Berea College brings “International Focus on the Middle East” during 2008-09

Berea’s “International Focus,” which changes to a different country or a region each year, is sponsored by Berea’s Center for International Education. All events are open to the public and are free of charge.

The highlight of the “Middle East Focus” during 2008 will be the visit Nov. 5-6 of Archbishop Elias Chacour of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.   Archbishop Chacour is a peace activist Palestinian living in northern Israel and author of “Blood Brothers” and “We Belong to the Land.”  He will speak at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 in the Woods-Penniman Building Commons and lead a College-Wide Symposium from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on November 6 in Phelps Stokes Auditorium.  His autobiography “Blood Brothers” has been translated into several languages.   Viewing education as essential to human dignity and justice, Chacour started an education effort in the Israeli-Arab village of Ibillin.  Now more than 4000 students – (K thru University) Christian, Moslem, Druze and Jewish – study together.   He has courageously stood against injustices of inequality and discrimination in the area of education in Israel.   Chacour is hailed as a challenging and inspirational speaker and a dynamic peace-maker.
Other “Middle East Focus” speakers and programs during 2008 will include:

Sept. 29, 7 p.m., Woods-Penniman Building Commons
Rosemary Radford Ruether, Christian feminist theologian, teacher, activist and author
Reuther is the author of more than 40 books. In The Wrath of Jonah, co-written with her husband, she explores the historical roots of Zionism, the efforts to establish a Jewish state, the development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Christian responses to all three.  More recently she has become even more involved in work for Palestinian human rights, traveling to Israel and Palestine, and editing two further volumes focusing on the Intifada (Beyond Occupation and Faith and the Intifada), attempting to foster dialogue among Israelis, Palestinians, and American Jews and Christians.

Oct. 20, 7 p.m. in Woods Penn Commons
ENCOUNTER POINT, an 85-minute feature documentary film that follows a former Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother who risk their lives and public standing to promote a nonviolent end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people. Their journeys lead them to the unlikeliest places to confront hatred within their communities. The film explores what drives them and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for grassroots solutions.

Oct. 27, 7 p.m., Woods-Penniman Building Commons
“Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey”
The first feature-length film to document the life and historic achievements of Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche (1903-1971). Against a backdrop of US and world history that Bunche had a hand in shaping, the film tells the compelling personal story of the legendary African American scholar turned statesman and the contributions he made to international diplomacy, decolonization of the world, peacekeeping especially between the state of Israel and the Palestinian people, and human rights in pre-civil rights America.

Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Woods-Penniman Building Commons
David Neunuebel, “Moving the Rock: Advocating a Just Peace in the Middle East”
Neunuebel is a financial adviser turned activist and film maker.  He is founder and CEO of the non-profit educational NGO “Americans for a Just Peace in the Middle East” and has produced several documentaries, including “Behind the Mirage:  the Face of Occupation.”

Programs and events in 2009 will be announced at a later date.

The Francis and Louise Hutchins Center for International Education (CIE) at Berea fulfills its mission to foster understanding of and respect for “all peoples of the Earth” through International student and scholar services;  education (study) abroad;  curriculum and faculty development, and international campus programming.  For more information about “International Focus on the Middle East” programs, email Richard Cahill (richard_cahill@berea.edu) or call (859) 985-3451 or (859)985-3452 (CIE office).  For more about the CIE, visit www.berea.edu/cie

For the most up to date information about Berea programs and events, visit Berea’s news and events web page BCnow.