‘Food as a Tool of Diplomacy and as a Weapon of War’

What can be done to prevent war, restore peace and address terrorism in a world that is full of conflict? Food, a basic necessity that many take for granted, has been one powerful tool that has been used to address issues of conflict and violence. Delaware Valley University’s graduate public policy program’s Policy in Practice Series and the Food Systems Institute are proud to present a lecture on the impact of food on war and peace efforts.  

On Thursday, Sept. 28, Dr. Maria Velez de Berliner will present, “Food as a Tool of Diplomacy and as a Weapon of War,” at 6:30 p.m. in the Life Sciences Building auditorium at DelVal. The lecture will be open to the general public at no cost. Guests are encouraged to register in advance.
Dr. Velez de Berliner’s lecture will highlight major global issues impacting food production and availability. She will discuss how food played a role in peace negotiations and conflict resolution in places such as Somalia and South Africa. She will also discuss how food was used as a tool of war in Syria, Venezuela and Israel and Palestine.

Dr. Velez de Berliner is president of the Latin Intelligence Corporation and a professor of political violence and terrorism at George Washington University. She is a leading analyst and author of intelligence products and reports and has worked with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She has a master’s in public and international affairs, with a specialization in international security and intelligence, from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2008, Lake Forest College granted Dr. Velez de Berliner a Doctor of Law Honoris Causa for her contributions to security and intelligence, political science and international relations. Dr. Velez de Berliner is a regular speaker at international conferences and appears as a commentator on domestic and global opinion TV shows.

Attend the Lecture:
The event is open to the general public. All are welcome, and there is no cost to attend. Register for the event here.