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Jan/Feb/March 2006 |
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Join the Movement: Become a Member of the Coalition
Support this unique network by becoming a member of the Coalition. As a member, you will help sustain an enlarging network dedicated to actively using history to promote humanitarian and democratic values, and redefining museum practice. Visit www.sitesofconscience.org/eng/about.htm to sign up today!
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CONTENTS:
Communities Persevere to Memorialize South African Burial Ground
Plans Underway to Construct Comfort Women Memorial in China
Jewish Organizations Use Memory of Holocaust to Mobilize Against Human Rights Abuses in Sudan
Images of Memory: Memoria Abierta Opens New Exhibition on State Terrorism - Buenos Aires, Argentina
GULAG: Travelling Exhibition on Soviet Forced Labor Camps and the Struggle for Freedom - New York City, US
Interpreting and Developing Contested Sites - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sites of Slavery and Human Rights Struggles Build African Sites of Conscience Network - Dakar, Senegal and Cape Coast, Ghana
International Heritage Professionals Convene Conference on Cultural Heritage and Human Rights - Urbana, US
Who Owns the Past? Heritage Rights and Responsibilities in a Multicultural World - Ghent, Belgium
Gulag Museum Seeks Participants in International Civic Song Festival - Perm, Russia
Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Canada
The Beecher House Society, Litchfield, US
Taipei 2-28 Memorial Museum, Taiwan
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Communities Persevere to Memorialize South African Burial Ground
In June 2003 the human skeletal remains of an estimated 1,000 bodies were uncovered during the development of a mixed residential and business area in the vicinity of Prestwich and Alfred Streets in the center of Cape Town. At the time it was noted that the remains belonged to "men and women, babies, children and the elderly, slaves and free people, locally born and from Europe, eastern Africa and Asia": the diverse ancestry of all Capetonians. The uncovering of this burial ground represents one of the first public opportunities to reflect on the significance of a rich but neglected history.
Although researchers and archeologists have been recently denied permission to study the remains, the Prestwich Place Project Committee (PPPC) and the District Six Museum continue to advocate for the recognition and memorialization of this valuable site, given that the present owner has been granted permission to continue with the proposed development, and the remains have not yet found an adequate resting place. To learn more about the PPPC's public campaign, contact bonita@districtsix.co.za, and for another perspective, see "Ban on Prestwich Bones Study Buries Ancient History" on http://www.adminnews.uct.ac.za/docs/794adb627aa16082ddf971a0943ab58f.pdf
Plans Underway to Construct Comfort Women Memorial in China
A human rights lawyer and a historian have teamed up on a proposal to develop a new memorial to comfort women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops during World War II. The home of Zhu Qiaomei, the last of the Shanghai comfort women in China, will be converted into a memorial for hundreds of thousands of Asian female victims.
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/137468.htm
Jewish Organizations Use Memory of Holocaust to Mobilize Against Human Rights Abuses in Sudan
In partnership with the Save Darfur Coalition, a network of multi-faith and human rights groups, as well as national and local Jewish communal organizations in the United States are using the memory of the Holocaust to lobby for Western intervention in the escalating Sudanese crisis. According to international estimates, more than 400,000 men, women and children have died, while another 2.5 million civilians have been forced into refugee camps in Sudan and in neighboring Chad since February 2003. A rally will be held in Washington D.C on April 30, 2006.
http://www.forward.com/articles/7262
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Images of Memory: Memoria Abierta Opens New Exhibition on State Terrorism - Buenos Aires, Argentina
(March 16 - April 9, 2006)
In "Images of Memory," photographs, documents, maps, and testimonies create a tour of the events of Argentina's recent history: from the political and social movements of the 1970s to the military coup of March 24th 1976, to the state violence during the dictatorship, to the social resistance and the search for truth and justice, to the return of democracy. The exhibit offers a space to reflect on the impact this history has on Argentinean society today.
Memoria Abierta, a founding member of the Coalition, developed the exhibit because "we believe that a country that knows and is aware of its history can imagine a different future in which respect for human rights is fundamental to State policies and to the social and political behavior of all citizens."
