Last December CGO student Allie Sasek posted an article to our Facebook page asking if we could get Dr. Brian Barber to be a guest with the group. Dr. Barber is an professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and the founder and director of the Center for the Study of Youth and Political Conflict, also at UT-Knoxville. The original article that caught Allie’s attention was about his work in Cairo with youth involved in the Arab Spring. His work focuses on how involvement in political organizations influences the development of youth, particularly in circumstances of trauma and conflict. His previous projects in Gaza and Bosnia had allowed him to focus specifically on outwardly violent contexts and the role of and influences on adolescent development. He has traveled to Cairo several times since the beginning of the Arab Spring to follow developments there with several youth involved in the demonstrations that took place, and continue to take place, in that city.

We were able to Skype with Dr. Barber during CGO class time and ask him about his research trajectories and the center he founded, and we were able to focus more explicitly on how he positions himself as a researcher with people who are intimately involved in violent protests. This was a way for us to examine the ethics of a researcher in the field, how a researcher works with youth and how academics deal with the emotion and violence they are confronted with in the course of their research. Dr. Barber was incredibly thoughtful in his responses, showing some of the real-world issues that researchers, who are generally assumed to be impartial observers, must navigate in these contexts.

We recently had some CGO time with Gershom Gorenberg, who is an American-born Israeli historian and journalist. He has written extensively on the history of Israel, Jewish settlements and Israeli- American relations. He came to UO to give a talk based on his most recent book entitled The Making and Unmaking of Israel. Since his talk was in the evening, during our regularly scheduled dinner, we were able to snag him for lunch at the Carson Dining Hall. We hadn’t seen his talk yet, but despite his delayed flights and only just having arrived in Eugene, he proved to be full of insight and up for a conversation with us, even over a lunch of dorm food.

Gorenberg gave us his own history, how he was born in St Louis and how he ended up in Israel and then we pushed him to identify his ethical stance on issues, especially regarding when he wrote about and interpreted Israeli- Palestinian relations and histories. He talked about Israeli political culture, where debate and disagreement are favorably looked upon as a way to better-understand situations, and he emphasized the diversity of opinions and ideas in Israel regarding issues with Palestinians. Gorenberg considers himself a liberal orthodox Jew, breaking stereotypes that many Americans have about political leanings and religion in Israel.

His talk that evening focused on issues such as what makes a state and when does it begin. Israel expressed its power and abilities several times, before and after being declared a state by the UN. What the state does with that power is what defines it. More to the point of the CGO and ethics is the question of revolutionaries versus institutionaries. He asks the question, which is a better or more effective way to procure change? Working within the system (which we saw with Dr. Joyce Leader in our discussions with her in our previous session) or leaving the system altogether to enact change from the outside and beyond the rules imposed by institutions? Is revolution an effective way to create change? Often it may be more violent or exploitative, but possibly an avenue for quicker change? Or do rules and laws need to be changed from the inside, but at a much slower pace?  These are important ethical and practical questions for people looking to make changes in the world.

This winter I took some time off of school and the CGO to volunteer for three months in Costa Rica. I worked for an organization called Global Vision International in the immigrant community of El Cocal, located on the central Pacific coast.

El Cocal sits on a tiny peninsula opposite the fishing town of Puerto Quepos. Made up mostly of Nicaraguan and Honduran immigrants, the community is not recognized or supported by the federal government. Residents are of varying degrees of citizenship, some have full citizenship, others are in the progress, and many are illegal. There is one dirt road that runs the length of the peninsula that houses around 1,000 people. Unfortunately, like many impoverished communities El Cocal is riddled with social problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and child abuse.

As volunteers our job was to lend support in any way possible, but we focused primarily on education.

We provided preschool classes, sports and art activities, tutoring, and English lessons both for children and adults. GVI also wanted to have a strong presence in the local grade school, so many volunteers acted as assistants in classrooms. I was assigned to work in a third grade class.

 Outside of our workday in El Cocal, the volunteer lifestyle was just as interesting. Ten of us shared a modest two bedroom apartment in Quepos. We slept in bunk beds draped in mosquito nets, which were effective at preventing not only mosquitoes, but spiders, cockroaches, and walking sticks. In our little home we learned how to cook for ten on a single burner camp stove, hand wash our clothes in cold water, and cope with frequent power outages. We got used to a life of dirt and sweat, bug bites and gecko friends.

