Dear ALAS and friends of ALAS,
By way of this e-mail, I am requesting that you promote this event to ALAS and ask its members to promote it to their friends, classmates, and professors. Note, in particular, the presentations by Katherine O'Donnell on Chiapas and Steven Walker on refugees in Ohio, the visit by the Maya weavers (information fair), the film series, and the trip to Cincinnati to speak to community activists. We still have room on the bus for the trip to Cincinnati; you can register by calling Dorothy Falke (9-8309) or e-mailing: [log in to unmask] .
PRESENTATIONS, DISCUSSIONS, INFORMATION FAIR, FILM SERIES, AND TRIP TO URBAN CINCINNATI TO SPEAK WITH COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS PLANNED FOR November 12-13.
On November 12-13, 2004, the Center for American and World Cultures, Etheridge Center for Reflective Leadership, Harry T. Wilks Leadership Institute, Miami University Center for Community Engagement in Over-the-Rhine, Office of Service Learning and Civic Leadership, and the Robert E. Strippel Memorial Fund, with support from the Citizens of the World Initiative and the School of Interdisciplinary Studies-Western College Program, is presenting the Robert E. Strippel Memorial Continuing Dialogue on Justice and Human Rights, "Homeless in the World: a Human Rights Perspective" on November 12-13, 2004.
The conference is devoted to the examination of the multiple causes of, consequences, and legislative and activist responses to displacement, forced migration, and resettlement on local and global levels and includes discussions of homelessness in the US, human rights abuses, refugees, un-and under-employment and landlessness, as seen through multiple disciplinary, cross-cultural lenses. Our objective is to educate our students to these conditions and processes, encourage them to learn more, and inspire them to become involved in action and practice.
The forum consists of several parts (November 12 and then, November 13).
The morning session (see below and attached) begins at 8:30 a.m. and lasts until 12:30 p.m in SHRIVER "A" of the Shriver Multipurpose Rooms.
The Information Fair and Film Series begins at 12:45 p.m. and lasts until 5:00 p.m.
The purpose of the information fair is to make our students aware of the multitude of organizations that are engaged in human rights efforts to assist the homeless (both here and overseas), correct the conditions under which they live, and prevent the future occurrence of homelessness. Thus, we are inviting organizations whose missions are related to these concerns to speak and exhibit information about their organizations. The information fair is being held in SHRIVER "B AND C", while the film series is taking place in SHRIVER "A" .
The information fair will include representatives from two Chiapas human rights groups, Kinal Antzetik and Jolom Mayetik, who will also demonstrate traditional (backstrap loom) weaving, the National Coalition for the Homeless, Doctor's Without Borders, Living Water, Miami University's Office of Service Learning and Civic Leadership, Oxford Citizens for Peace and Justice, and more. Materials from other organizations such as (to name a few): Amnesty International, Cultural Survival, Drop Inn Center of Cincinnati, Common Ground Community-First Step Housing, FREE THE SLAVES, Habitat for Humanity, International Labor Rights, Mazon, National Center for Homeless Education, and Relief International will be available, as well.
The film series will begin at 12:45 p.m. with a showing of the Indian (South Asian) film, "Bombay". The movie's leading actor will be present to lead a discussion following the film. Films from other parts of the world will also be shown and short films will be running in the Multipurpose lounge.
On Saturday, November 13, we will be traveling to Miami University's Center for Community Engagement in Over-The-Rhine for a discussion with Don Whitehead, director of the National Coalition for the Homeless and a number of other, local community activists, including Bonnie Neumeier of the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, and Andy Erickson of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. We will also have lunch and a tour of the Drop Inn Center. The bus going to Cincinnati leaves Shriver Center at 9:00 a.m. and returns at around 2:00 p.m. We ask a $5.00 contribution for those participating on this program; these funds will go to the Drop Inn Center. To register, please call Dorothy Falke at 9-8309 or e-mail her at: [log in to unmask] .