GULAG: Traveling Exhibition on Soviet Forced Labor Camps and the Struggle for Freedom - New York City, US
(May 3 - July 4, 2006)
 The Gulag Museum, Russia; Amnesty International USA; the International Memorial Society, Russia; and the National Park Service (NPS), US, have formed a unique partnership to produce the first international exhibition on the powerful history of the Soviet Union's notorious forced labor camp system and its impact on Russia and the world today. The exhibit will open at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York City and subsequently travel to Boston; Atlanta; Topeka; Independence; and Washington, D.C.
The vast network of labor camps, which at its height imprisoned or internally exiled over five million citizens, both repressed any political opposition to the state and provided labor to fuel the Soviet Union's economic engine. This history remains largely unknown to most Americans despite the internationally acclaimed works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and more recent revelatory studies, such as Anne Applebaum's Pulitzer Prize winning book, Gulag: A History. Understanding and confronting this painful past is essential for all peoples of the former Soviet Union and for Americans as well. How we address this history of repression will determine the future of civil society in Russia today and throughout the world. The exhibit will feature archival footage, re-creations of prison camp cells, prisoner artwork, maps, historic photographs, and artifacts depicting daily camp life. For more information on the traveling exhibit, please contact louis_hutchins@nps.gov or marty_blatt@nps.gov
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International Center for Conflict Transformation Imagined at the Long Kesh/Maze Prison - Belfast, Northern Ireland
(January 19, 2006)
 Scholars, preservationists, and community workers convened for a seminar on the use of preserved buildings and the development of an International Center for Conflict Transformation at the sites of the former prison at Long Kesh/Maze. The event was hosted by Coiste na n-larchimà , a national network of Republican ex-prisoners who are struggling to preserve the Long Kesh/Maze Prison. Representatives of other sites in Ireland with difficult histories that have been transformed into spaces for public engagement shared examples of their work, including the Kilmainham Goal and The Tower Museum - Derry
The Long Kesh/Maze prison was constructed in 1971 as an internment camp to contain political prisoners who had been sentenced for offenses related to the armed conflict in Northern Ireland. Over a thirty year period, an estimated 25,000 men were imprisoned, while thousands of other citizens made daily pilgrimages to visit loved ones, consult with legal clients, or teach. It is believed that roughly one in eight people living in Northern Ireland had a direct connection with the prison. The future of the site is highly contested, with some arguing that the site should be razed to the ground and "confined to history," while others hope it can be developed a site for dialogue. For more information on the event, contact info@coiste.com. Further information on the debate of the future of the prison can be found on http://www.newfuturemaze.com and http://www.coiste.ie/
Sites of Slavery and Human Rights Struggles Build African Sites of Conscience Network - Dakar, Senegal and Cape Coast, Ghana
(January 30, 2005 - February 8, 2006)
 The Maison des Esclaves, Senegal and the District Six Museum, South Africa joined the International Council on Museums (ICOM) Ghana National Committee to develop "African Sites of Conscience: Using Histories of Citizen Action to Develop Post-Colonial and Post-Conflict Democracies." Workshops in Senegal and Ghana brought together leaders in education, culture, tourism, human rights, and traditional government to identify Sites of Conscience in Senegal and Ghana and design programs for human rights education.
In Senegal, stakeholders gathered at the Maison des Esclaves in Gorée Island, one of 39 residences in which slave traders lived above make-shift cells holding up to 200 slaves at a time during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Using the powerful emotional experience of the site and its carefully constructed history as a starting point, participants piloted a public dialogue on reparations and reconciliation in Senegal today. After the dialogue, participants collaborated to develop a three year plan for the future development of the Maison des Esclaves as a Site of Conscience.
