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Make a Cultural Center Focus of Rain Forest Project

James Spoden

The Gazette

January 9, 2006

[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]

    The proposed rain forest should be built in the Iowa City-Coralville area, close to the University of Iowa. However, the centerpiece of the complex should be a center for cultural studies and research.

    We live in a time when conflicts of cultures affect the world’s security more than the ideological conflicts that were a hallmark of the 20th century. Iowa and the University of Iowa could be at the forefront of research on terrorism and culturally based crime, as well as investigating the drawbacks and benefits of global trade. The government should be pressed to provide more funding for what could be a national Cultural and Environmental Project.

James Spoden
Cedar Rapids