Peace Studies Conference January 21, 2003

"Through the Eyes of a Child: War, Peace, and Reconciliation"

The Fifteenth Annual Peace Studies Conference

Sponsored by the Peace Studies Department
Saint John's University
College of St. Benedict
As Part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Week “Never Too Young to Create Peace”

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota
Tuesday, January 21
Location: Quad 264 (or as noted below)

1:00 Welcome. Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Chair, CSB/SJU Peace Studies Department (Quad 264, SJU)

1:05-2:15: Until Justice Rolls Down Like Water: Nonviolence in a Time of Terror and War (Quad 264, SJU)

Phil Steger, the Executive Director of Friends for a Non-Violent World, wove together stories from Iraq, and the connections between the impact of torture, war, tyranny and sanctions on children there with the Civil Rights Movement and especially the ends and the means of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A primary objective was to explore the underlying spiritual and moral causes of indifference toward violence against children. He concluded with remarks and direction concerning how young people can obtain the moral and spiritual power to develop lives of joyful, fearless service to others.

*Phil Steger, Executive Director, Friends for a Non-Violent World

2:15-2:35 Refreshments (Quad 264, SJU) 

2:40-3:50:  Workshops (Choose One):

      I).  Never Too Young or Old to Create Change (Quad 360A)

Members of the CSB/SJU community shared their thoughts and experiences with youth and senior activism in this interactive panel discussion. Panel members drew from their experiences with the annual non-violent direct action against the School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Ft. Benning, GA, which is largely attended and sustained by youth and senior participation. Participant topics ranged from anecdotal experiences to broader issues of children and war through the scope of the SOA/WHINSC.     

      II). Innocence Lost: The Effects of War, Trauma and Torture on Children (Quad 360B)

The Speaker from the Center for the Victims of Torture (CVT) discussed the effects of war, trauma and torture on refugees and their families, including children, as well as CVTs programs locally and internationally that serve children.

* Speaker from the Center for Victims of Torture

     III). Landmines in the Backyard (Quad 264)

At the time of this conference, landmines afflicted more than 60 countries around the world and killed or maimed one person every 30 minutes, including many children.  Some of those landmines were made right here in Minnesota.  This section of the conference taught about this problem and what ordinary people around the world are doing about it. 

* Jim Ketcham, Minnesota Campaign to Ban Landmines 

 4:00-5:30pm: Film Screening and Discussion: “Kim’s Story: The Road From Vietnam” (Quad 264)

If there was one photograph that captured the horrific nature of the Vietnam War, it was that of a nine-year old girl running naked down the road, screaming in agony from napalm burns that had eaten into her flesh. The photographer who took that picture of young Kim Phuc was awarded a Pulitzer Prize.  Ironically, however, the picture that moved millions to tears, ultimately made Kim Phuc a victim all over again. This film is her story. Kim ran away from the photograph and all its pressures, to claim her own life. In order to confront her past, Kim came to America, where she met many people who help fill in the holes of her story -- things she can't remember or knew only as an injured child. Kim learns that she will always be a public person -- and a symbol. Kim's Story culminates in an astonishing, unanticipated meeting between Kim and a former American officer who tells her that he ordered the napalm strike that almost killed her. In the end, Kim's Story is one of forgiveness -- of the personal and public healing of wounds from this century's longest, most divisive war. 

7:00--8:30pm:  Creating a Culture of Peace (Quad 264, SJU)

Using his experience as a survivor of the Liberian Civil War, Kimmie Weeks discussed the effects of war on children as well as the current state of children living in difficult circumstances.  He discussed issues such as the use of children as combatants and sex servants, as well as the effect war has on the development of children. Despite this gloomy picture, Kimmie Weeks demonstrated that there is immense hope.  He spoke about ways that the world can be made a better place for children and that children and young people themselves can be at the forefront of the movement for social change.

* Kimmie Weeks

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Kimmie Weeks

Kimmie Weeks is an internationally acclaimed child rights activist, environmentalist and motivational speaker.  Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Kimmie Weeks survived the Liberian civil war and after several life threatening situations dedicated his life to ensuring the protection and well-being of children around the world.

Kimmie served as founder for several humanitarian organizations in Liberia including the Voice of the Future Inc. At the time of this conference, Voices of the Future Inc. was working as an implementing partner with the United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide informal education, health care and rebuilds playgrounds for children in Liberia.  In 1996 he established and chaired the Children’s Disarmament Campaign, an effort to convince local warlords to disarm the 20,000 Liberian child soldiers fighting and killing each other.  Kimmie’s third organization, Children’s Bureau of Information produces radio programs disseminating messages of reconciliation in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

In a bid to promote his campaign for children, Kimmie Weeks has spoken at the United Nations, the State of the World Forum, and several universities across the U.S. He has also met with several world leaders.

At the time of this conference, Kimmie Weeks currently served as Ambassador of UNESCO’s Manifesto 2000 for a culture of peace and non-violence, International Coordinator of Voice of the Future Inc., Director of Youth Action International, and on the Board of Advisors for Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES).

Phil Steger

Phil is a graduate of St. John’s University.  He traveled to Iraq with Voices in the Wilderness, a non-governmental organization dedicated to lifting sanctions, for the first time in August 2000 as well as in June 2001 and most recently July/August 2002. Phil traveled the country as a speaker and educator on sanctions in 2002 and 2003.  In February of 2003, he was hired as the Executive Director of Friends for a Non-Violent World (FNVW), a Quaker-based peace and human rights organization in St. Paul. Phil has been a featured guest on WCCO Morning News, MPR’s Mid-Morning, Wisconsin Public Radio’s Morning Show, and The Mishke Broadcast, on KSTP Radio, 1500AM.

FNVW was formed by local Friends (Quakers) in 1981 after the local branch of the American Friends Service Committee was closed.  FNVW has been involved in the sanctuary movement, in sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa, in disarmament work and other social justice concerns.  Throughout it all, FNVW has organized ongoing non-violence training through the Alternatives to Violence Project and a yearly peace and justice camp, where people from all walks of life can experiment with and practice just social orders.  FNVW is founded on the twin principles of the Religious Society of Friends nonviolent tradition: Peace Testimony and Transforming Power.   

For more information on this conference call 320-363-2731 or 320-363-3047