Coalition leaders toured three sites of the slave trade in Ghana to analyze with their staff how they could become centers for promoting citizen engagement in Ghana's democracy issues. In addition, Coalition leaders collaborated with Kwame Sarpong, President of ICOM-Ghana National Committee, to organize a summit of over 40 stakeholders in the development of Ghanaian Sites of Conscience. The first discussion of its kind in Ghana, the summit identified issues the country is facing today that could be addressed at historic sites; questions that could be raised at these historic sites to foster dialogue; and generated ideas for 20 new sites that could be activated as centers for citizen dialogue. Participants also generated ideas for sites associated with more recent, rarely discussed struggles, such as the Nsawam prison, where opponents of Ghana's first independent government were incarcerated under the "Preventative Detention Act."
A follow up to the visits will take place at the African Sites of Conscience workshop in May 2006, where participants from Senegal, Ghana, and South Africa will collaborate on specific program plans for using their histories to foster dialogue on human rights issues.
International Heritage Professionals Convene Conference on Cultural Heritage and Human Rights - Urbana, US
(March 10 - 11, 2006)
How is the notion of "heritage" used variously to unite and divide communities? Who defines cultural heritage and who should control stewardship and the benefits of cultural heritage? What is the impact of heritage preservation policies and designations on human lives and social groups? Are international heritage trusts or grassroots organizations more successful at promoting local welfare?
Sponsored by the Collaborative for Cultural Heritage and Museum Practices (CHAMP) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, this international workshop will address human rights as a deeply political aspect of heritage preservation and management. The display of heritage monuments and performance can be a strategy for asserting minority identity in the face of majority pressure, acting as a tool for resistance and the expression of difference. Conversely, the erasure of cultural expressions-such as buildings, monuments, language, religion, and social practices-is a powerful tool in warfare and political regulation. To view the complete workshop program, visit http://www.champ.uiuc.edu/conferences.html#CHHR2006
Who Owns the Past? Heritage Rights and Responsibilities in a Multicultural World - Ghent, Belgium
(March 22 - 25, 2006)
The Department of Culture of the Province of East-Flanders and the Ename Center for Public Archaeology are organizing a three-day event this spring to examine questions relating to public rights and responsibilities in the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage, with a view toward highlighting new approaches, methodologies, and technologies to aid in this task. Monte Sole Peace School, Italy; The Workhouse, England; and the Coalition Secretariat will demonstrate how museums and historic sites can open new conversations about contemporary issues and inspire communities worldwide to become actively involved on issues of democracy building and social justice, as well as explore why historical sites and perspectives are important for policy makers and government leaders today. To learn more about the colloquium program or to register, please visit http://www.enamecenter.org/content/category/13/44/71/lang,en/"target=_blank" or contact colloquium@enamecenter.org
Gulag Museum Seeks Participants in International Civic Song Festival - Perm, Russia
(August 2006)
The Russian tradition of singing-songwriting is rooted in samizdat, the clandestine copying and distribution of government-suppressed literature or other media in the post-Stalin Soviet Union. This grassroots practice was fraught with danger, and harsh punishments were meted out to people caught possessing or copying censored materials. This year, the Gulag Museum has asked the Coalition to become one of the official coordinators for their International Civic Song Festival to be held in Perm, and need your help to make this summer event a success.
Do you listen to music with controversial lyrics of a political nature? Do you know about singers or musicians in your country who create music on themes of civic resistance or confrontation? Share your knowledge on singers and songwriters from your regions with our friends in Russia. Please provide the Gulag Museum with: 1) the name(s) of singer-songwriters; 2) a short artistic biography; and 3) contact information and website link (where possible) of artist(s) from your country so they can send out invitations for participation in the festival. Please send your response to perm36@permonline.ru by March 20, 2006.
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Institutional Members of the Coalition are part of a growing network of organizations and individuals dedicated to teaching and learning how historic sites and museums can encourage active civic engagement in their communities and around the world. Institutional Members receive of a range of benefits, including eligibility to participate in international conferences and learning exchanges, a feature in the Matters of Conscience e-newsletter, and discounted admission at Accredited Sites of Conscience. For full details on the list of Institutional Member benefits or to sign up today, visit http://www.sitesofconscience.org/eng/about.htm
Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Canada
Combining a museum, art gallery, library and archives all under one roof, the Glenbow Museum boasts over a million artifacts of cultural historical value and some 28,000 works of art in its vast collections and is one of the largest museums in Canada. Through a variety of dynamic programs and changing exhibitions and programs, and a broad collection of art, artifacts, and historical documents, Glenbow Museum builds on a commitment to preserve western heritage while simultaneously providing visitors with a glimpse of the world beyond.
