University public lecture addresses consumer power in play

'The power of the purse' and the role consumer power plays in international poverty, child labour, refugees and injustice will feature at a University of Queensland free public lecture on Wednesday, March 5 at 8pm.

Broadcaster and writer Dr Keith Suter will present the International House 1997 World Understanding and Peace Lecture at Abel Smith Lecture Theatre.

During the lecture, titled Doing Well by Doing Good: Working for Peace in Our Community, Dr Suter will address the importance of consumers thinking globally and acting locally.

Areas covered will include boycotts, buying shares in companies and just trading.

Dr Suter said Australian consumers had a 'vast potential influence' as they took part in the global economy, and they exerted this influence every time they spend a dollar.

'It is necessary to have educated consumers who can use their spending power to create a better ecomomic order,' he said.

'Consumers can work for peace while they spend money.'

He said he wanted to alert people to their power as consumers as it was possible for consumers in Australia to have an effect on problems in underdeveloped countries.

Dr Suter is head of the United Nations Association (NSW) and president of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney. He is an expert on international politics and emerging global trends.

For more information, contact Niels Jensen, International House (telephone 3870 9593).