Workshops

Workshops: (download workshops descriptions)
Conference workshops will be offered on Saturday afternoon, 3:15 – 4:45 pm and again on Sunday at 10:45 am.  Some Saturday workshops will be repeated on Sunday and others will be added.

Peace Works Workshops, Saturday, October 18, 2008

Art & Activism (Seminar 2, C1105)
Presenters:  Dr. Susan Greene and Jen Marlowe

This workshop will present art and activist projects from Palestine, US, and Sudan, followed by a discussion with participants, examining the questions:

1- How can art organize and galvanize a community?
2- What is the relationship between public art and mourning?
3- What are different kinds of creative projects and how do they function?

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Campaign (Seminar 2, B2107)
Presenter:  Phyllis Bennis

This workshop will examine how organizations and individuals can connect with the US Campaign to End the Occupation and other efforts to combine all forms of political and economic pressure, including boycott, divestment, and sanctions. Check out existing divestment efforts and learn how you can initiate new ones.

Free Gaza (Seminar 2, B2109)
Presenter:  Bill Dienst, M.D.

Dr. Bill Dienst was the medical officer for this summer’s Free Gaza Movement.  He will describe with digital photographs, the careful planning behind outfitting two fishing boats in Greece with communications equipment, medical supplies for ship passengers, and medical cargo to take to Gaza. The boats were hidden from Israeli spies in separate undisclosed harbors until they were exposed by an intense media campaign, which proved to be an effective defense.  Dr. Dienst also developed a trauma first aid training manual for the ship’s passengers in an effort to “plan for the worst, while hoping for the best.”  He will describe financing the operation, as well as the successful high risk voyage between Cyprus and Gaza.  These boats are the first to enter Gaza port from international waters since 1967.  Discussion will follow, including future plans for the Free Gaza Movement.

How the Peace Movement and Military Community Can Work Together (Seminar 2, B3107)
Presenters:  Tracy Manzel and Dr. Zoltan Grossman

This workshop will examine how the civilian peace movement can work respectfully with members of the military community.  It will also explore how the Iraq-era GI movement strategies are similar or different from the Vietnam-era movement strategies, and how we can work with the different movement “languages” and organizing approaches that come from distinct values or experiences.

Media Activism - Images Against Injustice – Using Imagination & Digital Resources to Affect and Inspire Change (Seminar 2, B3105)
Presenter:  Zoriah Miller

Zoriah Miller will present images and discuss how artists, journalists and concerned citizens can use their talents to inform and inspire the world.  Every person has the ability to make a difference and do great things.  We will explore how to use tools such as the internet to make the world a better place.  Zoriah began his career as a humanitarian aid worker with a camera and now his images are viewed by hundreds of millions of individuals on every corner of the globe and seen in museums, galleries and top publications.  His work has raised countless dollars for aid and international organizations and has created political and social discourse.  He is an ordinary guy and a firm believer in an individual’s ability to change the world.  He hopes to inspire workshop attendees to embark on their own journeys to make a difference.

Social Justice and Human Rights Education: Palestine is still the issue (Seminar 2, B1105)
Presenters: Dr. Melissa Saul, Dr. Rula Awwad-Rafferty, Mea Moore

This session will examine barriers to peace and reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis.  Members of the 2008 Fulbright-Hays educators abroad program from Idaho, Washington, and Hawaii will share research from their travels in Israel and Palestine. The presenters will discuss the development of a social justice and peace education curriculum designed for use with middle, high school and college students in the United States. Themes of the curriculum include social justice, equality and the mis-education of the West in regard to the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

Working with Faith Communities (Seminar 2, B2105)
Presenters: Dr. Muhammed Ayub, Warren Guykema, Susan Rosen, Mustafa Mohamedali & Others

This workshop brings together leaders from Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith communities who are working to connect with each other and to other parts of the community, and to address the challenges of the difficult dialogues within and among different faith communities.  Presenters will also share new materials and strategies that relate to faith-based justice work, dialogue, and interfaith alliances.

Solidarity and Anti-oppression (Seminar 2, B3109)
Facilitator: Dr. Simona Sharoni

Can anti-oppression work be viewed as an act of solidarity? What does it mean to “negotiate the terms of solidarity”? These are some of the questions participants in this workshop will explore as we discuss effective ways to teach and learn the skills and strategies that are essential for solidarity and anti-oppression work. We will also examine critically the conditions for and challenges to particular solidarity initiatives around the world and in our community.

Peace Works Workshops, Sunday, October 19, 2008
Most Saturday Workshop sessions will be repeated with the following changes/additions:

Art & Activism and the Olympia-Rafah Mural Project (Seminar 2, C1105)
Presenters:  Susan Greene and Jen Marlowe

This hands-on experiential workshop focuses on concrete and practical applications of art and activism.  Workshop activities will in part be a response to participant interests, in preparation for the afternoon Olympia/Rafah Mural Photo event, and other activities TBA.

GI Voice and Iraq Veterans Against the War (Seminar 2, E1105)
Presenters:  Tracy and Seth Manzel, Josh Simpson, Dr. Zoltan Grossman

This workshop builds upon the Sunday morning panel on Military Resistance, and on the Saturday workshop on how the Peace Movement can work more respectfully with the military community.  It will focus on how GI Voice and IVAW have been working to organize the military community around Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, Camp Murray, and Madigan, and other local strategies for military organizing and alliance-building.

Working for Peace and Equality in Palestine and Israel: A networking session – Tools for becoming involved with peace with justice initiatives in Israel/Palestine (Seminar 2, B1105)
Presenters: Dr. Melissa Saul, Dr. Rula Awwad-Rafferty, Mea Moore

Presenters will share information on groups, organizations, and student initiatives that work on issues of social justice and human rights in Palestine and Israel. This session is designed as a way to change the ideological landscape and our current misunderstanding of the occupation of Palestine and the system of apartheid. We will provide contacts and tools for individuals wanting to pursue future social action for justice, peace and equality in Palestine and Israel. Current efforts, needs, contact information and a comprehensive guide on how to become involved with peace projects/initiatives will be provided.