Workshops & Presenters
Workshops - Saturday, August 16th, 2008 Morning Session 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Nurturing Peace - Making Progress. More to Come!
Saturday, August 16th, 2008
Morning Session 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Towards an understanding of Islam and the Quran by Dr. Khalid Bhatti
The
presentation will briefly cover the emergence of Islam, its basic
beliefs and relationship with Christianity and Judaism. Discussion
will also include basic information about the Quran.
Dr.
Khalid Bhatti has been a resident of the Capital District for more
than 30 years. He worked as a Gastroenterologist. He has been past
president of the Medical Staff of St. Mary's hospital in Troy N.Y. and
past president of Rensslaer County Medical Academy of Medicine. He has
been active in Islamic activities and Interfaith groups. He has served
as president of The Islamic Center Of The Capital District. He is is
currently president of Muslim Community of Troy. He is also part of the
Sydney Albert Interfaith Board at The College of St. Rose and
Interfaith Alliance of NYS
Organizing Our Youth by Saif Rahman
How can the peace movement work effectively with our young? Can the tremendous energy and enthusiam of our youth be focused in creating a more peaceful, life affirming world? Can our young successfully navigate the corporate snares and distractions of the entertainment culture focusing on the vital issues of war and peace and the enviornment' so vitally important for their immediate future? Saif Rahman will suggest various ways of working effectively with our youth bringing this vital and necessary energy to the peace movements collective energy.
Saif Rahman
is the Peace and Student Movements Coordinator for IPS and FPIF. His
role includes using and translating IPS' research and writing to help make the
progressive movement more efficient, more diverse and more organized. He sits on
the Steering Committee for United for Peace and Justice, and is also part of the
Generation FAIR network and the University Coalitions for Global Health Resource
Group. Saif graduated from Wheaton College with degrees in Political Science and
Philosophy. He came to IPS from Global Justice where he was a National
Coordinator for the Student Campaign for Child Survival. He helped start the
University Coalitions for Global Health and he also represented SCCS in the
Global Action for Children coalition
The I-90 Peace Collective: Actions and Issues
By Trudy Quaif and Joe Lombardo
Following Interstate 90 from Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and beyond,
in fact as far as Buffalo and Western Massachusetts, in this workshop
upstate New York and Western Mass. activists
and organizers will gather to discuss issues and possible action
concerning Fort Drum, bringing the NYS
Guard home, participation at the NYS State Fair, an October Peace
Conference in Western Mass and other issues and actions
which concern us all, including (but probably not limited to): Iraq,
Iran and the Middle East, Latin
American, the loss of civil liberties, torture and other criminal
activities conducted by our government.
It will be an open and free spirited brain storming, planning,
networking discussion and fun gathering with the hope of
strengthening our efforts for peace and plans for a future action in
this fall.
Trudy Quaif
Trudy is a Capital Region peace activist and a member of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace.
Joe Lombardo
Joe Lomardo is a member of the coordinating committee of Bethlehem
Neighbors for Peace. He helped organize the historic Syracuse
demonstration last September that was called by the IVAW chapter from Fort
Drum. During the Vietnam War, Joe worked as a full-time staff person for
the National Peace Action Coalition, one of the 2 national anti-war coalitions
of the time. Recently, Joe served on the national coordinating committee
of the National Assembly which organized the recent national unity conference
for the anti-war movement in Cleveland.
SEEDS OF PEACE:
Building a Contemplative Foundation for
Peacemaking by Walt Chura
Location Upstairs Chapel
Based on the writings of Thomas Merton, this session will explore the
hazards of "active-ism," that is, the frenzied actions that we can
throw ourselves into in the desperate desire to create a world of peace
and justice. A look at the implications of Merton's experiments in
contemplation for movement toward "a harvest of justice [which] is sown
in peace by those who cultivate peace."
Walt Chura, sfo, is a lay Franciscan, a member of
the
extended community of Emmaus House: the Albany Catholic Worker and
coordinator of the Thomas Merton Society of the Capital District. He
will direct the 13th annual Merton in the Mountains retreat at Pyramid
Life Center in Paradox NY Sept. 5-7. He can be reached at 518-456-3201
0r wwchura@yahoo.com.
