Four Sisters for Peace Mary Laurel True, Augsburg College
We will be showing the documentary, "Four Sisters for
Peace" about the lives and commitments of the famous
McDonald sisters (Rita, Kate, Jane, and Bridgid) of Minneapolis.
This film was made by a well known film maker in conjunction
with 7th and 8th graders at the Southside Family School.
An amazingly hope-filled film abou the power to make change
in the world!
SS12
In Peaceful Times, the War Continues
Emiliano Chagil, Augsburg College
This workshop will offer an overview of Central America's
culture and future, and participants will acquire practical
ideas how "Striving for Peace" can be a united
force for "Justice" like in one's own neighborhood,
school/campus, church-based communities and our U.S. policies
toward Latin America. Come and together we can shape our
hearts, minds and the world with hope.
SS13
Building Community through Acts
of Resistance: Reflections from International Solidarity
Workers in the West Bank Flo Razowsky and Marian Traub-Werner, Palestinian
Solidarity Coalition and University of Minnesota
In this presentation, using visual and audio aides, we will
convey the experience of working as part of an international
community to support human rights in Israel and Palestine.
We will present on the prospects of a second Bush term based
on interviews with local activists in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem,
and Ramallah. Following our presentation, we will engage
the audience in an open discussion about the usefulness
of women's involvement in non-violent direct action to make
rights claims.
SS15
The Nonviolent Peaceforce: What You
Can Say YES to When You Say NO to War Mel
Duncan, Nonviolent Peaceforce
We will explore the historiccal context of nonviolent peacekeeping,
successful application of nonviolent strategies in violent
situations, the results of our feasibility study on nonviolent
interventions, the development of the Nonviolent Peaceforce
and future applications. The Nonviolent Peaceforce has been
endorsed by 8 Nobel Peace laureates.
SS16
Human Rights in Comparative Perspective Student panel # 3: Paul Cumings, Katie Bickel,
Kelsey Dorf; Augsburg College
A student panel examining human rights issues in China, Iran,
and East Africa. Students will present their research projects
on these topics.
SS17
The War on Iraq: Reflections of a Peace
Activist Marie Braun
This presentation will address the issue of the war and occupation
of Iraq as seen through the eyes and experiences of a peace
and justice activist. I will include brief information on
the 1991 war, the 13 years of sanctions (the silent war) and
the 2003 war. I share information provided by UN officials
who were working with the Food for Oil Program, UN weapons
inspectors, and peace activists who were in Iraq during the
2003 war and/or have traveled there during the occupation.
I will address the human costs of war and the issue of pre-emptive
strike and it relationship to international law. The presentation
will focus on a host of examples and stories about how the
local peace community organized against the sanctions, war,
and occupation of Iraq, and some practical ideas for action.
SS18
Women in Times of Change Deanna Armbruster, American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat
al-Salam
Deanna Armbruster will speak about women programs at the village
of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, the "Oasis of Peace."
Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is a village located midway between
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel where Palestinians and Israelis--all
citizens of Israel--live, work and raise their families together.
The village spreads its message and vision of mutual respect,
equality and tolerance beyond its borders through its educational
institutions, a bilingual, bicultural Primary School/Junior
High School and the School for Peace.
SS19
The Impact of the Holocaust on Human
Rights Norma Hervey, Luther College
Drawing on a January-term trip to Europe, students from Luther
will present their learning on the Holocaust and what it says
to human rights issues of the present.
SS20
Population Control and Gender Imbalances Sharon Gray, Augustana College
Many societies fail to provide adequate social and economic
support for pregnant women and their young. But, in some societies,
pregnant women and their young, especially their female young,
are met with outright antagonism. In some countries, misogynistic
cultural climates paired with governmental population control
programs create a situation in which women, and particularly
female fetuses, are subjected to abuse of their human rights.
The results are forced and gender-specific abortions. This
session will explore the painful reality of forced and gender-specific
abortions, and will reflect upon a new UN report which predicts
world population to decline to 8.4 billion by 2200, after
reaching a peak of 9.2 billion in 2075.
SS21
Can "the People" Stop a War? Phil Steger, Friends for a Non-Violent World
In 2003, 10-15 million people participated in the largest,
nonviolent and simultaneous expression of public will in human
history. They said, "No" to a war on Iraq, and "Yes"
to resolving the conflict over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
through international law and nonviolent measures. Additionally,
more governments and mainstream religious authorities preemptively
declared the war to be unjust than perhaps at any other time
since the Second World War. And still, the US government went
to war anyway. What now can the people do? If the people could
not prevent a war, can they now stop it? And who are "the
people," anyway, and how can they be moved to action?
This workshop will explore important research done on how
wars are started and how they are stopped. We will look soberly
at who the real decision-makers during war-time are and the
limited role that grassroots movements and non-governmental
players have in stopping wars.
SS22
Peace as Living Faith: Somali Women's
Caring Strengths Deb Schuhmacher and
Idil Mohammed, Augsburg College
A presentation of the results of a study of Somali women's
strengths to care for their families through years of displaced
living. Study findings uplift Somali women's strengths as
supporting the health and wellness of their families and community.
The women's stories and the study's findings generate discussions
that cover the impact of war on lives and the need for peace-building
initiatives, both locally and globally. The seminar will involve
presentation of the findings, discussion questions, and exploration
of this study's meaning for our current peace supporting efforts.
