a Just and Enduring Peace in Palestine and Israel
Olympia, Washington
Thursday, April 20
at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts
(512 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA)
Pre-event music interlude – Rag Dharma Classical Indian Ensemble
- 7:00 pm — Building a Culture of Peace in Our Families, Community, and the World: A talk by Dr. Arun Gandhi. Dr. Arun Gandhi is a social-political activist and founder of the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence, and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. He will speak at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Olympia and is free to the public.
Deborah Koff Chapin, will be doing “Touch Drawing“ during Mr. Gandhi’s talk and her art will be on exhibit in the lobby.
Friday, April 21
at The Evergreen State College
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW, Olympia, WA – Parking is $1.25 for the day)
- Putting Justice Into Action: Who are we as a movement? What are the obstacles, challenges and opportunities we face as we seek to forge solidarity with each other and in our activist work? We will hear from activists sharing their personal experiences of identity and involvement. We will also have the opportunity to participate in educational workshops and network and learn from one another about strategies gained from social justice work focusing on Palestine and Israel. This is a day of discussions and workshops which will be held at The Evergreen State College at 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW. (Registration Required).
- 8:00-9:00 am: Registration
- 9:00-9:15 am: Welcome and Introduction to the Conference
- 9:30-10:30 am: Program Panel: Who are we as a Movement? (A panel focused on identity, justice, challenges and opportunities for solidarity, and experiences of activism)
- 10:45-11:45 am: Small-group discussions; identity, solidarity and activism.
- 11:45am-1:00 pm: Lunch and campus tours (view a memorial to Rachel Corrie and other campus sites)
- 1:00-2:30 pm: Learning about each other; developing networking groups around specific areas of interest and experience.
- 2:45-4:30 pm: Choose to continue working with your networking group or attend one of the following workshops:
- Anti-Oppression
- Campus Divestment
- Palestine/Israel 101
- Healing Activist Trauma
- 4:30-5:00 pm: Report Outs, Closure
Friday, April 21
(evening) at The United Churches
(110 11th Ave SE, Olympia, WA – Free parking available on nearby streets.)
- 7:00 pm — The Struggle Against Myths, Propaganda and Annexation in Palestine and Israel
Jerry and Sis Levin, long-time peace activists, will present this talk at The United Churches in Olympia (11th and Capitol Way). Donations are welcome; the event is free. The Levin’s — based in Palestine — promote nonviolent resistance and report about their first-hand experience with the Israeli occupation. Jerry Levin works full time with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Hebron and is the author of West Bank Diary. He was the CNN Middle East Bureau Chief in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1984 when he was kidnapped by extremists and became the first of the “forgotten American hostages.” He escaped 11 ½ months later Lucille (Sis) Levin, a peace educator and mediator, is author of Beirut Diaries, an account of her efforts to create the conditions by which her husband was able to escape his captors.
Saturday, April 22
at South Puget Sound Community College
(2011 Mottman Rd SW, Tumwater, WA – Parking is free.)
Click here to see a list and descripton of the Taking Action workshops.
- 7:30-9:00 am — Registration and Continental Breakfast
- 9:00-9:30 am — Conference Opening and Welcome message by Cindy and Craig Corrie
- 9:30-10:30 — The Political is Personal: Why We Are Here – Dianna Buttu, Dr. Sara Roy and Craig Corrie
- 10:30-10:45 am — Break
- 10:45 am-12:30 pm — From Occupation to Enclosure: Fragmenting the Palestinian State – Diana Buttu and Amira Hass – Facilitator: Dr. Steve Niva
- 12:30-1:45 pm — Lunch – Palestine for Beginners with Linda Bevis and Ed Mast
- 1:45-3:15 pm — Acting For Justice: Challenges and Strategies at Home and Abroad – Huwaida Arraf and Liat Weingart – Facilitator: Phan Nguyen
- 3:15-3:30 pm — Break
- 3:30-5:45 pm — Multiple “Taking Action” Workshops
- 6:00-7:30 pm — Dinner
- 7:30 pm — Auditorium – Seattle singer and songwriter Jim Page will perform a set of his powerful and insightful folk songs. Maysoon Zayid will follow with her stand-up comedy
- 7:45-9:15 pm — Social and Political Situation of Women in Palestine, Israel and the US – Simona Sharoni and Nada Elia; Facilitator: Dr. Therese Saliba
UPDATE: We regretfully announce that Lama Hourani will not be able to come in person to the conference. Due to the on-going restrictions on the freedom of movement imposed on Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, Lama was not able to reach the US Embassy to receive her visa to travel to the US. We are fortunate, however, that Lama will participate via video message.
Sunday, April 23
at South Puget Sound Community College
Click here to see a list and descripton of the Taking Action workshops.
- 8:00-9:00 am — Registration and Continental Breakfast
- 8:15-9:15 am — Dances for Universal Peace – Facilitator-Presenter: Mukti Khanna & students
- 9:00-10:45 am — The Impact of U.S. Foreign Policy on Palestine and Israel – Diana Buttu and Dr. Sara Roy – Facilitator: Alexander Cockburn
- 10:45-11:00 am — Break
- 11:00 am-12:30 pm — Multiple “Taking Action” Workshops or Expressions of Peace
- 12:30-2:00 pm — Lunch and a speech by Dr. Mustafa Barghouti: “Critical Issues Facing the Palestinian People.”
- 2:15-2:15 pm — Break
- 2:15-4:00 pm — Strengthening International Solidarity for a Just Peace – Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Liat Weingart and Huwaida Arraf – Facilitator: Dr. Simona Sharoni
- 4:00-5:00 pm — Workshop Report Backs and Closing Remarks by Craig and Cindy Corrie