Will that be beans or beef?

- April 15, 2005

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The main fare for most consisted of rice and beans, buffet style.

Beans - classified as a poor man's dinner - were the main course on offer during the second annual 'Rich Man/Poor Man' dinner.

The Dalhousie Medical School's International Health Office (IHO) hosted the event for the second year running. The dinner's objective was to raise money to enable Dalhousie medical students to learn about health and medicine in developing countries. The event also educates students about international health issues.

The point of reference for the event is a quote by Martin Luther King Jr., "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most inhumane."

During the meal, at each table one person was served beef (the rich mans dinner), while everyone else was served beans and rice (the poor man's dinner). The dinner gave the participants a simple but real taste of inequality in today's developing nations.

"It was a fun way to make a serious point about global inequities," says Katie Orr, Manager of the International Health Office.

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Only one guest at each table was served a beef dinner.

There are many students interested in studying health internationally, but travel costs seem to be the main barrier for participation. Last year the event raised $70,000 in support of students traveling abroad for educational experiences, and this is a figure to be proud of. This year, the event was even a greater success. The turnout was 50 people more than last year with a total of 195 attendees, consisting of faculty, alumni, medical students, IHO members, and local physicians. The amount raised was $10,000 more than last year - a total of $80,000.

The proceeds will help support international health education for Dalhousie students, allowing them to learn about health on a global scale. The funds will be used to contribute to some travel costs, when students wish to travel to a developing nation for volunteer and educational purposes.

The event is clearly growing in popularity and supports a great cause.


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