Educating for Peace: A Teachers’ Conference for Nuclear Disarmament Education
Calling all educators committed to peacebuilding and civic responsibility—this in-person weekend conference is designed for middle and high school teachers passionate about fostering critical thinking and empowering youth to create a better world.
Dates: May 9–11, 2025
Location: Cambridge, MA
Format: Free and in-person only (application required)
Organized by the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, the Soka Institute for Global Solutions, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and EdEthics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the conference brings together educators to build capacity in nuclear disarmament education.
Participants will:
Explore practical strategies for integrating nuclear disarmament into the classroom
Strengthen skills for civic engagement and critical thinking
Connect with like-minded teachers in an inspiring and collaborative setting
Who should apply? Middle and high school educators ready to lead thoughtful dialogue and global learning in their communities.
Spots are limited. Apply now to be part of this transformative learning experience.
Undercurrents: An Art Exhibition Exploring Community Challenges
Join us for Undercurrents, an art exhibition that uses creativity as a lens to explore the pressing issues affecting our communities today. Through powerful visual works, artists will shed light on local and global challenges while sparking meaningful dialogue.
Dates: April 14–15, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: The Clayroom, 1408 Beacon St, Brookline
An artist panel will take place on April 14 at 7:00 PM, offering deeper insight into the inspirations and messages behind the artwork.
Exhibiting Artists:
Janet Kawada
JayPix Belmer
Gail Bos
Carla Osberg
Terry Boutelle
Lisa Fliegel
Come learn more about the stories behind the artwork, connect with the artists, and reflect on how art can become a tool for awareness and action.
Book your free ticket:
Register at tinyurl.com/undercurrentsevent
For more details:
Call +305-606-7334 or email mariaa.udalova@gmail.com
VII Foundation Exhibition
Opening April 8 at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 1975: Phnom Penh / Saigon is a powerful exhibition by The VII Foundation, part of the Memory Module Program 2025. It documents the final days of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge takeover in Cambodia, capturing moments of profound historical transition and human resilience as witnessed by the photographers on the ground.
Curated by Gary Knight and Jon Swain, the exhibition features over 100 photographs and personal artifacts from journalists who risked their lives to document history. It explores themes of conflict, memory, and survival through raw, unforgettable visuals. Among them is the visceral image of a man being punched—an iconic moment that encapsulates the chaos, fear, and emotion of the period. This and many other images confront viewers with the personal cost of geopolitical collapse.
Hosted by the VII Foundation, this exhibition serves not only as a memorial to those caught in the crossfire of history but also as a call to bear witness. It reminds us of the continued relevance of photojournalism in understanding the complexities of our world and honors the lives of 31 Cambodian journalists killed by the Khmer Rouge.
Location: National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo
Opening Hours: Tue–Fri: 10 AM–7 PM, Sat–Sun: 10 AM–6 PM
Admission: Free for this exhibition
More info: https://theviifoundation.org/report/exhibitions/april-1975-phnom-penh-saigon/
Image courtesy of The VII Foundation.
50/50 Startups - Israeli, Palestinian Collaboration and Coexistence, A Glimmer of Hope
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
There are, even in the current environment of anti-normalization and extreme polarization within our communities, resilient and persistent efforts to confront the pessimism that seems so pervasive. I have often referred to Leonard Cohen's Anthem lyric, "There is a crack, a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." One such effort is one I am very proud to be affiliated with: 50:50 Startups. One of its core creators is my friend, and Trebuchet mentor, Amir Grinstein.
We will gather with a small group of bold Israeli and Palestinians, unique, courageous entrepreneurs who are alumni of the 50:50 Startups program, who will talk about their experiences building startups together.
The question we are entertaining is:
"Can Entrepreneurship Bridge an Extreme Divide?"
These unique, courageous entrepreneurs are alumni of the 50:50 Startups program, which brings Israelis and Palestinians together to develop and nurture collaborative startups. Northeastern University is its critical partner.
Attached, please find the flyer with all of the speakers' bios.
