Conference on World Affairs Discussion

          At the 2017 CU Boulder Conference on World Affairs, I attended two panels. The first was a general discussion on food entitled Why Food Matters; Nourishing Our Bodies and the Land. The panel was headed by Rick Bayless, Debra Eschmeyer, and moderated by Sheila Dietrich. Bayless, a renowned chef known for using locally and organically produced ingredients in his restaurants, emphasized the importance of viewing food as sustenance instead of as fuel (though I never fully grasped what this all important distinction was exactly). He asserted that our bodies can only truly thrive when our food is connected to our past. In other words, if your heritage does not include a culture that makes burritos, don't eat burritos. I found this claim fascinating, but he didn't give any scientific evidence to support it. Eschmeyer focused most of her time on creating more sustainable agricultural practices, particularly on incorporating local ingredients into school lunch programs and getting kids invested in growing their own food. The panelists also shared their thoughts on the future of sustainable agriculture, discussing the use of such technologies as hydroponics and vertical farming. 

          The other panel which I attended was called How Damaged is America's Worldwide Reputation? The panel was comprised of Kinan Azmeh, Amar Bakshi, Peter Rupert Lighte, and Shadia Marhaban. Nikhil Mankekar served as the moderator. The speakers all presented their unique perspectives on the reputation of the U.S. in their home countries. One panelist from Indonesia commented that the most prevalent image of the United States in her country was not of politics but of Hollywood. That said, most of the panelists seemed to agree that recent moves on the international stage such as Trump's travel ban have not helped to create an ideal image of America. Another topic which came up was the general lack of initiative on the part of Americans to take a stance on the plight of Palestinians. The conclusion seemed to be that although America's reputation has been tarnished by recent political events, these are not the only factors that contribute to our international standing.