in an interdependent world.
International Cooperation and Support for the United Nations - U.S. relations with developing countries: Promote U.S. policies that meet the long-term social and economic needs of developing countries.
Support for Population Planning
The League of Women Voters and International Relations
The League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government The League of Women Voters of the United States, a nonpartisan public interest organization, works at the grassroots level to increase the understanding and application of democratic practices and principles. Many people in the Upper Valley are familiar with the League through the work of its local chapter, the League of Women Voters of the Upper Valley, in providing our communities with non-partisan discussions on local issues.
The fact that the League of Women Voters of the United States takes an active stand on international relations is less well known. Yet the League has a long history of advocacy on U.S. legislation and actions related to arms control, military policy and defense spending, trade, the United Nations, and relations with developing countries. The on-going efforts against terrorism are a powerful reminder that international cooperation is paramount for world peace. International cooperation is expressed in many ways, including agreements on trade policies and regulations and on environmental issues.
The League of Women Voters has a strong tradition of promoting U.S. policies that contribute to peace and development worldwide.
Learn about the national League's observers the United Nations: http://www.lwv.org >> Issues >> International Relations >> United Nations Observers