Medea Benjamin is a co-founder of both CODEPINK and the international human rights organization Global Exchange. She has been a tireless advocate for social justice for more than 20 years. Described as "one of America’s most committed--and most effective--fighters for human rights" by N.Y. Newsday, and called "one of the high profile leaders of the peace movement" by the L.A.Times, Medea has distinguished herself as an eloquent and energetic figure in the progressive movement. In June of 2005, she was one of 1,000 exemplary women from 140 countries nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize collectively. Since September 11, 2001, Medea has been working to promote a U.S. foreign policy that would respect human rights and gain us allies instead of contributing to violence and undermining our international reputation. She has recently led human rights delegations to Gaza and at the time of her talk will have just returned from an international peace march there.

Ric Pfeffer, in whose honor this lecture series was established, worked as a lawyer with OSHA at the Department of Labor, where he made notable contributions to worker safety. At the time of his retirement due to illness, he was developing a standard that would have established a single universal process for managing and monitoring worker health and safety in all of the nation's workplaces--a project long supported by the labor movement.

The Ric Pfeffer Lecture is a program of Research Associates Foundation. To make a tax deductible contribution to the Ric Pfeffer Lecture, send a check payable to Research Associates Foundation and mail to Research Associates Foundation, PO Box 26152, Baltimore, MD 21210-0052.

Co-sponsor Baltimore Tikkun is committed to a just and durable peace in the Middle East and has sponsored many films and speakers, participated in demonstrations, and lobbied for an end to all US aid to Israel until settlements have been dismantled in the occupied territories and a viable Palestinian state is established.

Information: 410.466.7344 or Pfefferlecture-AT-gmail.com