Striving for Peace: A Question of Will

2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum —
'Striving for Peace: A Question of Will'

March 5-6, Augsburg College

The theme for the 2010 Forum, “Striving for Peace: A Question of Will,” honors 2008 Nobel Peace Laureate Martti Ahtisaari. Mr. Ahtisaari will present the opening keynote address at the 2010 Forum at Augsburg College.

Picture of Martti Ahtisaari.Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, was awarded the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize for his important efforts to resolve international conflicts. He has served for more than three decades on several continents to resolve conflicts in Namibia (1989-90), Kosovo (1999 and 2005-07), and Aceh province, Indonesia (2005). In 2000 Mr. Ahtisaari founded the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), an independent, non-profit organization that innovatively combines analysis, action and advocacy to build a wide stakeholder network to promote sustainable security and to strengthen the capacity of the international community comprehensive crisis management and conflict resolution. These efforts have contributed to a more peaceful world and to "fraternity between nations" in Alfred Nobel’s spirit.

Mr. Ahtisaari will present the opening keynote address at the 2010 Forum at Augsburg College. MORE >>

PLENARY SPEAKERS

Kjell Magne Bondevik served twice as prime minister of Norway, most recently until 2005. The next year he founded the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, established to focus international work in the areas of human rights, democracy, and inter-religious and intercultural dialogue. At the second plenary session Bondevik  will engage in dialogue with Martti Ahtisaari about the role of small states in peacebuilding and the work in which their organizations are engaged. MORE >>

Leymah Gbowee, executive director of Women Peace and Security Network–Africa, will end the forum at the third plenary session with a call to action for citizens to participate in peacemaking. After living with violence in Liberia for 13 years, she organized and led the women of her country, both Christian and Muslim, in a mass action to force the warring factions in Liberia to attend peace talks. The story of her leadership and the women’s movement is featured in the film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which will be shown at the forum. MORE >>

Movie Information

Academic Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors

HB Fuller
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Forum History

In cooperation with the Norwegian Nobel Institute, five Midwestern colleges of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sponsor the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum. This prestigious event is the Norwegian Nobel Institute's only such program or academic affiliation outside Norway. MORE >>

Logo of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum.

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Schedule

Full schedule, including locations and Saturday seminars (PDF)

Friday, March 5

  • 5-7 p.m. - Artist receptions
  • 7:30 p.m. - Opening ceremony and first plenary session: Striving for Peace: A Question of Will, featuring Martti Ahtisaari
  • 9 p.m. - Festivities featuring music of Dustin Thomas and the African Marimba Band

Saturday, March 6

  • 9-10:15 a.m. - Second plenary session: A Deliberative Dialogue on the Role of Small States in Strategic Peacebuilding, featuring Martti Ahtisaari and Kjell Magne Bondevik
  • 10:45 a.m.-noon - Concurrent sessions: panels & speakers
  • 12:30-3 p.m. - Saturday seminars
  • 1:45-3 p.m. - Film screening: Pray the Devil Back to Hell
  • 3:15-4 p.m. - Film screening and discussion: Ana's Playground
  • 4:15-5:30 p.m. - Third plenary session and closing ceremony: Call to Action: The Role of Citizens and Civil Society in Peacebuilding, featuring Leymah Gbowee