The UCSC University Religious Council is offering a series of events during the week of November 4-8, 2002 to help create and maintain a sense of peaceful dialogue on the complex issues of the current Middle East tension and peace process. Through speakers and panel discussions, students will be exposed to various viewpoints involved in the conflict, those of Palestinians (Muslims and Christians) and Israelis/Jews, in addition to perspectives from other religions and cultures of the region and the world community. The events will be facilitated by prominent UCSC faculty members: Dana Takagi, John Brown Childs, and David Anthony.

Speakers will address the forces within their culture that promote peace and dialogue and those forces within their traditions that promote conflict and violence. The panels will include the wide range of political/religious perspectives. A main focus of this series will be on conflict resolution, active listening, and promoting an understanding of the many sides of this conflict. This is designed as an educational event exploring the cultures and faiths of the Middle East with the goal of creating a safe and respectful place for dialogue on this issue at the UCSC campus.


Outline of the Week

Monday: Origins and Current Views of the Conflict
with Khalil Barhoum and David Meir-Levi
Facilitated by Dana Takagi

Tuesday: Palestinian Perspectives: Muslim, Christian, secular
with Hatem Bazian, Father Labib Kobti, and TBA
Facilitated by John Brown Childs

Wednesday: Israeli Perspectives
with Semha Alwaya, Amichai Magen, David Pine, and Raphael Daniziger
Facilitated by John Brown Childs

Thursday: Possible Solutions & Interfaith Perspectives
with Khalil Barhoum, Yitzhak Santis, and Interfaith Panel
Facilitated by David Anthony

Friday: Middle East Hospitality Gathering

For more info call 831-459-2833

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

Sponsored by: UCSC University Religious Council (including the Muslim Student Association and Santa Cruz Hillel); Center for Global, International and Regional Studies; College Nine and College Ten; Jewish Studies Program; Center for Justice, Tolerance, and Community; Resource Center for Non-Violence; Ad Hoc Committee on Current Events, The Hate/Bias Peer Response Team, and Committee for the Advancement of Religious Studies.