Multiple aspects of the project were difficult at times. Our apartment was constantly crowded, everyone was sick of rice and beans by week three, and the heat was inescapable.  At the project site we worked hard every day, and some days were very challenging. Like any kids, they were temperamental and unpredictable. Some days they were sweet and obedient, and other days were the opposite. Most of them came from very difficult family situations, and this showed in their classroom behavior. In my third grade class I saw frequent physical fights, attempts at cheating, and general disruptive behavior.

Jeustin, one of the worst trouble makers, was always trading notebooks with other kids so they could finish his work for him. Derek kept a hermit crab in his desk for a day so that he could throw it at unsuspecting victims (like me).  Kiara and Kitcha constantly got into fights, some of which involved throwing oranges and rocks at each other across the classroom. Still, our job as volunteers was to be there for them anyway, and I’m glad we were. Despite the difficulties the kids could also be amazingly sweet. On my last day they all gave me big hugs and asked for my home phone and address. Jeustin even gave me a paper flower he made. Though they didn’t always show it, I think the kids appreciated our presence.

The project in El Cocal is less than a year old. During my short three months I could already see the effects of the work done, and a great potential for the future. Every week we had more and more requests for adult English lessons, after school activities, and homework tutors. GVI volunteers fill the roles of teachers and babysitters, but also as role models and facilitators. Our presence is an important connection to the world outside their little peninsula. I think that with the continued enthusiasm of  community members coupled with the support of GVI and its volunteers, a lot will change for El Cocal in the next few years. I’m happy I could be a part of that change, even just for a short few months.

On Tuesday evening our FIG got together and participated in an activity called “Identity Strands.” How the activity worked was we would be asked a question regarding how we perceived our own identity. After being asked a question we would categorize ourselves individually according to where we personally would place ourself. The categories consisted of personal labels such as class, family, race, religion, ability/disability, etc. Many of the questions were personal and required us to think about ourselves on a deeper level and also brought about personal stories that, to my surprise,people were willing and comfortable sharing with the group. Because of the nature of this activity, it’s quite difficult to capture the emotion and trust between us all in one blog entry, but if I had to describe the atmosphere I would use the worlds trusting and evocative.

This activity was really fun. As a group, we spend a lot of time talking about ethics and unfortunately depressing topics that can feel out of our reach at our age, but participating in this activity that was all about how we perceive ourself (and sometimes others around us) helps create a comfortable environment to talk about such difficult topics. We now know things about each other that make up who we are- when talking about ethics, it is sometimes hard to quietly sit and listen to what other have to say when you don’t agree; it’s easier to respect someone’s values when you understand their background. This activity was well planned and enjoyable; a fun yet educational way to spend time with my fellow FIG members.

This week started in an inspiring manner. On Monday evening I, along with the other members of Carnegie Global Oregon, had the privilege and honor of being able to interact with Ambassador Joyce Leader. Ambassador Leader came to speak and share a meal with us. She worked in the State Department for decades and was in Rwanda just prior to, and during the first 48 hours of, the genocide that was committed in the country. The conversation the CGO shared with Ambassador Leader meant a lot to me because of my personal summer plans. I am biking across the country this summer with nineteen other students for the Ride Against AIDS, an event to raise funds and awareness for FACE AIDS. FACE AIDS is a non-profit organization dedicated to enabling and empowering youth to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. All funds raised by the Ride will go directly to FACE AIDS grassroots community programs in Rwanda—hence the connection between Ambassador Leader’s career and my ambitions.

Through conversation about an incredibly complex topic and dialogue over the dynamics of the nuanced conflict, I came closer to grasping a part of Rwanda’s history that is recent enough to still impact the individuals FACE AIDS works hard to support every day. I now feel more connected to the people I have claimed to empathize with when telling people about the Ride.

Monday was a beautiful reminder that in every human conflict or strife, there are humans involved. Their narratives and stories matter, and so do their histories. Suffering is real, but so is hope—and FACE AIDS is providing that hope to youth in Rwanda and their communities.

I am renewing my commitment to use my energy and skills to honor those who I can help to empower. Thank you to the CGO and Ambassador Leader!

