November 2009
Youth In Dialogue
An exhibition of photographic portraits made with students at Kingshurst City Technology College, Solihull, will be on show on 9th December in the Quad, the garden area next to the canteen. We are setting up a yurt for a special preview of the display for local participants and will be collecting interviews and feedback from viewers, inviting thoughts and comments about local life, hopes and fears.
The photographs were taken as part of a Creative Laboratory earlier in the year. Media students were invited to make portraits of their peer group in conversation with each other.
International Academy on Intercultural Dialogue
Berlin, 27-29 November 2009
Muslims: Partners in Dialogue
The crisis of a multicultural society is being discussed more and more often. Nowadays, we are facing new waves of refugees and immigrants, close contact with Islam and other cultures, the return of the old national and religious traumas. Moreover, we are witnessing the rebirth of the attitudes hostile towards the other, hostile towards sharing common values and common life in a culturally differentiated society.
In Europe, we pride ourselves with cultural diversity and act so as to preserve distinct identities. But is there a contradiction between the strong emphasis on diversity and distinction? These are some of the main questions for the Symposium in Berlin will be considering.
The event is organized by Borderland Foundation, Sejny, Poland and the Federal Union of German-Polish Associations, Berlin, Germany in partnership with The House of Brandenburg-Prussian History, Potsdam, Germany. The event takes place for 4 days in Potsdam, the capital city of the state of Brandenburg with a unique cultural landscape and a place where the after war Agreement was signed by the victorious Allied powers.
Topics and speakers include:
The historical and cultural heritage of Islam and Europe (November 27, 2009)
This day will be devoted to exploring and discussing, in lectures and debates, the historical and cultural links connecting Islam (both as culture and religion) and Europe. We will talk about the Muslim presence in Europe through the centuries. We will also consider general questions connected to intercultural dialogue as such – how it can be understood and practiced. The participants of our debate on these issues will be: Mustapha Tlili, Moha Ennaji, Selim Chazbijewicz and Krzysztof Czyżewski.
Prospects and threats for intercultural dialogue: interreligious dialogue (November 28, 2009)
We will explore examples of, prospects and threats for dialogue with the Muslims, reflecting sometimes on the history, but focusing mainly on contemporary situation. A special part will be devoted to interreligious dialogue as one of the most sensitive issues in the relations of the West and Muslim worlds.
These questions are of special importance for the future model of a multicultural society. The cultural tensions and conflicts in Europe with a Muslim population of over 20 million (more than 15 million living within the borders of the EU) are likely to be increasingly rooted in religion. Can religion be helpful in neutralizing these conflicts? If so, then how? What role can religion play in the building of civil society? The participants of the debate will be: Moshe Shner, Fatima Sadiqi, Krzysztof Czyżewski and Basil Kerski.
How to build neighbourhood together with the Muslim immigrants in Europe? Case studies, e.g., Berlin, Birmingham, Mostar, Rotterdam (November 29, 2009)We will consider the ways how a “neighbourhood” (common space/society) can be built together with the Muslim immigrants in Europe. Here the concrete examples and case studies from the places throughout Europe will be presented. Special attention will be given to Berlin, as one of the main borderland cities in Europe. The participants of this debate will be: Faouzi Skali, Isabella Thomas, Huso Oručević, Krzysztof Czyżewski and Basil Kerski.