Located in the province of Alberta and in the heart of Canada's oil and gas industry, the Glenbow Museum is situated in a community that includes some of the wealthiest and poorest people in the country. Within a few blocks of the Museum building three homeless shelters temporarily house a large First Nations population and a number of families. Several agencies in the vicinity also provide English-language training for new immigrants, and nearby community organizations, schools and volunteers work with individuals with high developmental needs. Glenbow Museum is currently rethinking its public programming and would like to incorporate dialogue on social welfare issues in connection with their neighborhood in future exhibits. To learn more about Glenbow Museum, visit http://www.glenbow.org/
The Beecher House Center for the Study of Equal Rights, Litchfield, US
The Beecher House Society is a non-profit organization in Torrington, Connecticut with a twofold mission: to reconstruct and restore the historic Wadsworth-Beecher House, the birthplace and childhood home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and to use the restored home as an education center for human rights, women's issues, and the legacy of the entire Beecher family. Raised in a family of renowned slavery abolitionists and social activists, Harriet Beecher Stowe was the bestselling author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, a book detailing the harsh reality of slavery in 19th-century America, which has been credited with both helping start the American Civil War and fueling the abolitionist cause in the United States. The site is also located near the birthplace of John Brown, another famous anti-slavery advocate, and next to the University of Connecticut Torrington Campus.
Currently in development, the Beecher House Center for the Study of Equal Rights seeks to equip secondary students and their teachers to become expert researchers and highly informed interpreters of some of American history's most enduring and pressing questions around the struggle for equal rights through reflection of the Beecher family legacies. Program plans include videotaping public presentations where students participate in historically re-created debates on issues of women's rights, slavery and civil rights of the early 19th century, and developing corresponding curriculum units to be used across the country. For more information about the Center and the Beecher House Society, visit http://www.beecherhouse.org/
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Taipei 2-28 Memorial Museum, Taiwan
 The building where the Taipei 2-28 Memorial Museum stands today is the former site of the Taiwan Broadcasting Company (originally the Taipei Broadcasting Bureau), responsible for developing and providing radio broadcasts in Taiwan. Although the Taiwanese initially welcomed the Chinese Nationalist government at the end of World War II, a corrupt bureaucracy, economic hardship, and a deteriorating sense of public security led to rising conflict between government authorities and civil society.
On February 28, 1947, an angry crowd gathered at the Monopoly Bureau Headquarters to protest the beating of a woman and shooting of an eyewitness by government agents the evening before. When the protest reached the governor's office, soldiers shot at the crowd, killing and injuring at least 10 people. A group of young Taiwanese took over the Taiwan Broadcasting Company Station and announced the transpiring events on the radio, calling on the Taiwanese to voice their protest. Conflicts ensued across the island, with rioting in almost every city and town, resulting in the bloodshed of thousands of citizens and over 40 years of martial law. In memory of the 2-28 Incident and in order to promote peace, the Museum encourages those who witnessed the events to document their histories, view filmed testimonials, and discuss with other guests, in person or through a wall of reflection, how the events of 2-28 affected their lives.
The Museum promotes cooperation with other similar organizations, and has created a large coalition of cultural institutions promoting peace. Along with other museums, the 2-28 Memorial Museum participated in a series of exhibitions, workshops, concerts and documentary screenings in 2005 to remember the 2-28 events and encourage the transformation of victims' hostility into dialogue with those with differing political views. The Museum has also utilized innovative techniques to reach out to children, experimenting with new exhibit forms that make their stories accessible to different age groups. A 2005 exhibit titled "Talking About the 2-28 Incident Through Comic Strips" uses visual art to present the events of the incident to a younger audience. For more information, visit http://228.culture.gov.tw/
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Matters of Conscience is supported in part by the Ford Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy and Open Society Institute. |
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