The forum will get underway Friday, March 12 at 6 with the opening of ?P. Sainath’s photo exhibit Visible Work, Invisible Women: Women and Work in Rural India at the CBU Art Gallery. An opening panel discussion will follow at 7:15 in the Multi-Purpose Room. The topic of this panel discussion is “Communication for Social Transformation”. It will feature P. Sainath-Journalist and Rural Affairs Editor of India’s The Hindu and Daniel Rocha-Director of Theatre, National Commission on Reparation and Reconciliation, Colombia.
Music, art and discussion will be the order of the day Saturday as the Forum continues from 9am to midnight. The first session, “For Justice and Cultural Integrity: Popular Theatre and Music in the Struggle for Social Change”, will explore how the arts of music and theatre can play a creative role in social transformation, from protest against the establishment in Punk music, to rebuilding community identity in post-conflict communities in Colombia, to celebrating the power of working class history in Cape Breton. This session will feature Daniel Rocha—Director of Theatre, National Commission on Reparation and Reconciliation, Community Project in La Libertad, Colombia; ?Jan Hancock—Lecturer, Department of Political Science, CBU; and John C. “Jack” O’Donnell, Musical Director and Conductor, Men of the Deeps.
In the second session, “Behind the Lines: Media as a Site of Struggle for Justice”?, speakers will examine the role of independent media and activist journalism in covering the untold stories of poverty, human rights, and environmental justice. Indian journalist P. Sainath; Tracy Glynn and Julie Michaud of the New Brunswick Media Co-op; CBU Communications Assistant Professor Erna Macleod; and Rachel Brighton, editor of Coastlands: The Maritimes Policy Review, will provide critical reflection on the media status quo and an exploration of the media as a space for promoting sustainable communities, economically, culturally and environmentally. ??
“Communicating for Change: Building Community through Popular Education, Dialogue and Conflict Resolution” is the third session of the day. This session will use storytelling and dialogue to explore the conflict resolution strategies, community development principles and legal mechanisms behind efforts to build bridges and promote justice between communities and groups with divergent and sometimes opposing perspectives. ?Participating in this discussion will be Steve Law—Social Transformation Program Coordinator, Tatamagouche Centre; Evelyn Jones—Refugee Sponsorship Coordinator, Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services; Ishbel Munro—Executive Director, Coastal Communities Network; and Felix Odartey-Wellington—Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, CBU.
The fourth session of the day will take place in the CBU Art Gallery II. “Visualizing Justice and Promoting Cultural Integrity” will feature art by Caitrian MacNeil, photography by Shayna George, and music by Men of the Deeps. This will be followed by “Jamming for Justice,” an after-forum party featuring live music by Tom Fun Orchestra, Buck and Kinch, The Misfit Toys, Victor Tomiczek, Breagh MacKinnon and Erin Martell in CBU’s Pit Lounge.
For more information or to register, go to Cape Breton University’s Centre for International Studies.
