Author: chakris@uoregon.edu

PeaceJam Northwest is excited to announce the visit of Shirin Ebadi. Ebadi served as the first female judge in Iranian history and then worked as a prominent lawyer. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her significant efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women’s, children’s, and refugee rights. She was the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the prize.

For more information on Ebadi, click here.

Ebadi will be visiting the University of Oregon in April. While here, she will:

1. Hold a Round Table discussion specifically for U of O students. Friday, April 6th,  12:00 – 1:30 pm. Location TBD.
2. Give a talk, open to the public and the university community, on Friday, April 6th, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Straub Hall, 156.
3. Lead our PeaceJam conference for middle and high school students Saturday and Sunday, April  7-8th. We are seeking U of O students as mentors for this conference. Applications will open Jan, 19th. 

For more information, please contact PeaceJam Regional Coordinator, Darren Reiley at northwest@peacejam.org, or 541-337-6917.

PeaceJam is an international youth education organization, the regional affiliate of which is now located at the University of Oregon in collaboration with the Division of Student Life and the Savage Endowment’s Global Justice Program.

More than 60 years ago, Costa Rica became one of the only nations in the world to disband their military and to redirect national resources towards education, health, and the environment. Since then, Costa Rica has earned the number one spot in the Happy Planet Index, a ranking of countries based on the ecological footprint to behind the happiness and health of its citizens.

A Bold Peace juxtaposes the national policy of demilitarization (since 1948-49) with their investment in education, health, and the environment. Pointed parallels and contrasts are made with recent U.S. debates over the national debt, healthcare, the environment, and the escalating cost of U.S. militarism. The film builds from historical footage leading to the 1948 revolution and extensive interviews of former presidents, officials and scholars from the University of Costa Rica, Costa Rican government officials and ambassadors, leaders of major national co-operatives, and journalists and citizens of Costa Rica. Unfortunately, the Costa Rican example has received very little international attention. This documentary film brings attention to Costa Rica’s inspirational national project, answering why happiness, health, and human rights occupy a relatively prominent place in this Central American country.

Sponsored by: Latin American Studies, College of Arts & Sciences, International Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Global Justice Program, History, and the Crossings Institute

About the Event:

On Feb 16, 6-8:00 pm at the Mills International Center, Professor Michael Dreiling will screen his revelatory documentary, A Bold Peace, on the impact of Costa Rica’s radical choice of national disarmament.

Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Comments and a Q&A will follow the film.

www.aboldpeace.com – trailer & press kit