Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find here a link to the Horn of Africa Bulletin December 2008.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find here a link to a new blog site called ‘Minding the Workplace’ by David Yamada.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

About the Blog

This blog is dedicated to news and commentary about work and employment relations, as well as to discussing and sharing useful books, articles, media programs, and Internet sources about the workplace. Dignity at work, workplace bullying, and psychologically healthy work environments will be recurring themes.

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find here a link to Bolivia’s President Evo Morales Aymo’s 10 Commandments to save the Planet, humankind and life.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find here a link to the December 2008 Issue of the Psychology International Newsletter.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find below information on a Conference on Dialogue.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Dialogue In/As Action Conference

The Network for Peace through Dialogue in cooperation with Marymount Manhattan College presents:

Dialogue In/As Action
A Conference for Community Groups, Researchers, Teachers,

Students and Others June 12 & 13, 2009 in NYC

SUBMIT A SESSION PROPOSAL

Be a part of the Conference! Share your expertise, understanding
and skills. Session Proposals related to the above topics are
welcome until Jan 8, 2009 . Upon request this deadline may be extended a bit.

Session Proposal

Session leader:

Agency Affiliation:

Address:

Tel:

Fax: E-mail:

Session Title:

Session Description (100 words max.; note any proposed presenters or
panelists):

Session length (circle): <1 hour 1-2 hours Other:
Equipment needed (preliminary):

Submit to: Questions? Call 212-426-5818

Virginia Dorgan Via e-mail: dialogue2009[@]gmail.com

The Network for Peace through Dialogue creates opportunities for individuals and groups to engage in constructive conversations in an atmosphere of openness and mutual respect. The Conference Planning Committee welcomes proposals that are inclusive of dialogue, using multiple approaches, media and models. We are seeking proposals that combine content with process, such as papers, performative papers, creative presentations, workshops and model dialogues, and panels of mixed events.

About the Conference

A Conference for Community Groups, Researchers, Teachers, Students and Others
The 2009 Network for Peace through Dialogue conference, “Dialogue In/As Action,” will
focus on the rich intersections of the methods, processes, and actions of dialogue that lead to change. The 2009 conference will explore the ground rules for practicing good dialogue, as well as the parameters for putting constructive dialogue into action. The goals of the 2009 conference are to provide a forum for addressing and discussing the following issues:

• What kind of change can be generated through dialogue?

• What are the preconditions of dialogue? How can these conditions be fostered?

• Cases of dialogue in action

• Cases of dialogue as action

• Cases of dialogue inaction

• Cultivating dialogue in and beyond the classroom

• Transforming dialogue with technology

• Voices of youth making change (presentations by youth)

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday evening, June 12 & all day Saturday, June 13, 2009

New York City

Open Registration Begins March 1, 2009

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find below the Afrcavenir Newsletter 10/2008: Vorschau 2009.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Afrcavenir Newsletter 10/2008: Vorschau 2009

das Jahr 2008 nähert sich rasch seinem Ende. Kurz bevor die besinnliche Weihnachtszeit beginnt, möchten wir Sie und Euch noch ein letztes Mal in diesem Jahr mit News rund um AfricAvenir versorgen. Nach einem für uns in allen Belangen erfolgreichen Jahr 2008, das mit einer weiteren Ehrung zur Neige geht (Details unten), möchten wir vor allem kurz voraus blicken auf 2009. Um die unten beschriebenen Projekte erfolgreich umzusetzen, sind wir auch auf Ihre Unterstützung angewiesen!