 

It is not often that one gets the opportunity to have dinner with such a person as Dr. Gregory Stanton. For this reason, CGO was more than grateful to have dinner with him on April 12^th. As pizza was the main course, the conversation was destined to be informal. The result was a conversation percolating with strands of politics, experiences, explanations, and candid inquiries. Listening to Dr. Gregory Stanton was akin to listening to an old friend—his responses were thorough and never failed to interest me. Even when discussing painful experiences such as his first realization of the magnitude of genocide when walking through mass graves, Dr. Stanton was able to maintain an unfailing sense of hope. His sense of spirit seems undefeatable and he is incredibly dignified.

This showed through particularly in the more candid questions Dr. Stanton faced. “Have you ever met President Obama? Is he nice?” Dr. Stanton’s response was simply to smile and say, “Of course. Not only is the man nice, but he is magnetic.” While questions of problems occurring in the world around us are important to intellectual discussion, simple questions such as the aforementioned are almost equally as pertinent. For it is these questions of opinion and character that help you to understand the foundation of an individuals’ motivations and actions. Dr. Stanton’s answer made it apparent to me that he has a true passion for understanding people and interacting with them on a personal level. His openness and desire for human interaction translate into his passion for genocide prevention and warm demeanor.

 It seemed to me that Dr. Stanton could find worth in every individual, regardless of his or her flaws. This is a personality trait that is not necessarily common in our present world and is one to be admired. Dr. Stanton’s mere presence is one of calming strength and incredible reverence. He makes anything seem a possibility if devotion and understanding coexist. Dr. Stanton has and will do the world many justices. Hopefully we can learn from people like Dr. Stanton that in the face of injustice and evil, a spark must continue to fire. Dr. Stanton is making sure that spark does not fail. It was a true honor to be in his company and an opportunity I will not easily forget.

Last night (April 11^th) Dr. Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, gave a talk about genocide prevention at the Knight Law Center. Though I expected the atmosphere of the room to be heavy and intense, it was instead piquing with curiosity and admiration. Attendees were in the company of an individual with a history of experience and a great deal of authority on the subject of genocide. As Dr. Stanton discussed, the topic of genocide is not often received with enthusiasm. It is depressing and daunting for most to discuss because we do not fully understand how to make sense of its occurrence in humanity. However, I was given the overall impression that the audience was more than willing to contemplate the “why” of genocide. While I was expecting to leave Dr. Stanton’s discussion feeling overwhelmed, instead I left with a sense of inspiration to learn more about the contributions I could make to work against genocide.

Before preventing genocide, one must first define genocide and be knowledgeable about its history. Dr. Stanton spoke to many occurrences of genocides in human history, including the atrocities of the Nazi regime, murders in Sudan, and denial of deaths in Rwanda by the United Nations. He also spoke to modern occurrences of genocide, such as the mass murders occurring in Syria. Dr. Stanton defined genocide and gave further reasoning as to why and how genocide comes into being. While these horrible circumstances and deaths came as a result of a variety of factors, Dr. Stanton made sure to note that there were some specific authorities responsible. He implicated not only local leaders of the regions discussed, but also larger bureaucracies such as the United Nations. By doing this, Dr. Stanton managed to preserve the issue of genocide as a global problem and not necessarily region-specific. This enabled the audience to further see genocide as a pressing topic that warrants further discussion.

I was impressed by the balance Dr. Stanton maintained between not only informing and promoting activism, but also in presenting the reality of genocide. His utilization of images depicting internment camps, crematoriums, and mass graves forced the audience to consider the darker side of humanity. The images used by Dr. Stanton were burned into the minds of attendees as constant reminders that genocide does exist and needs to be stopped.

Some efforts have been taken to prevent genocide within the local community. Dr. Stanton spoke to the genocide prevention initiative that is undergoing development here in Oregon and recognized the work of Dr. Paul Slovic. Dr. Slovic came to speak with CGO last term about neutrality in the face of genocide as a societal problem. Dr. Slovic himself was in attendance of Wednesday night’s talk and helped to take questions from the audience. Some of the questions asked covered topics such as America’s judicial system, Japanese internment camps, and the treatment of immigrants as “illegal aliens” in America. I thought they were all extremely relevant to the topic at hand and gave fresh looks of how genocide is viewed in our own society. Overall, I found that Dr. Stanton’s talk was intellectually invigorating. I look forward to hearing more from both he and Dr. Slovic.