SS23
Return to the Earth Lawrence
Hart and Karin Kaufman Wall, Mennonite Central Committee
" Return to the Earth" is a project that supports
Native Americans in burying unidentifiable ancestral remains
that are currently held in museums and universities across
the U.S. The project is an ecumenical effort that enables
a process of education and reconciliation between Native and
non-Native peoples. Specifically, the project recognizes the
right of Native Americans to honor the memory of their ancestors
with the repatriation and burial of their remains. Religious
communities, through acknowledging a history of silence and
even collusion in historic wrongs, bring unique assets to
the process of restorative justice and reconciliation.
SS24
Is There Too Much Pain for Peace? David and Patricia Fenrick, Center for Global
Education, Augsburg College; and World Relief
This seminar will explore the role of rituals in the process
of reconciliation. Using various cultural traditions as a
backdrop, the presenters will engage participants through
story, multi-media presentation, and interactive discussion
on the importance of culturally relevant rituals as a means
of reconciliation on the path to peace. Reconciliation brings
healing, forgiveness, and repentance to the process of peace.
There can be no lasting peace without justice. Peace can not
come through denial or suppression of violence and past wrongs;
rather, lasting peace is accomplished through the bridge of
reconciliation, which confronts the process of peace with
the challenge of justice.
SS25
Forgiveness: A Key Ingredient in Peacemaking
Mary Hayes Grieco, self employed writer and trainer in forgiveness
Drawing on work with forgiveness in Northern Ireland, this
workshop will discuss an eight-step process to finding relief
from a wound or resentment, and the powerful shift in health
and interpersonal dynamics which occurs when a person accomplishes
real forgiveness.
SS26
Empathy Building: Transcending Differences Patricia Stoddard, Luther College
During this seminar I will provide participants with an opportunity
to write down what they think it would be like to experience
a vision or hearing impairment, incontinence, a lack of clean
drinking water, or a missing limb. Then I will provide the
supplies necessary for participants to emulate these experiences.
The seminar will conclude with participants discussing small
changes that could be made in society to in order for people
with various impairments to be able to live the life of their
choosing. Michael Burkholtz, an 18-year old, who unexpectedly
lost his ability to see over a 24-hour period one day in August
of 2004 will also share his experience and insights.
SS27
Servant Leadership: Educators as Peacemakers
Carol Knicker, Augsburg College
Servant Leadership describes a philosophy of life that promotes
justice and peaceful living. To serve the other is to help
him/her grow to his/her fullest potential while especially
helping those in our society with the most needs
SS28
Leadership and Resolve: Women Fighting
HIV/AIDS in Namibia
Kranz Irvine and Betsey Norgard
This seminar will focus on the work of four women leaders
in Namibia:
Selma Shejavali (active in leading church women, now trying
to found orphanage in Ovamboland); Alweendo Toini, principal
in Okolulu Primary School in Ondangua; Alsina Ndeevelo, public
relations person for Catholic Aids Action, Windhoek (Katutura);
and Katrina Garises, founder/director of Victory Women's Center,
Windhoek. Short profiles, illustrated with slides, will portray
the roles these leaders play in advocating for women and in
addressing needs resulting from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Small
groups will discuss issues facing each sector, especially
limitations-lack of resources, social policy issues, lack
of unity in organization.
SS29
Student Peace Activism and Action-research Student Panel # 2, Peace Prize Consortium Schools
A symposium on current initiatives on local college campuses
to work on peace issues. Students share successes and challenges
and explore possible collaboration and networking.
SS30
Direct Democracy and creating a more
peaceful world Rewoldt Scholars Presentation
Peace Prize Consortium Schools, moderated by Bob Rewoldt
A student panel of the winners of this year's Rewoldt Prize
for research on the topic of Direct Democracy. This year's
winners are Steffen Merten of Luther College, "Applications
of the Swiss Democratic Model in Developing Democracies;"
Laura Bolstad of St. Olaf College, "Majority Rule or
Majority Tyranny? An Examination of
Direct Democracy in the case of Gay Rights;" Andrea Halverson
of Augustana College, "Direct Democracy and Globalization,"
Brooke Vasseur of Augsburg College, "Representive and
Direct Democracy in Historical Perspective;" and April
Kampa of Concordia College, "Creating a Just and Peaceful
World: Examining Direct Democracy and
the Impact of National Attitude."
SS31
Fighting Terrorism with Empathy: a
Model for Peace
Amy Nell Concordia College
The word terrorism strikes a deep nerve among Americans today--having
sparked an entire nation to the defense of its country and
the subjugation of those who stand in opposition. One of these
men who stand in opposition is the man who planned the September
11 attacks. In November 2004, Osama Bin Laden released a tape
giving his recipe for a healthy nation. This seminar would
dissect his message and use audience participation in doing
so. Discussion points would include counterterrorism methods,
the possibility of peace, empathy etc. The aim of this seminar
would be to help understand the position of Osama Bin Laden
as presented in the video and explore in what ways the origins
of terrorism are to be found, not in some foreign citizen,
but in the actions we take out of fear, hate and retribution.
Copyright
2008. Augsburg College. All rights reserved.
