Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross will discuss global poverty and the future of politics with the chair of Unicef UK in the first of a series of public lectures at Dundee University.
The in-conversation event, Tackling Global Poverty, will be chaired by Mr Ross as he discusses with former MP Douglas Alexander how to tackle the challenges of worldwide deprivation and politics in uncertain times.
The pair recently worked together on the BBC Radio 4 series ‘Belonging’. Broadcast in December 2018, the series covered various issues facing communities in the UK.
Ricky Ross, a broadcaster and songwriter, is well known for his activism as well as founding Deacon Blue more than 30 years ago.
Mr Alexander, the former International Development Secretary, served at the highest level of British politics in the cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, during which he helped develop approaches to complex global challenges.
He said: “I look forward to catching up with Ricky in Dundee next week.
“While the uncertainly of Brexit continues to dominate political headlines and headspace here in the UK, there are global challenges such as climate change, tackling poverty, ending the spread of preventable disease, ensuring access to food, clean water, education and opportunity for children across the world, that can and must be resolved.
“Tackling international poverty is a challenge and a responsibility for all of us.
“In 2015, world leaders came together to agree the Sustainable Development Goals as a roadmap to how we can build a better, sustainable world for all our citizens, but with a funding gap in the billions, it is clear that we need to think beyond aid and development to achieve these goals.
“We need to consider how best to deploy private capital, encourage investment, job creation and income-generation in the countries most affected by poverty, and develop a collaborative approach to resolve these global problems.”
Tackling Global Poverty is the first talk of this year’s 2019 Saturday Series, the oldest continuous free series of public talks in Scotland.
It will take place from 6 to 7pm on Saturday and free tickets can be booked online via the university website at dundee.ac.uk/saturdayseries
Overflow theatres may be in use with the main theatre filled on a first come, first seated basis. The event will be followed by a drinks reception.
