Event Archives

2008 Events

Thursday, May 8, 3 - 5 p.m., Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Conference Room C&D: Teach-in on Tibet. Recent protests in Tibet and around the world have overshadowed the torch relay leading up to the Beijing Olympics. Spontaneous peaceful protests in many parts of Tibet are evidence of deep-rooted resentments against Chinese governance. What can be done to achieve a peaceful solution? This Teach-in on Tibet surveyed Tibetan history, religion, and politics as a background to understanding recent events. Speakers included Dorothy Berger, co-chair, International Tibet Support Network; Jhampa Kalsang, author, Tibetan Astro-Science; Kalsang Peling, San Diego Friends of Tibet; and Karma Lekshe Tsomo, associate Professor, Theology & Religious Studies, USD. Sponsored by the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, USD.

Wednesday, May 7, 1 - 3 p.m., Conference Room E/F: The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Internship Program Cordially invites you to: "Achieving Sustainable Peace: Analyses of Countries in Conflict, Post-Conflict and Emerging from Conflict." IPJ Interns Andrew Chua, Andi Lovano, and Justine Darling delivered presentations on the situations in Guatemala, Colombia and Uganda, respectively.

Tuesday, May 6, 7 p.m., IPJ Theatre: IPJ Special Event: "Advancing the Use of Renewable Energy Worldwide." Ambassador Reno L. Harnish III, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, discussed advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies worldwide. He highlighted the mission and accomplishments of the March 2008 Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC), which focused on expanding efforts to enhance energy security, combat global climate change, and promote sustainable economic development through the use of renewable energy. For a biographical sketch of the speaker, go to http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/67408.htm. For more information go to http://www.wirec2008.gov/.

Monday, May 5, 12 – 1:45 p.m., IPJ Room B/C: IPJ Daylight Series: "A Surge for Peace?" Regrettably, this event was cancelled due to a change in Dr. Eyre’s travel schedule. We look forward to scheduling a talk by him at another time.

April 16 – May 1: Cameroon. Emiko Noma, IPJ editor, accompanied IPJ partner Sun & Moon Vision Productions (SMVP) to Cameroon to document the work of 2007 Woman PeaceMaker Susana Tenjoh-Okwen. Noma received USD’s International Opportunities Grant to assist SMVP in capturing over 40 hours of footage for the next film in the Women Leading the Way to Peace Documentary Series.

Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., IPJ Theatre: IPJ Film Series: "From A Silk Cocoon" The discovery of a small metal box leads to the uncovering of a family story, shrouded in silence for more than 60 years. Woven through their censored letters, diary entries, and haiku poetry is the true story of a young Japanese American couple whose shattered dreams and forsaken loyalties lead them to renounce their American citizenship while held in separate prison camps during World War II. They struggle to prove their innocence and fight deportation during a time of wartime hysteria and racial profiling. A discussion with filmmaker Satsuki Ina and reception were scheduled to follow the hour-long film screening. Co-sponsored by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, the Department of Psychology, the Psychology Club, and Social Issues Committee. For more information on the film, go to www.fromasilkcocoon.com. Details. This event was cancelled, but may be rescheduled for a future date. Check upcoming events for more information.

Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m., Jenny Craig Pavilion (USD): Joan B. Kroc Distinguished Lecture Series: "Reason for Hope." Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, wildlife conservationist and U.N. Messenger of Peace spoke on how we can save threatened species, the planet and ultimately ourselves. Dr. Goodall is the recipient of the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal, Japan's prestigious Kyoto Prize, and the Gandhi/King Award for Nonviolence. Details. For video of the lecture, please visit the UCSD.tv website.

Sunday, April 13 - Tuesday, April 15, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN: The Future of Catholic Peacebuilding. Laura Taylor, IPJ Program Officer, attended the Catholic Peacebuilding Network’s capstone conference which showcased and contributed to efforts to develop a conceptually coherent, theologically accurate, spiritually enlivening and practically effective approach to Catholic peacebuilding that can begin to match the sophistication of Catholic thinking on the ethics of war and peace. Details. Article.

Monday, April 7, 5:30 p.m., IPJ Room D: Special Event – Political Science Department and IPJ present: "Indian Foreign Policy: Contemporary Facets." Ambassador B.S. Prakash, the Consul General of India in San Francisco, spoke. Amb. Prakash is a career diplomat who prior to his current assignment was the Head of the United Nations Division in the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India. He has served in Indian Embassies in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Austria. He was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka (1995-98) and was India’s Ambassador in Uganda (1998-2001). He has several publications in academic journals on issues relating to international terrorism, UN reforms and UN Security Council restructuring, peace keeping and international humanitarian law. For a full bio-profile, go to http://www.cgisf.org/contact/cg-cv.html. Co-sponsored by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice and the Department of Political Science.

