The Scripps College Humanities Institute announces its spring 2005 program. The program features a documentary film series and lectures by scholars, journalists, and representatives of humanitarian organizations on the topic “Doing Good in the World: Post-9/11 Challenges and Opportunities.” All events are free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please call the Humanities Institute at (909) 621-8326.
Beyond terrorism, the post-September 11 world faces enormous challenges: global poverty, the AIDS pandemic and the spread of other infectious diseases, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, environment deterioration, climate change, civil wars, ethnic conflicts, and genocide. Over the last 20 years, humanitarian organizations have played a major role in addressing these global crises. Yet today, the humanitarian landscape has changed and new questions are being asked: Are the values of impartiality and independence that made humanitarian aid agencies more efficient being eroded by the militarization of humanitarian interventions? Why are humanitarian field workers being targeted by belligerent factions with increased frequency? Are humanitarian aid and humanitarian notions misused? And more broadly, what qualifies today as humanitarian?
The program will feature several films and lectures addressing these issues. Documentaries include: “The Devil’s Miner,” Richard Ladkani and Kief Davidson, directors, Germany, 2005; “Street Fight,” Marshall Curry, director, U.S., 2005; “Favela Rising,” Jeff Zimbalist and Matt Monchary, directors, Brazil and U.S., 2006; and “Darwin’s Nightmare,” Hubert Sauper, director, Belgium, France, Austria, 2004.
The Institute’s spring lecture series will include: “Making War on Terrorists: Reflections on Harming the Innocent,” Thomas Pogge, Department of Philosophy, Columbia University; “The Best Good in the World: Investing in Women,” Ritu Sharma, co-founder and executive director, Women’s Edge Coalition; “Creating a Constituency Conscience: The Role of Holocaust Remembrance in Combating Contemporary Genocide,” Jerry Fowler, staff director, Committee on Consciences, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and “The Perils of Good Intentions Humanitarian Action in the Age of Pre-Emptive War” David Rieff, senior fellow, World Policy Institute.
For a full schedule of events related to the spring 2006 program, contact the Scripps College Humanities Institute at (909) 621-8326.