Vorschau 2009
Bereits am Montag, den 19. Januar 2009 veranstalten wir im Grünen Salon der Volksbühne ein Dialogforum zum Thema “Neue Soziale Bewegungen in Afrika” und haben dazu Gäste aus Mali und Senegal eingeladen (Details in Kürze auf www.africavenir.org). Weiterhin planen wir im Jahre 2009 wieder Filmpremieren, Open Air Filmvorführungen und eine namibische Kurzfilmreihe. Ebenso möchten wir uns an der zweiten Edition des Nelson Mandela Festivals beteiligen. Ende März ist der Erzähler Babacar Mbaye Ndaak wieder in Deutschland und wird in verschiedenen Schulen und Institutionen auftreten. Das Thema unseres diesjährigen Festivals “200 Jahre später…” soll im Rahmen eines Schulprojekts rund um Capoeira als Widerstandstechnik weiter geführt werden — und natürlich möchten wir die aufwendig erstell te Ausstellung “Protagonist/innen des Widerstands” auch in weiteren deutschen Städten zeigen (bei Interesse kontaktieren Sie uns per Email: 200jahre[@]africavenir.org).

Unser Schwerpunktthema 2009 wird jedoch “Afrika im Zweiten Weltkrieg” sein, das sich durch das ganze Jahr ziehen wird. Neben einer großen Ausstellung zum Thema planen wir Lehrerfortbildungen, Film- und weitere Veranstaltungen. In Vorbereitung ist außerdem ein Schwerpunkt “Zeitgenössische Kunst aus Afrika” in Kooperation mit der Kunstbiennale Dak’ART, quasi als Vorbereitung für die von uns geplante Bildungsreise zur Dak’ART 2010 (Infos dazu in Kürze auf www.africavenir.org).

8 Jahre erfolgreich in Deutschland
Seit dem Jahr 2000 haben wir unser Engagement für einen Dialog auf Augenhöhe kontinuierlich erweitert. In diesen mehr als 8 Jahren konnten wir viele Menschen von unserem selbstkritischen Ansatz überzeugen und immer mehr Institutionen für eine Zusammenarbeit gewinnen. Zuletzt verlieh uns die UNESCO die Toussaint Louverture Medaille für besondere Beiträge im “Kampf gegen Hegemonie, Intoleranz und Rassismus”. Wir möchten diesen Weg weiter gehen und mehr Menschen für diesen Ansatz begeistern, auch Kinder und Jugendliche oder Lehrer/innen.

Wer jedoch mehr Menschen erreichen will muss auch die notwendigen finanziellen Mittel aufbringen. AfricAvenir muss auch bei öffentlich geförderten Projekten oft bis zu 25% bare Eigenmittel einbringen, d.h. einen Teil der Projektkosten aus eigenen Mitteln tragen. Je umfangreicher die Projekte werden, desto schwieriger wird das für einen Verein mit nur 80 Mitgliedern. Wir sind daher immer stärker auch auf Spenden angewiesen. Wenn wir auch Sie durch unsere kontinuierliche und konsistente Arbeit überzeugen konnten, freuen wir uns, wenn Sie unsere Vorhaben im neuen Jahr finanziell oder ehrenamtlich unterstützen. Nehmen Sie mit uns Kontakt auf: buero[@]africavenir.org oder 01577-5364539. Vom Finanzamt akzeptierte Spendenquittungen stellen wir gerne aus.

Kontodaten:
AfricAvenir International e.V.
Badische Beamtenbank
BLZ: 66090800
Kto: 0016721303
SWIFT: GENODE6K
BIC: GENODE61BBB
IBAN: DE91660908000016721303
Kennwort: Spende + Name (+ Adresse)

WEITERE AFRICAVENIR NEWS

AfricAvenir sucht Praktikant/in ab Januar 2009: Kulturmanagement
Der in Berlin ansässige Verein AfricAvenir International e.V. sucht ab Januar 2009 eine/n Praktikant/in für mindestens 20 Stunden/Woche (für 3 Monate) im Bereich Kultur-/ Veranstaltungsmanagement. Der Arbeitsort ist die Geschäftsstelle in Berlin. http://africavenir.com/news/2008/12/2237

