UM to observe human rights week

ORONO – The second annual Human Rights Awareness Week will be observed Jan. 28-Feb. 3 at the University of Maine.

Organized by UM students under the auspices of several campus offices, including the Office of International Programs, Multicultural Programs, the Wilson Center, Newman Center and Peace Studies, the week comprises a series of events designed to raise awareness of human rights violations in the world, according to Sarah Joughin, adviser for international students at UM.

“We wanted to cover a broad range of topics,” Joughin said, “so there would be something for everyone – faculty, students and the public.”

Organizers want to inspire those in attendance to become active in supporting human rights causes in the second year of the campus Human Rights Awareness Week program.

The program started last year when Emily Albee, a senior history and elementary education major from Baltimore and Readfield, and the former director of Multicultural Programs and the ALANA Center on campus, approached Joughin’s office, asking how a program to encourage human rights awareness could be created. The effort evolved into a weeklong program.

On Monday, Jan. 30, a sophomore business student from Vietnam, Anh Do, and other members of the Student Heritage Alliance Center at UM have organized Agent Orange Awareness Night 7-9 p.m. at 100 D.P. Corbett Building. A video and photo presentation, student panel and an analysis from UM history professor Ngo Vinh Long will highlight an issue that continues to haunt Vietnamese populations but is little-discussed in the U.S.

Thousands of American Vietnam veterans and a million Vietnamese people have been affected by Agent Orange as the toxin infiltrated the water and food chain and has been passed from parents to children in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.

“Children are born with no hands or no legs,” said Do, who has seen the devastating effects still ravaging her county. “I have seen a lot. Normally, the families are poor… What they do in Vietnam is they put all those children in one place and the government tries to raise them because the family really can’t do anything.” A brief candlelight vigil in front of Fogler Library will follow the program.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Sudanese refugee and former slave Simon Deng will speak about his experiences and the dire situation in Darfur, Sudan, in a talk titled “21st Century Slavery: Living Proof,” 7-9 p.m. at 101 Neville Hall. After a discussion, reflection and call to action, a brief candlelight vigil in front of Fogler Library will be held. The theme is “Confronting Genocide and Slavery.”

Events are free and open to the public:

. Saturday, Jan. 28, O.S. Earth Global Simulation Workshop, 1-5 p.m., Lengyel Gym, 1-5 p.m. Advance registration is requested by calling 581-2905.

. Sunday, Jan. 29, “Hip Hop Without Borders,” with Alex Steed and Gabe FM from the University of Southern Maine, 2-5 p.m., 101 Neville Hall.

. Tuesday, Jan. 31, Women in the Curriculum Luncheon, “Retelling Our Story: Building Power within the Women’s and Social Justice Movements,” 12:15-1:30 p.m., Bangor Room, Memorial Union; also, a UM Peace Studies film screening of “Scared Sacred,” 7 p.m., 100 Neville Hall.

. Thursday, Feb. 2, Socialist/Marxist luncheon, 12:30-1:45 p.m., Bangor Room, Memorial Union; also, at 7 p.m., a Maine Peace Action Committee film screening of “Sir, No Sir!”

. Friday Feb. 3, Hunger Awareness Soup and Bread Reception, 5-8 p.m., Multipurpose Room, Memorial Union, to benefit Crossroads Resources of Old Town.

For information, contact the Office of International Programs at 581-2905.