Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Shared Suffering, Shared Resilience Forum

in cooperation with the Open Society Justice Initiative, the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, and the CSULB College of Liberal Arts, Sociology Department,
Sociology Student Association, and Sociology Honor Society

proudly presents a FREE event open to the public

Shared Suffering, Shared Resilience:

A Critical Dialogue Forum and Film Screening

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2008

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location: University Theater at CSU Long Beach

7th St. and University Dr. East – Parking Lots 6 & 7

Map: http://daf.csulb.edu/maps/campus/south.html

In 1975-79, the Khmer Rouge systematically killed an estimated 2 million out of 7 million Cambodians through torture, starvation, or execution. More than 30 years later, the suffering continues as two generations of Cambodians struggle to overcome a horrific shared past and reclaim their personal, national, and spiritual identity as an empowered and resilient people.

The Shared Suffering, Shared Resilience Forum is a one-day event featuring:

* Two panel discussions (one of experts, one of Cambodian youth), with personal testimonies to be considered for use as evidence in the United Nations Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

* Cultural presentations by Cambodian artists and performers

* A screening of Skye Fitzgerald’s documentary film, “Bombhunters”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:30 – 9:30 am Set-up

9:30 – 10:00 am Special performance by the Cambodian Culture and Art Association; guests are welcomed and seated

10:00 – 10:15 am Opening remarks and acknowledgments

10:15 – 10:45 am Introduction of all panelists

Note: Different elements of the legacies of the Khmer Rouge will be discussed by expert panelistsfrom a variety of disciplines. These presentations will cover visible and invisible psycho-emotionaland physical scars, politics, economics, environment, mental and physical healthcare services,and globalization, as they relate to the impending Khmer Rouge Tribunal. Information from the proceedings, including the presentations of both panels, including the testimony of victims and survivors of the Khmer Rouge, will be recorded as part of our data collection and will be used for research and policy-making purposes.

10:45 am – 12:45 pm Presentations by Expert Panelists

12:45 – 2:00 pm Lunch (to save time, we recommend bringing a picnic lunch)

2:00 – 3:30 pm Presentations of Youth Panelists

3:30 – 3:50 pm Break (coffee and water provided)

3:50 – 5:00 pm Q & A with Expert and Youth Panelists

5:00 – 5:30 pm Khmer Arts Academy Presentation

5:30 – 5:45 pm Break (film screening set-up)

5:45 – 6:45 pm Introduction and Screening of “Bombhunters”

Note: “Bombhunters” reflects the depravity of contemporary Cambodia. Historically, explosive mines were randomly placed in the fields of Cambodia; the mines were never removed. This affects the health and mental health of Cambodians farmers, as they cannot farm their own lands safely.

6:45 – 8:00 pm Film Q & A, closing remarks

Please join us for an unforgettable day of personal testimonies and cultural performances as we support the rediscovery of the Cambodian spirit.

RSVP by March 22 by sending an e-mail message to: ContactASRIC@gmail.com

Contact: Leakhena Nou, PhD,

E-mail: ContactASRIC@gmail.com

Questions about the blog?
contact: Rory Doyle @ rorydoyle18@gmail.com

ASRIC is a not-for-profit organization founded by Leakhena Nou, PhD, a sociologist at CSU Long Beach specializing in medical sociology. ASRIC is devoted to advancing Cambodian cultural identity and to restoring, distributing, and implementing procedural justice for victims and survivors of the Khmer Rouge.