Friday, Mar. 7, 7:30 - 9 a.m., The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice: Fourth Annual International Women’s Day Celebration Breakfast. Global Dispatches: Financing Gender Equity for Peace and Justice. The Fourth Annual International Women’s Day Celebration Breakfast, co-convened with Voices of Women, the Women’s Equity Council of the United Nations Association of San Diego and the University of San Diego Women’s Center reported on the 52nd annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York. Details.

Tuesday, Mar. 4, 7 p.m., IPJ Theatre: Joan B. Kroc Distinguished Lecture Series: "War, Peace and Climate Change: A Billion Lives in the Balance." Jan Egeland, former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator for the United Nations, discussed the humanitarian challenges of environmental catastrophes caused by both human conflict and natural disasters. Egeland, who currently serves as Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on conflict prevention and resolution and as Director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, is the author of A Billion Lives: An Eyewitness Report from the Frontlines of Humanity. A reception and book signing followed the lecture. 

Wednesday, Feb. 27, IPJ Mourns Loss of 2006 Peace Writer. The IPJ is deeply saddened to learn that Susan Van Schoonhoven, peace writer for Rebecca Joshua Okwaci, died in a car accident on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Sue recently served as the primary rapporteur for the 2007 Women PeaceMakers Summit and was co-author of the final publication, which was launched just two days before her death. Read Sue's biography. For Sue's written work for the IPJ, see Rebecca's narrative and the "Is Peace Possible?" Summit final report. Read reflections from IPJ staff, Women PeaceMakers and Peace Writers. Read Sue's eulogy, by Emiko Noma. Read Sue's obituary.

Monday, Feb. 25 - Friday, Feb. 29, IPJ Delegates present at the 52nd Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. Four IPJ delegates, a Master’s student in Peace and Justice Studies, the founders of Sun & Moon Vision Productions and several members of the San Diego community traveled to the United Nations to participate in the Commission on the Status of Women. The IPJ was joined by two Women PeaceMakers from 2006 in a panel presentation entitled “Women Ending Cycles of Violent Conflict: Strategies and Best Practices.” In conjunction with UNIFEM, the IPJ also screened the documentary “Leading the Way to Peace,” which tells the stories of the 2004 Women PeaceMakers. Over 300 people attended the two events. Details.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m., IPJ Theatre: IPJ Film Series: "Beyond the Gates." Approximately 800,000 people were killed during the 1994 genocide that took place in a mere 100 days during April to July in Rwanda. This film is based on the true story of a secondary school in Kigali, the Ecole Technique Officielle, where over 2,500 people took refuge under the protection of UN troops. On the fifth day of violence, the U.N. troops left, taking with them only the European nationals. The film, shot on location in Rwanda, was directed by Michael Caton-Jones and stars John Hurt, Hugh Dancy and Clare-Hope Ashitey. A panel discussion featuring actors and crew from the film, including survivors of the genocide, followed the screening. This event was co-sponsored by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice and Colleges.com/U.Magazine. For more information on the film, go to www.beyondthegates-movie.com or contact nkennedy@colleges.com.

Monday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m., : Greg Mortenson Lecture at Point Loma Nazarene University - Brown Chapel. Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson discussed his book and experience. A book signing followed the lecture. The event was located at 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego, CA 92106. Map and directions.

Friday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. IPJ Theatre: IPJ Speaker Series: "Confronting Genocide in Sudan." John Prendergast, noted human rights activist and scholar-in-residence at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, will speak. He encouraged students to engage in issues of peacebuilding in key African countries, and offered options as to how to do so effectively. 

Monday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., IPJ Theatre: IPJ Film Series: "The Peacekeepers." With unprecedented access to the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping, "The Peacekeepers" provides an intimate and dramatic portrait of the struggle to save a "failed state." The film follows the determined and often desperate maneuvers to avert another disaster like Rwanda, this time in the Democratic Republic of Congo. John Prendergast, noted human rights activist and scholar-in-residence at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, provided commentary and answered questions. Details.

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m., IPJ Theatre: IPJ Speaker Series: "Iranian-Saudi Relations and Prospects for Gulf Peace." Banafsheh Keynoush, Ph.D., specializes in Middle East foreign relations, security issues and international law.  A native of the region, she examined the prospects for peace in the Gulf region. Details.

Monday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m., IPJ Theatre: IPJ Speaker Series: "Combatants for Peace." Bassam Aramin and Elik Elhanan are Palestinian and Israeli representatives of "Combatants for Peace." This organization, a winner of the 2007 Common Ground award, was begun jointly by Palestinian and Israeli former soldiers and fighters who decided to work nonviolently for a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Co-sponsored by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, Rotary District 5340 Pathways to Peace Committee and USD’s Institute of College Initiatives. Reception to follow. Details.