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News Release

November 25, 2005

Canadian Author, Activist to Speak at U of G

Maude Barlow, an international activist and chair of the Council of Canadians, the nation’s largest citizen’s advocacy organization, will speak at the University of Guelph Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in War Memorial Hall.

Barlow is on a 18-city speaking tour to promote her new book, Too Close for Comfort: Canada’s Future Within Fortress North America, which explores the implications and consequences of Canada-U.S. integration and its effects on health care, resources and trade.

The author or co-author of 15 books, Barlow is also a director with the San Francisco-based International Forum on Globalization and the founder of the Blue Planet Project, which works to stop the commodification of the world’s water.

Barlow has received honorary doctorates from six Canadian universities for her social justice work. She was also nominated for the 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005 and received the 2005 Right Livelihood Award given by the Swedish Parliament.

Founded 1985, the Council of Canadians has chapters nationwide, including in Guelph, and more than 100,000 members. It promotes progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, safe food, public health care and other issues of social and economic concern.

Barlow’s visit to Guelph is sponsored by the Central Student Association, the Council of Canadians Guelph and Science for Peace.