Publikation: “200 Years Later…”
Anlässlich der Veranstaltungsreihe “200 Jahre später…” veröffentlicht, beinhaltet der Ausstellungskatalog nicht nur die Portraits der ausgestellten Protagonist/innen des Widerstands gegen den sog. Transatlantischen Sklavenhandel, sondern 10 Artikel von einigen der renommiertesten Analytiker/innen unserer Zeit. Der Katalog ist ein ideales Weihnachtsgeschenk! Bestellungen (15€ zzgl. Porto/Verpackung) sind möglich per Email an: 200jahre@africavenir.org oder per Faxformular: http://200-jahre.info/wp-content/media/2008/12/afa_200yearslater_order_form.pdf

Prof. Kum’a Ndumbe III. erhält Trophée Africain de la Citoyenneté (Auszeichnung für bürgerschaftliches Engagement) in Benin
Prof. Kum’a Ndumbe III. erhielt, in Anerkennung seines außergewöhnlichen bürgerschaftlichen Engagements zur Förderung afrikanischer Kultur im Rahmen der Stiftung AfricAvenir, am 13. Dezember 2008 die Trophée Africain de la Citoyenneté, catégorie “Arts et Culture”. Die Ehrung wurde im Rahmen eines Gala-Abends unter Schirmherrschaft Seiner Exzellenz, Dr Thomas Boni YAYI, Präsident der Republik Benin, überreicht. http://africavenir.com/news/2008/12/2230

Nun wünschen wir ein besinnliches Weihnachten und einen guten Start im neuen Jahr!

Ihr AfricAvenir Team.

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find below information on the John Jay College Conflict Resolution Workshops.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

John Jay College: Conflict Resolution Workshops for Spring 2009

The Continuing Education Department of John Jay College of Criminal Justice
announces a new series of eight Conflict Resolution Workshops for Spring 2009

For more information instructors and registration, go to http://johnjay.augusoft.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=1011&CategoryID=13&SubCategoryID=96,
email CEP[@]JJay.cuny.edu, or call (212) 237-8663.

A short introduction to the transformative model of mediation [3100001]
The purpose of this 4-session, 6-hour workshop is to expose those who have taken facilitative mediation or related undergraduate courses to the Transformative Model of Mediation by discussing the Relational Worldview the model espouses, identifying human perceptions of what it is like being IN conflict, articulating the Transformative tools of intervention and practicing them in role plays.

Tuesday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; 4 sessions starting April 21, 2009, ending May 12,
2009
Class Cost: $135
Instructor: Julie Denny

Dynamic presentations without fear: Public speaking workshop [3100006]
Dive off that cliff and learn how to give dynamic presentations without fear. Each week, a module covering one of the main stages of speech development will explore tips, tricks and techniques that target important public speaking strategies — everything from what you say, to your delivery, to what you wear. In a spirited and friendly environment, participants will engage in a series of exercises, games and speaking opportunities designed to build confidence, capture and entertain an audience, be more effective in organizing ideas and getting messages across, channel nerves into energized presentations, persuade and influence the listener, and develop a vibrant delivery style. Participants will select speech topics with an opportunity to work through aspects of presentations individually with the instructor. Open to all levels.

Thursday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; 9 sessions starting March 5, 2009, ending April 30,
2009
Class cost: $200 , Materials Fee $ 0.00
Instructor: Laurie Krauz

Mediation for family problems [3100002]
The course introduces attendees to mediation and includes interactive exercises to give a sense of how it works. It covers what mediation is; what it can do; why it works and how people can avail themselves of it. A resource list of places that offer mediation for families will be distributed.

Thursday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; 1 session on April 2, 2009
Class cost $30 , Materials Fee $ 0.00
Instructor: Nancy Kramer

Negotiating under pressure [3100003]
This course will provide participants with a unique opportunity to learn lessons from police hostage negotiations, where every situation is a crisis that usually involves violence and weapons, and intuition is essential for resolving each one. People generally go into a wide range of negotiations with a preconceived notion of how they would like them to turn out. The goal is to attempt to find some common ground and/or figure out a way to reach a compromise. You will sharpen your negotiating skills by learning how the police hostage negotiators negotiate some of the most stressful and high profile situations.

