LONG-RUNNING INTERNATIONAL WEEK OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO ACT ON GLOBAL CHALLENGES
TED KERR / ted@vueweekly.com
On the historic day Dr Sima Samar was named Deputy Chair and Minister of Women’s Affairs for the interim administration of Afghanistan she was here in Edmonton. Seven years and many accolades and weighty global assignments later, she is back, this time as one of four keynote speakers for the University of Alberta’s 23rd annual International Week.
Hosting Dr Samar that day—mere months after Sep 11, 2001 and in the early stages of the invasion of Afghanistan—was Nancy Hannemann, director of Global Education with the University of Alberta International, the coordinating body of the annual event.
Hannemann says that bringing people like Dr Samar to the city to connect people here to issues around the world is what International Week—or I-Week as it has come to be known—is all about.
“Every individual in Edmonton should be a global citizen,” Hannemann insists, “and realize that they are connected and that their actions affect everyone around the world.”
Coinciding with the U of A’s centenary, the theme of this year’s event is also a gauntlet thrown, Addressing Global Challenges: 100 Years and Beyond.
“Knowledge is a very important component of addressing issues,” Hannemann explains. “The University has a role in affecting change. As we look at the next 100 years what do we want the university’s role to be?”
The role that the university and I-Week can play in affecting such change is an intensely personal one for this year’s I-Week volunteer coordinator Roshini Nair. Nair made the jump from the sciences to a major in anthropology after seeing 2006 I-Week keynote speaker Stephen Lewis.
“[International Week showed me] that a community of people who care very deeply about international issues exists, and that my educational pursuits do have real-life relevance,” Nair recalls.
It works the other way as well, says Pat Mooney, who is speaking on the issue of extreme genetic engineering at an event on Jan 31.
“It is an encouraging thing to be invited,” Mooney says, adding that with much of his time spent with politicians and bureaucrats the week is a refreshing change which offers him the opportunity “to talk to students who offer new perspectives, different angles and different sets of priorities.”
With more than 60 free events, including speakers, workshops, displays and performances, Hannemann says the aim of I-Week is to use dialogue and connections to spur people on and get them “inspired to be involved in resolving issues in a real way.” To do so, Hannemann insists that people must “understand that the issues presented are complex,” pointing to Africa as an example of the intricacies of global issues.
“We look at Africans as victims of war and other calamities,” she explains. “I want people to see that many vibrant cultures exist in Africa, to share a more holistic view of African people and to recognize that Africans have much to contribute to the rest of the world.”
And so, the week offers “Beyond Indigo,” an exhibition of renowned Nigerian textile artist Nike Okundaye as well as the Jan 29 “Spotlight on Darfur,” which will bring together an expert panel including UN personnel, academics and Sudanese refugee and activist Mohammed Adam Yahy to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Sudan.
Knowing how disingenuous it might sound, the authentically excited Hannemann confesses that this year is the highlight of her 14 years of involvement with I-Week.
“Every year gets bigger and better. This year we have four prominent keynotes,” she says. Along with Dr Samar there is medical anthropologist Dr Paul Farmer, a hero to many in the HIV community; anti-landmine activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams; and author and economist Jeffery Sachs.
While introducing Edmontonians to global issues is a major aim of the week, Hannemann stresses that more important is what people do with the information for the other 51 weeks of the year.
“Garnering knowledge is only one part of it. You have to act. Follow up on issues that are important, go with what struck you, become more informed, get connected, have a long view, and plan for change.
“When I started this work people shied away from promoting global citizenship within the university but now we have a university president that is an advocate for global citizenship. Things can be done to create a better world both at an individual and institutional level.” V
Mon, Jan 28 - Fri, Feb 1
International Week 2008: Addressing Global Challenges 100 Years & Beyond
U of A Campus, most events free
iweek.ualberta.ca
THE POWER OF WRITING: AN EXILE SPEAKS
TED KERR / ted@vueweekly.com
As a Kurdish poet, journalist and—before he was imprisoned for his writing—executive director of the Department of the Culture Ministry in northern Iraq, it’s safe to say that Jalal Barzanji is more than qualified to speak on the 2008 International Week theme, Addressing Global Challenges.
In his role as Edmonton’s Writer in Exile, Barzanji will be sharing stories from his personal journey and speaking about writing in an atmosphere of fear and how one can use writing as a tool to “defend freedom.”
“He inspires us by his example,” says Dr Gurston Dacks, acting dean of the Faculty of Arts, whose office is sponsoring the event. “He wants to create poetry, and that trumps everything else.”
The Faculty of Arts is also a sponsor, along with Edmonton Community Foundation, Canada Council, Edmonton Arts Council and others, of the Writer in Exile program. Hosted by the Writers Guild of Alberta, the program is intended to aid “immigrant writers living in Canada, and to create opportunities for them to pursue a professional career.”
“I belong to my freedom and my writing,” says Barzanji. “[Writing is a way to] at least try to create even a small amount of change in order to make the world more beautiful.” V
Wed, Jan 30 (3:30 pm)
The Power of Writing: An Exile Speaks
Dewey’s, U of A, Free
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