The Middle East:
A Closer look at Hamas and Hezbollah by John Amidon
Location: Museum Auditorium
From May 14- 27, 2008, John was part of the U.S. Academics For Peace Delegation which visited, Amman, Jordan, Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon meeting with academics, religious leaders and representatives of both Hezbollah and Hamas. Getting past the rhetoric and misinformation in the American press will help us understand and give an expanded insight into the Midldle East and the roles played by Hezbollah and Hamas. A slide presentation will accompany this session along with questions and answers.
John Amidon is a member of Veterans For Peace and has worked dilgently to close the School of the Americas, keep JROTC out of Albany Public Schools, to oppose torture and for impeachment of the criminal regime in Washington, D.C. In September of 2005, John traveled with Academics For Peace to Iran and Syria meeting with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. This winter (2008) John spent as interim coordinator for the Nevada Desert Experience working to abolish nuclear weapons and for environmental justice. In May of 2008 , John returned to the Middle East as a member of U.S. Acadmeics For Peace Delegation meeting with academics, religious leaders and representatives of Hezbollah and Hamas. He has served on the National Board of
Directors of Veterans For Peace and on the Board of the
Interfaith Alliance of NYS. John is also the founder of the Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference.
Afternoon Session 1:30 - 2:30 PM
True Hopefulness:
Making the Impossible Possible by Carl N. McDaniel
As individuals and groups, humans have evolved the capacity to believe anything and die for it. This part of our human nature has enabled some truly amazing things (as well as many that are far from being worthy). Essentially all important environmental trends are negative in terms of creating a durable future. The survival story of Shackleton's 1914-17 South Pole expedition provides a notable example of hopefulness that, if emulated, might just permit global civilization to persist through the 21st century and beyond.
Carl N. McDaniel, now retired, was a Professor of Biology at RPI. Carl has written extensively with over 60 published articles and several books including "Wisdom for a Livable Planet (Trinity University Press, 2005)
Please see http://www.rpi.edu/~mcdanc/ for more information about Carl.
Nurturing and Educating:
The Iraqi Student Project By Gabe Huck and Theresa Kubasak
There are millions of Iraqi refugees in Iraq and beyond, most of
them in Syria. The ISP began a year ago and this year has 16 qualified
Iraqi undergraduates (unable because of violence to continue college in
Baghdad and unable to afford college in Syria or Jordan) coming to the
US to study. They have tuition waivers from US universities and they
have wonderful support groups in each community. This is one small
piece of reconciliation and restitution. A host of other efforts are
needed.
Gabe and Theresa have lived in Damascus for three years. Theresa
was an elementary school teacher and a teacher of teachers for 30
years. Gabe was director of Liturgy Training Publications for 25
years. They began to be involved with Iraq as part of Voices in the
Wilderness and visited Iraq four times between 1999 and 2003
Mediation: What, Why, and How
By Linda and Gary Van Slyke
Location: Upstairs Chapel
Mediation has ancient roots and many modern branches.We will explore
these branches and their commonalities. We will then focus upon the
cultivation of mediation practice in our everyday lives. Informational
packets will also be distributed.
Linda Van Slyke has served as the lead minister at the First
Congregational United Church of Christ, Gloversville, NY for the past 2
1/2 years. She is a graduate of The New Seminary, the oldest
interfaith seminary in the world. Linda has an extensive backgroundin teaching, program development, mediation, and counseling.
Gary Van Slyke is best known for his delightful blend of music
and human-service. He travels the Capital District, lightening
many lives along the way. He's been doing one version of this
or another for the past 45 years.
Israel and Palestine: Up Close and Personal
by Paul Rehm
Greene County resident Paul Rehm, witnessed dramatic events
this spring in the town of Hebron, in the occupied Palestinian
territories, where he was a member of Christian Peacemaker Team. He
will describe his experiences and his analysis of the situation.
Paul has been a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams
since the summer of 2005 and has worked with the Team in Palestine/Israel
each Spring for the past three years. An alumnus of Siena College and
SUNYA, he was Director of Purchasing for Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. before
joining CPT. Paul and his wife, Katja, reside in Greenville, New York,
attend Albany Friends Meeting, serve on the steering committee of Upper Hudson
Peace Action and are members of the Atlantic Life
Community.