To learn more about the speakers and their backgrounds and interests, please visit the Center for American and World Cultures website:
http://www.muohio.edu/cawc and click on "Calendar of Events", then click on November 12, November 13.
October 26, 2004
ROBERT E. STRIPPEL MEMORIAL
CONTINUING DIALOGUE ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
"Homeless in the World: A Human Rights Perspective"
November 12, 2004
8:30 - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Interim Provost John Skillings
HOMELESS IN AMERICA
Lee Harrington, Session Chair
Department of Sociology, Miami University
8:45 - 9: 20 a.m.
Cynthia Bogard
Department of Sociology, Hofstra University
"Seasons Such as These: The Persistence of Homelessness in America"
Bogard will compare what constitutes homelessness in the United States with the phenomenon in other countries and examine where this era of homelessness comes from and how homelessness is dealt with here and abroad. The presentation will also explore American individualism and how long-held values about poverty and work influence the ways in which we deal with the problems of homelessness. As America's poorest of the poor, homeless people face a world of increasingly complex economic realities and narrowing choices. What role should citizens and their government play in assisting homeless people's survival?
9:20 - 9:40 a.m.
Steve Walker
Refugee Services Program, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
"Refugees in Ohio"
Who is a refugee and where do refugees come from? How are they resettled in the United States? Who provides assistance? In this presentation, Walker will examine these and other questions pertaining to the problems and obstacles faced by refugees with special attention to Ohio. Successful resettlements will also be discussed.
9:40 - 10:00 a.m.
Don Whitehead
National Coalition for the Homeless
"Bringing America Home"
According to Whitehead, housing is a human rights issue; everyone is entitled to stable, comfortable, and safe housing. In this presentation, Whitehead will provide action strategies that will provide for: greater housing assistance in urban, suburban, and rural areas, emergency rental assistance for families facing eviction, stable housing for schoolchildren, and greater housing assistance for the elderly, disabled, veterans, and individuals with HIV/AIDS. He will also discuss various measures to guarantee and expand economic and health security to the homeless, as well as provisions to insure that patients and other high risk individuals do not return to homelessness.
10:00 -10:20 a.m.
PRESENTERS RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
WHERE IS HOME?
Session Chair ?
10:20 - 10:40 a.m.
Linn Song
Department of Architecture and Interior Design, Miami University
"Border Crossings: Diaspora, Environment and Homelessness of the 'Other' "
If a local or cultural identity is defined by a set of shared ideals, values and beliefs, which determine a way of looking at the world, then it is also about shaping and regulating it through the establishment and defense of "territory". Territorialization is the cultural process of regulating not only physical space, but social interaction as well. Laws, customs and territorial behavior are defenses against the "Other", against the threat to personal security, self-esteem and self- and cultural-identity brought about by diversity and a perceived loss of control and power.
This presentation uses 19th/20th century German landscape painting, cognitive mapping, and digital photography to examine Germany as a case study to illuminate the ties between landscape and the built environment of cities and places to the manipulation and sustenance of exclusionary practices in politics, image making, history and cultural representations that are contributing to a growing number of "homeless" in the 21st century.
10:40 - 11:00 a.m.
Lonnie Holley
Artist
"A Hand is a Hand When It's Helping Someone"
Lonnie Holley, evicted from his home in Birmingham, Alabama, will speak about how is personal experiences of homelessness have influenced his art. A leading "outsider artist", Holley's first works of art were sandstone carvings. He now paints and makes assemblages from cast-off metal and various other found materials. He will tell his own story through images of his art. "My art is helping the mind to realize the depths to which we can go, and helping people in the first stage of learning how to help yourself, be yourself and love yourself."
HOMELESS ABROAD
Jeanne Hey, Session Chair
International Studies Program, Miami University
11:00 - 11:20 a.m.
