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LAWRENCE -- On Thursday, Dec. 5, you're invited to join Sir Paul McCartney, his wife, Heather Mills McCartney, and several other celebrities and dignitaries around the world for a dinner that also supports a good cause.
Mills McCartney is the honorary chairperson for the second annual Night of a Thousand Dinners, a global event where world leaders, celebrities and caring citizens come together to dine and raise awareness and resources for the international land mine crisis. Also participating are U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Queen Noor of Jordan, all to raise funds in support of Adopt-A-Minefield.
The Graduate School and Office of International Programs at the University of Kansas is hosting an event at Abe and Jake's Landing, 8 E. Sixth St., from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5, featuring appetizers and live music from the local band Swing Canyon. Suggested minimum donations of $15 for individuals and $25 for two will be taken at the door. Reservations can be made by contacting International Programs at oip@ku.edu or calling (785) 864-6161.
International Programs also encourages individuals and community and campus groups to host their own dinner parties. Those interested in hosting a dinner can go to www.1000dinners.com or call toll-free 877-543-6463.
"Many of our international students come from countries with land mines," said Diana Carlin, dean of the Graduate School and International Programs. "We are pleased to help raise awareness and funds and to highlight KU's research role in land mine removal."
The Graduate School and International Programs also is sponsoring a public lecture featuring KU's contributions to global research on land mine detection and remediation from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
James Stiles, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science, will outline the hundreds -- if not thousands -- of research projects going on around the world and explain the research he has conducted at KU on ground-penetrating radar detection of land mines. He will be joined by Jerry Dobson, research professor with the Kansas Applied Remote Sensing program. He will discuss the applicability of remote sensing technology to the de-mining process.
"It's similar to the search for a cure for cancer," explained Stiles. "We are all looking at different aspects of the problem, each of us making small steps toward what we hope eventually will be a viable solution."
International Programs is partnering with People to People International, based in Kansas City, Mo., the United Nations Association of the USA, the U.S. State Department, the Canadian Landmine Foundation, and Rotary International, among others, for Night of a Thousand Dinners.
"We are thrilled that the KU Office of International Programs, headed by Dean Carlin, has agreed to participate in this initiative," said Mary Eisenhower, CEO of People to People International and granddaughter of former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower.
President Eisenhower founded People to People in 1956 to enhance international understanding and friendship by a direct exchange of ideas and experiences among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures.
Lawrence businesses that are donating their services or facilities to the International Programs event include Abe and Jake's Landing, Swing Canyon, Hy-Vee, Kinko's, Mojo's, Henry T's, Great Harvest Bread Co. and Checkers.
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