Talking About Torture: 9/20/08

Bros:

Below is a schedule of the day's events on Saturday, 9/20, at the First Unitarian Church in Shadyside.

I suggest that those of us who attend go for the morning session, which runs from 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM. That way, the entire day is not taken up with such heaviness, knowing, as I do, how busy everyone's weekend schedules can be.

I will be leaving from Central's main quad at 8:30 AM on said Saturday. Those who show must RSVP (on blog or in person) to me by Friday, 9/19. I am in Room 407 most periods. So stop by, damnit!

Meanwhile, below is a detailed schedule of the days events according to the website: http://www.pittsburghagainsttorture.org/

Talking About Torture: Schedule for September 20th

9:00-9:15 am Coffee/Networking

9:15-9:30 am Introductions and power point on the history of the use of torture in the US.

9:30 -11:00 am Plenary Panel - Moderator Helen Gerhardt
Religious Communities – speak Sr. Barbara Finch, PAT (Pittsburgh Against Torture)
Media – Isabel McDonald, FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting)
Children – Glenna Wilson, Safe Start Pittsburgh
Legislators and candidates - Sandy Strauss, Director of Public Advocacy PA Council of Churches
Prisons – Bonnie Kerness, AFSC (American Friends Service Committee)

11:00 – 11:15 am Break

11:15-12:30 pm Workshops : Topics to be addressed in the panel and workshops:

How can we talk about torture in our religious communities? Moderator -Wanda Guthrie
Representatives from different interfaith traditions will discuss language and teachings relevant to discussion of torture in their communities.

Resource people: St Barbara Finch, ?

How do we help the media to talk about torture? - Moderator David Meieran
This workshop will explore ways the mainstream media, TV programs such as “24”, You Tube and video games have normalized torture in our society and culture. How do we reframe the issue of torture for the media?

Resource: Isabel McDonald, FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

How do we talk to our children about different issues, such as torture? Moderator Claudia Detwiler
This workshop will focus on how children experience and process the culture of violence around them. How do we raise our children to resist violence and how do we break the cycle of violence and torture that some of our children experience?

Resource People: Glenna Wilson, Safe Start Pittsburgh, Toni McClendon, Committee in Action For Peace

How do we encourage our legislators and candidates to take a stand against torture? Moderator Eve Wider
This workshop will discuss effective ways to educate and motivate people in the political sphere to address the issue of torture.

Resource: Sandy Strauss, Director of Public Advocacy PA Council of Churches

How do we talk about torture in our prisons? Moderator Scilla Wahrhaftig
Experts on prison abuse will address psychological and physical torture in our prisons. We will explore ways of raising public awareness about this issue.

Resource people: Bret Grote, HR FedUp

12:30-1:30 pm Lunch