Thursday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; 4 sessions starting March 5, 2009, ending March
26, 2009
Class cost $125 , Materials Fee $ 0.00
Instructor: Jack Cambria

Preventing runaway anger at home, at work, with friends, in relationships [3100004]
This is an interactive experience geared to help participants learn additional ways to deal with their own anger, as well as that of others who are part of their lives. The purpose of this 2- session, 3-hour workshop is to explore a variety of ideas relating to anger and anger management to participants and provide various positive ways of handling this feeling. Components of this training include many interactive experiences that will focus on: personal views of anger, understanding and dealing with different causes and effects of this feeling, a list of anger managers with explanations on their use, situations to apply anger managers, review of material, and feedback and follow-up opportunities.

Tuesday, Thursday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; 2 sessions starting April 28, 2009, ending
April 30, 2009
Class cost $60 , Materials Fee $ 0.00
Instructor: Dave Wolffe

Professional mediation training [3100005]
Alex Yaroslavsky, Elizabeth Clemants and Michelle Leonard have teamed up to bring you a unique mediation course. If you are considering becoming a mediator, developing your workplace and personal conflict resolution skills, this course is for you. After completing this course you will be able to: • Understand and refine your conflict resolution style • Manage conflict with confidence, using proven techniques • Conduct successful mediations in a variety of settings

Tuesday, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM; 14 sessions starting February 3, 2009, ending
May 9, 2009
Class cost $975 , Materials Fee $ 0.00
Instructors: Alexander Yaroslavsky, Elizabeth Clemants and Michelle Leonard

An introduction to Open Space Technology [3100008]
Open Space Technology is a simple way to run productive meetings, for five to 2000+ people, and a powerful way to lead any kind of organization, in everyday practice and ongoing change. Participants will have an opportunity to experience Open Space for themselves, examine its underlying theory, and learn how to apply it in everyday situations.

Wednesday, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM; 1 session on March 18, 2009
Class cost $40 , Materials Fee $ 0.00
Instructors: Jane Hughes Gignoux and Karen Davis

An introduction to World Café Dialogue [3100009]
World Café has been described as a dialogic process that “awakens and engages collective intelligence through conversations about questions that matter.” Participants will practice World Café, informal, small-group conversations based on seven Principles and have a chance to discuss how and where it is most effectively used.

Wednesday, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM; 1 session on March 25, 2009
Class cost $40 , Materials Fee $ 0.00
Instructors: Karen Davis and Jane Huges Gignoux

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find below information on a paper competition on conflict resolution.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Paper Competition: Association for Conflict Resolution

The Association for Conflict Resolution and Conflict Resolution Quarterly are sponsoring a Law and Graduate Student Paper Competition to showcase research on topics related to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Conflict Resolution. Submissions will be critiqued by a panel of experts comprised of practitioners and academics. The best paper will be published in Conflict Resolution Quarterly and its author will receive free conference registration to the ACR Conference in Atlanta, October 7-10th, 2009. Manuscripts receiving “honorable mention” will be published on the ACR website with an abstract appearing in ACResolution.

Conflict Resolution Quarterly publishes scholarship on relationships between theory, research, and practice in the conflict management and dispute resolution field to promote more effective professional applications. Articles may focus on any aspect of the conflict resolution process or context, but a primary focus is the behavior, role and impact of third parties in effectively handling conflict. All submissions must conform to CRQ’s submission guidelines, found here: http://www.acrnet.org/publications/crq.htm

Eligibility: To qualify, authors must be full or part-time graduate students in a Conflict Resolution, Conflict Management, or Law school program at the time of the submission. Please contact Susan S. Raines with any questions concerning eligibility at the e-mail address listed below.

