Thursday, April 15, 2010

Events scheduled for Palestine Week

Next week is Palestine Week at Saint Mary’s. The activities of the week are sponsored by Dr. Diehl and her Global Issues students. The events are free and open to the community. For more information, contact Diehl.

Monday, April 19, 4:30 in Salvi Lecture Hall — “Promises” — This film follows the journey of a filmmaker who travels in and around Jerusalem, from a Palestinian refugee camp to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, where he meets seven Palestinian and Israeli children who exist in separate worlds, divided by physical, historical, and emotional boundaries although they live only 20 minutes apart. It explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of these children and tells the story of a few children who dared to cross the lines to meet their neighbors.

Tuesday, April 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various sites around campus — Experience first-hand what travel is like in and around the Occupied Territories.

Wednesday, April 21, 6:30 in Salvi Lecture Hall —”Occupation 101,” a thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The film also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The roots of the conflict are explained through first-hand on-the-ground experiences from leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in American media outlets.

Thursday, April 22, Saint Mary’s Hall — Seven posters will be displayed throughout the day on easels at the foot of the stairs on first floor. These posters represent student research on various aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students will be available between 1 and 4 p.m. to answer questions on their research.

Friday, April 23, World Room, time to be announced — Father David Smith, retired theology professor at St. Thomas, will be sharing his experiences traveling in Israel and the Occupied Territories and his reflections on the future of the region. He may be joined by Flo Razowsky, a member of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network.