Glyn Ford, Labor Member of the European Parliament, is to speak about international issues, including the European Union, on Tuesday at the University’s Institute of Global Public Affairs conference room, 1007 W. Nevada Ave., Urbana.

The Institute of Government and Public Affairs, the European Union Center and the Center for Global Studies is hosting the lecture, titled, “The New Economic and World Order” from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. A reception in the institute’s library immediately will follow the lecture.

Ford is to be at the University until Thursday, interacting with students and faculty while speaking at several lectures.

Ford has served in the European Parliament since 1984. He was re-elected in June 2004, and he has worked five years for the southwest region of England.

Ford said his three main areas of interest include foreign affairs, East Asia and the rising tide of racism in Europe. He is currently a member of the International Trade Committee and Parliament’s Delegation with Relations to the Korean Peninsula. After living, studying and working in Japan and Asia, he has devoted much of his life to EU-Asian relations and development.

John Monteith, junior in LAS and intern at the institute, said Ford is flying from Beijing to Chicago for the lecture.

“I am looking forward to the upcoming visit and the opportunity to listen to a respected European Parliament member,” Monteith said.

Ford said that among his priorities in the Parliament are “combating racism, quelling the negative effects of globalization, eradicating poverty world-wide and ensuring that so-called ‘states of concern’ turn towards negotiation rather than terrorism.”

However, all of Ford’s interests are not limited to the humanitarian arena.

“Like many of my constituents, I have campaigned for many years on animal welfare and the environment,” Ford said. “In my spare time, I am an avid Manchester City fan and watch them as often as I can.”

As president of the Sports Intergroup, Ford has questioned the European Commission as to why a major sporting event such as Ashes, Manchester City’s cricket team, can only be viewed on pay per view television. According to his Web site, Ford is interested in putting pressure on the EU and United Kingdom Government to change this.

“This interest helps me in my role as vice president of the Sports Intergroup,” Ford said. “I have also campaigned hard to kick racism out of football.”

Ford earned a Bachelor’s degree in geology from Reading University in 1972 and a master’s degree in marine earth science from University College London in 1974. He then worked as a student and then as a staff member in Manchester University’s Department of Science and Technology Policy, finishing in 1984 as a senior research fellow. In 1983, he spent six months as a visiting professor teaching science and technology policy in the Department of Systems Science at the University of Tokyo.