Deadline for submissions: April 6th, 2009

Please direct questions to:

Susan S. Raines, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, CRQ
Associate Professor of Conflict Management, Kennesaw State University

sraines[@]kennesaw.edu

Submissions must be submitted electronically via this website, with a cover page that indicates this paper is part of the Graduate Student Manuscript Competition:

http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/crq

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find below an announcement on an online course on the human right to food.

Kind regards
Brian Ward

Announcement for an Online Course
The Human Right to Adequate Food

An online course on the human right to adequate food will be offered March 9 - May 29, 2009 by Professor George Kent of the University of Hawaii. Its premise is that solving the problem of widespread malnutrition is not simply a matter of correcting deficiencies among those who are hungry. Ending hunger requires respect for human rights, and it may require reconfiguration of the social order, locally, nationally, and globally.

The course will be conducted entirely online through Transcend Peace University. The basic cost is 225 Euro for residents of non-OECD states and 450 Euro for residents of OECD states. The syllabus and details regarding registration may be obtained through http://www.transcend.org/tpu/

Applications will be accepted until February 25, 2009.

Dear HumanDHS network friends

Please find below information on the IIPE 2009. It will explore the theme of “Human Rights Learning as Peace Education: Pursuing Democracy in a Time of Crisis.”

Kind regards
Brian Ward

International Institute on Peace Education 2009

July 26 - August 2 at Budapest, Hungary

“Human Rights Learning as Peace Education: Pursuing Democracy in a Time of Crisis”

For more information visit : www.i-i-p-e.org

The International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) 2009 will take place from July 26 to August 2 in Budapest , Hungary . The institute is being co-organized by the EJBO Foundation in partnership with Global Education Associates with the support and sponsorship of UNESCO .

IIPE was founded in 1982 by Dr. Betty Reardon and faculty colleagues at Teachers College Columbia University and has been held annually in different parts of the world. For 26 years the IIPE has been providing unique short-term, residential, cooperative learning experiences in peace education. The IIPE is not a traditional conference but rather a “learning community” in which the organizers and participants work together to nurture an inclusive, highly interactive learning environment. It is an intensive multicultural and cooperative learning opportunity in which participants learn from and with each other about substantive peace issues and interactive teaching approaches. The IIPE is also an opportunity for networking and community building among those who educate and work for a culture of peace in the host region and around the world.

“Human Rights Learning as Peace Education: Pursuing Democracy in a Time of Crisis”

IIPE 2009 will explore the theme of “Human Rights Learning as Peace Education: Pursuing Democracy in a Time of Crisis.” Human rights learning, as facilitated by peace educators is critical, participatory and learner centered. It is intended to prepare learners to work toward the transformation of the existing order of violence and injustice into a world social system based upon the principle of universal human dignity. This principle of human dignity underlies all human rights concepts and norms and is at the core of human rights learning (HRL). HRL emphasizes modes of critical thinking and self reflection that are necessary for internalizing the essential principles of human rights, enabling individuals and communities to become agents of change (PDHRE). HRL begins with “assuming the rights of learners to decide themselves what they will believe and develops means through which the learners can acquire information while forming their own opinions and determining their own course of action about the issues of concern to them…in the absence of authentic human rights learning people will not be able to achieve their full dignity.” (Reardon)

Such critical thinking is essential to participatory democracy. “Strong democracy” (Barber) is based upon a positive conception of liberty dependent upon self-determination, equality, deliberation and direct participation in the political decisions that affect our personal and social lives (Snauwaert). The realization of human rights can be seen as the necessary conditions and core values of participatory democracy and positive peace. Educating for critical thinking and democracy would include questioning policy that deprives or denies any individual or group of any of their fundamental human rights. Such inquiry is a key process of peace education pedagogy.

