WWU's Fairhaven College announces World Issues Forum slate for winter 2011

Topics such as depression, Project Transgender and the rights of Haitian immigrants will be discussed in this winter’s World Issues Forums, an annual series of Western Washington University lectures that highlights social justice efforts around the globe.

Sponsored by Western’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, along with other campus and community groups, the forums are free and open to the public and held Wednesdays from noon to 1:20 p.m. in the Fairhaven College Auditorium, unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, Jan. 12 - Yad Vashem to Al-Khalil: Gatekeepers to the Holy Land’s good, bad and ugly

Presenter: Sam McNeil, a Fairhaven College graduate with a concentration in Arabic and Islamic studies and journalism, will discuss Palestine beyond the focus of major news networks to uncover its interconnected and diverse reality of soldiers, rabbis, activists, besieged librarians, and gun-toting politicians.

Wednesday, Jan. 19 - Giving back to the community through art

Presenter: Rigo Peralta, an artist born and raised in the Dominican Republic, will discuss how The Banana Factory Cultural Art and Education Center has given back to the community of Bethlehem, Penn. through making art accessable and providing art and cultural programming for everyone.

Wednesday, Jan. 26 - Environmental Issues Facing British Columbia: Fish farming and oil tankers in British Columbia coastal waters

Presenter: Fin Donnelly, parliament member of the New Democratic Party in New Westminster, British Columbia, will discuss his work at the federal level on two major environmental issues facing this province: the impact on wild salmon of sea lice from fish farms and the threat of oil tanker transport off the northern coast.

Wednesday, Feb. 2 - Project Transgender: Various bodies, the same right

Presenters: Elizabeth Vasquez, founder of Project Transgender and a LGBTI advocate, will discuss the right of all sexual identities to participate in the various cultural and artistic lives in their communities. She will also address the programs established in her country, Ecuador, to realize these rights.

Wednesday, Feb. 9 - Racial/Ethnic Minority Health: What do we know about racism’s effects on well-being?

Presenter: Yamile Molina, who holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Washington, will discuss health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities in the United States. These differences in health are attributed to the effect of stigma and discrimination.

Wednesday, Feb. 16 - Gender, self-silencing, and depression around the world

Presenter: Dana Jack, professor at WWU’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, will discuss the connection between depression and gender throughout the world. Women’s depression rates are two to six times higher than men’s around the world. Jack will present an overview of why this might be the case, with examples including human rights abuses affecting women globally and her research on depression and gender in Nepal.

Tuesday, Feb. 22 (4 – 5 p.m. in Communications Facility Room 105) - Venezuela’s foreign policy

Presenter: Ana Marleny Bustamante, professor at the Center for Borders and Regional Integration Studies at the University of the Andes in Venezuela, will discuss the changes on democratic, security, and regional integration issues with particular focus on their impact on the Colombian and Venezuelan relations.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 - Justice for All: The case for humanity and fair treatment of Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic

Presenter: Solange Pierre, director of Dominican-Haitian Women’s Movement and recipient of the 2010 Women of Courage Award, will discuss the efforts made to protect the civil and constitutional rights of Haitian immigrants within the Dominican Republic. The goal of her organization is to change Dominican Republic legislation to promote human rights and the organization and training of Haitian and Dominican women, to create community health plans, and to make the Haitian-Dominican community a more visible part of the Dominican Republican’s society.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 (4 – 5 p.m. Haggard Hall 345) - Paths to Global Justice: The role of women and activism within the developing world

Presenter: Solange Pierre, director of Dominican-Haitian Women’s Movement and recipient of the 2010 Women of Courage Award, will discuss the unique and indispensable roles that women face in developing nations to ensure both justice and human rights demanded on behalf of families and children. The daily challenges faced by her organization will also be presented.

Wednesday, Mar. 2 - The Maya quest for survival through immigration to the United States

Presenter: Alan Lebaron, director of the Kennesaw State University Maya Heritage Community Project and James Loucky, professor of Anthropology at WWU, will discuss the lessons derived from work in Georgia and with the Pastoral Maya national organization. Approximately 500,000 Mayans escaped war, violence, and poverty by immigrating to the United States; there is much to be learned from their strong community and deep culture.

For more information on the winter quarter World Issues Forums at WWU, contact Barbara Rofkar of the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies at (360) 650-2309 or barbara.rofkar@wwu.edu.

WWU's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, established in 1967, is nationally recognized for innovation in teaching and learning, intensive advising, student-designed majors, narrative assessment, experiential and independent learning and a commitment to social justice.