|
|
8th International Conference of Museums for Peace
an article by International Network of Museums for Peace
Some 150 participants, from 35 different
countries, attended the 8th International
Conference of Museums for Peace that was held
19-21 September at the No Gun Ri Peace Park in
the Republic of Korea. The theme of the
conference was ‘The Role of Museums for
Peace in Preventing War and Promoting
Remembrance, Historical Truth and
Reconciliation’. Directors and curators from
peace and human rights museums from around
the world as well as peace educators, activists,
and artists presented their work, engaged in
discussions, and forged bonds of friendship and
collaboration. 
click on photo to enlarge
Welcome addresses, congratulatory messages
and keynote speeches were delivered by, among
others, the Minister of Security and Public
Administration, Jeong, Jong-seop; Yeongdong-
gun Governor, Park, Se-bok; Chairman of Jeju 4.3
Peace Foundation, Lee, Mun-gyo; Chairperson of
Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, Yasuyoshi
Komizo; former President of Costa Rica, and 1987
Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Oscar Arias Sanchez;
and former AP journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winner,
Charles J. Hanley. Their texts, together with all
other presentations in the many parallel, panel,
and poster sessions, have been printed in a
substantial, 450-page conference volume, a copy
of which was given to each participant upon
registration. This volume constitutes a welcome
and valuable addition to the relatively scarce
literature on the subject. Another volume,
comprising a selection of papers, is forthcoming.
Given such factors as the theme of the
conference, geographical proximity, and the
number of its peace museums, it is hardly
surprising that some 60 participants hailed from
Japan. We should not fail to mention, however,
the publicity & translation efforts of INMP board
members, Professor Ikuro Anzai and Dr. Kazuyo
Yamane, who greatly facilitated the participation
of their compatriots.
Participants visited the beautiful and impressive
No Gun Ri Peace Park with its several memorials.
They also greatly appreciated and enjoyed the
various cultural interludes as well as excursions,
including one to Imjingak at the DMZ
(Demilitarized Zone) following the end of the
conference. A statement was issued there drawing
attention to the continued tragedy of the division
of the country, and urging a resumption of the six
party talks to safeguard peace on the peninsula
and in the wider region. INMP would like to
express its deep gratitude to the No Gun Ri
International Peace Foundation, and in particular
to its chairman, Dr. Chung, Koo-do, for their
hospitality, and for having organised such an
excellent and memorable conference.
Editor's note: The INMP newsletter also contains
results of the annual General Assembly and Board
meeting which includes the news that the Network
no longer has enough funding to maintain their
office and half-time staff member. Once again
we see that while there is more and more money
for the culture of war, there is less and less for the
culture of peace.
|
|
DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
Global meetings, conferences, assemblies, What is the best way for delegates to interact afterwards?
* * * * *
LATEST READER COMMENT:
"to maintain the momentum achieved during these mobilizations so that participants can remain active and connected with each other and with the Global Movement as a whole" is a crucial issue that few youth NGOs have ever achieved yet. . .
nice websites with profiles, some chatting, but little action or dialogue, little visible inspiration or local down to earth outreach...
maybe check this approach: highlighting "who does and achieves what, and how, and how to copy it" in lively format. http://www.pnyv.org/index.php?id=218; http://www.pnyv.org with an instrument and format to install it in the biggest multiplier of all: public school hallways. http://www.pnyv.org/index.php?id=467 with status of Official Proejct of the UN Decade of Edu for Sustainable Development in coop with http://youthactionforchange.org for free online courses on global issues.
We have piloted pnyv! for some years with great feedback, yet not promoted because we first want to have a solid office to be able to respond to requests about special editions, local editions etc... SO, we are doing research in Berlin for setting up an office where we can have some stable staff to do basics while the hundreds of online volunteers (translators, editors, web editors) keep buzzing.
We have talks with a great culture centre this september, after i return from latinamerican-european youth networking in barcelona, and we are preparing several EU fundign proposals incl. positive news podcast online radio with http://noticiaspositivas.org of Argentina, backed up by the websites and inviting all positive actors to send in their stories, speak the news, develop branches to their countries - of particular interest for developing countries where RADIO and COMMUNITY RADIO still are the major medium.
And - how about a special edition on PEACE and PEACE-BUILDING? we can include http://1000peacewomen.org/.
Like the 100 page edition on WATER under construction; publishing date relayed until we have an office. http://www.pnyv.org/water/.
OK, enough impressions, my friend :)
see you later, if you like it!
Cheers from Berlin,
Eric
pnyv! project director. . ...more.
|
|
by program area
Become a CPNN Reporter