The world is now seized by multiple, complex economic and political crises. Many of the policies and political decisions that have contributed to these crises have been justified as furthering “democracy.” The global economic crisis can be attributed in large part to the decisions and behaviors of a minority of the human family who control the world’s resources and act in short-term self-interest at the expense of the majority and the biosphere. The political crises stem from similar origins, the policies and strategies of those who wield state power without regard to universal human rights

During the year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the “International Year of Human Rights Learning,” it is fitting that the IIPE consider the framework of Human Rights as an ethical vision for just and democratic global and local societies. Human rights learning as peace education offers a pedagogy for an education toward the realization of essential rights, responsibilities, duties and obligations of an informed and engaged democracy. Through human rights learning as peace education, citizens may be capacitated to critically examine and challenge political ideas; inquire into economic and environmental policies; propose and consider alternatives; and work toward a more just global future.

We invite applicants to join the IIPE 2009 inquiry that will identify and assess the social, political and educational structures that pose impediments to the realization of human rights and a culture of peace. We will seek to examine the links between economic and political crises at the local, state, regional and global levels and look for ways to address them through education. Through our common discourse and reflection we will learn together about possibilities for formal, non-formal and informal education to capacitate citizens to pursue democratic change. We encourage all applicants to consider how they might contribute to this exploration from their own experiences locally, nationally and regionally, as formal or non-formal educators, or as advocates or activists. Together, we hope to illuminate the possibilities for human rights learning as peace education to guide us through and transform this epoch of political and economic crisis.

References :

Barber, Benjamin (1985). Participatory Politics for a New Age. Berkeley , CA : University of California Press.

PDHRE – Peoples Movement for Human Rights Learning. www.pdhre.org

Reardon, Betty. Statement prepared for PDHRE. www.pdhre.org

Snauwaert, Dale (2005) “Reclaiming the Lost Treasure: Deliberation and Strong Democratic Education” Educational Theory, 42:351-367.

Application Information:

An online application will be available beginning in early January, 2009 . Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2009 for full consideration. Notices of acceptances will be sent in early April. If you require an earlier response for funding or institutional purposes please contact the IIPE secretariat at info[@]i-i-p-e.org .

Acceptance for participation in the IIPE is based upon applicant’s potential contribution to the goal of developing and strengthening peace education and human rights learning in the host region and toward a more global perspective on peace education among all participants. The IIPE attempts to practice the principles of peace education by engaging all participants in our short term learning community in an experience of participatory learning in which all of us can learn from each other. Therefore the IIPE is limited to 65 total participants . The IIPE requires full-time participation from all participants . You must be able to participate in the full period of the IIPE (July 26-August 2) for your application to be considered. If after acceptance a participant finds he or she must leave early or arrive late, their place will be given to another on the waiting list. For full details on acceptance criteria and application procedures please visit the IIPE website .

Participation Fees:

Participation fees cover all onsite costs including food, housing (double occupancy), local transportation and excursions. Participation fees for 2009 are still being determined and should be announced when the application period opens. Participation fees average between $450-650.

Scholarship:

The institute operates on a self-sustaining basis in which all participants, including the organizers and presenters pay their own travel and participation fees or find their own funding. The IIPE attempts each year to raise a small scholarship fund for participants coming from currency poor or post-conflict countries. Unfortunately scholarships are not provided for participants applying from the US or Western Europe . Scholarships come only in the form of participation fee waivers (the IIPE does not provide financial support for travel or other expenses). If you think you will be in need of scholarship please indicate so when applying. We hope you might consider a contribution to the IIPE to fund scholarships . Your generosity will help ensure that those potential participants in greatest need of training and solidarity will be able to attend the institute. We would be grateful for any amount you may be able to donate. All donations are tax deductible. You may download a donation form or donate online by credit card at www.i-i-p-e.org/donate.html .

Contact Us:

The International Institute on Peace Education is globally coordinated by Global Education Associates .

The International Institute on Peace Education care of:

Global Education Associates
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1626B
New York , New York 10115

web: www.i-i-p-e.org
email: info[@]i-i-p-e.org
tel: 212-870-3290