Anita Fábos
Refugee Studies, University of East London
"Forced Migration and Human Rights in the Middle East"
As a region beset by political instability and repression of opposition groups, widespread discrimination towards ethnic and religious minorities, and war and conflict, the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) is home to the largest numbers of refugees in the world. Significant flows of refugees and other forced migrants within MENA include Palestinians, Sudanese, Kurds, Lebanese, Yemenis, Iraqis, and Iranians. In addition, there have been huge numbers of refugees from Afghanistan to Iran. This presentation outlines some of the main flows and characteristics of forced migration in the MENA region in the context of changing international refugee policies, ongoing conflict and instability, shifting patterns of local and transnational practices, and the unresolved Palestinian question. I discuss region-specific challenges to addressing the vulnerability of refugees and other forced migrants in terms of the problem of Palestinian refugees, an overall lack of rights for non-citizens, the urban nature of the refugee situation in the region, and the transnational circumstances of most forced migrants today. The specific dimensions of vulnerability of forced migrants in MENA are characterized as relating to lack of ethnic and minority rights, gender insecurity, and poor support for children. The presentation highlights the ambiguous distinction between forced and voluntary migration from the Middle East, a human rights issue that is particularly relevant in light of the 'war on terror' discourse in North America, Europe, and Australia.
11:20 - 11:40 a.m.
Dr. Katherine O'Donnell
Department of Sociology and Women's Studies Program, Hartwick College
"Walking in Women's Land: Lessons on Building North-South Solidarity from Chiapas, Mexico"
This talk explores transnational organizing for economic justice, human rights, indigenous sovereignty, and women's health and the tensions which emerge between grassroots movements, international actors, and NGOS in the context of Chiapas, Mexico. It identifies security as a multifaceted project with economic, political, social, health, cultural, gendered, and environmental dimensions, all of which are interconnected and embodied in indigenous organizing, accords, and worldview as collective rights and argues that security, in part, is forged through international and local NGO networking but fundamentally through grassroots movements which emphasize social justice, economic solidarity, democracy, and people-centered development. Activist ethnography and solidarity work inform the analysis of the case of Chiapas, Mexico, where threats to indigenous women's security are rooted in neoliberal development, systemic racism, and sexism. Such threats manifest themselves in poverty, political exclusion, and militarization. It is perhaps in the arena of women's health where the potentially lethal intersection of these forces is demonstrated most forcefully. To challenge militarization, globalization, and political exclusion, a vibrant, global, civil society movement has been created, north and south. Personal experience with women's transnational organizing and
alliance building, models for solidarity, and key challenges to forming long term successful and sustainable relationships North and South are presented.
FACING THE UNKNOWN: Bioterrorism
11:40 a.m. - noon
Dr. Premlata Shankar
The Center for Blood Research, Harvard University
"RNA Interference: A New Tool Against Viral Agents of Bioterrorism"
With the increase in global travel and commerce and ever present threat
of bioterroism, infectious diseases pose new threats to world survival.
In the U.S, this is exemplified by the contamination of our postal
service with anthrax, as well as the increase in the incidence of West
Nile Virus infections. The search for novel therapies for use against these infectious diseases is one means that we can thwart bioterrorism. The recent
discovery of the evolutionarily conserved gene silencing mechanism of
RNA interference (RNAi) has ushered in a revolution in the field of
biology. Introduction of synthetic double stranded RNA molecules called
short interfering RNA that have identical sequences to any specific gene
triggers RNAi, which destroys the target RNA and silences gene
expression. We are harnessing RNAi as a treatment strategy against West
Nile, Dengue and Japanese encephalitis, which belong to a family of
mosquito-borne viruses called Flaviviruses. These viruses, which are
classified as potential agents for bioterrorism can cause severe
diseases with fatal complications such as encephalitis and hemorrhagic
shock. We have identified several candidate siRNAs that attack gene
sequences common to the three viruses. Our results show that these
siRNAs are not only highly efficient at suppressing all three viruses in
test tubes, they also prevent JE and WN encephalitis in mice. These
results demonstrate the potential of RNAi in treating viral and genetic
diseases in humans.
Noon - 12:30 p.m.
PRESENTERS RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
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