There will be excellent food, drinks, and perhaps a bit of hope and inspiration.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Please RSVP soon by writing to both Amir and me.
Sherman and Amir
PS – Apologies for the late invitation. I was abroad until very recently.
Polarization in the Wild: Understanding Our Global Divides
Hope Makers in the Living Room presents a timely and thought-provoking conversation on one of the most pressing issues of our time: polarization.
From climate change debates to the rise of populist movements and the global pandemic, polarization isn’t just a buzzword—it’s actively reshaping our societies and democracies. But what does it really mean, and what can we do about it?
Join us for an evening of reflection and dialogue with Dr. Kati Kish Bar-On (MIT & Northeastern), who will explore the roots and implications of societal division—and why it so often leads to hatred.
Date & Time:
March 26
Starts at 7:30 PM
Location:
82 Atherton Rd., Unit 2
Brookline, MA 02446
Come be part of the conversation and help imagine ways forward, together.
Organize with Back from the Brink: Youth-Led Strategy on Nuclear Disarmament
Join Back from the Brink’s Boston-area Organizing Hub for a powerful afternoon of planning and collaboration to set goals and strategies for the year ahead. As the threat of nuclear war looms larger, this event offers an important opportunity to work together for disarmament and a safer future.
Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 2:00–4:00 PM
Location: St. James’ Episcopal Church, 1991 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
The session will feature Maria Udalova, a Brookline High School student and member of Students for Nuclear Disarmament, as the guest speaker. Her youth leadership and perspective are a key highlight of this gathering.
Attendees will take part in breakout groups focused on:
State and federal legislation
Coalition building
Organizational outreach
Youth engagement
Media strategy
Whether you're new to the movement or a returning organizer, this meeting is a chance to connect, collaborate, and build momentum.
RSVP to: info@gbpsr.org
We need your voice in shaping our future.
Stories from the Lab: Three African Women Scientists on Building Capacity and Becoming a Leader
Curious about what it takes to build scientific capacity in developing countries? Wondering how women scientists forge careers and strengthen institutions in resource-limited environments?
Join Seeding Labs for an exclusive webinar:
“Stories from the Lab: Three African Women Scientists on Building Capacity and Becoming a Leader”
Date: February 25, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. EST
In this inspiring hour-long fireside chat, three African women will share their personal journeys of building scientific capacity in their home countries. The event will be structured as a moderated discussion, with time for audience questions.
Moderator:
Dr. Kala Subramanian, Operating Partner, Flagship Pioneering and Seeding Labs Board Member
Panelists:
Prof. Ibok Oduro, Fellow, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana
Dr. Rana M.I. Morsy, Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Egypt
Dr. Mama Sy, Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Senegal
These unique stories highlight the challenges and opportunities for scientists in developing countries—and the power of perseverance in the lab.
Registration is free, but space is limited. Don’t miss this special opportunity to engage with scientists driving change where it’s needed most.
Hosted by Seeding Labs, connecting scientists in developing countries with the tools and resources for impactful research.
Convisero Mentor Lucy Kaplansky Live at BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity
On A Winter's Night ft. Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin
Presenting the Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer- songwriters that remain among the brightest stars of the singer/songwriter movement for the past three decades. In 1994 Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists to showcase music of the Winter Season on the now-classic On A Winter’s Night CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. These artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. The winter season is again celebrated by these unique and popular performers, back together by popular demand.
Another Way Forward: Co-Creating Amid Catastrophe
Another Way Forward: Co-Creating Amid Catastrophe
Join Combatants for Peace (CfP) co-founders Souli Khatib and Avner Wishnitzer, alongside Mehra Rimer, founder of B8 of Hope, for an urgent conversation about steadfastness, nonviolent resistance, and the struggle for a just peace. Moderated by Tiffany Goodwin-Van Camp, Executive Director of American Friends of CfP, this event will explore how solidarity and collective action connect the struggle for liberation in Israel and Palestine with movements for justice worldwide.
📅 Date: December 17, 2024
🕒 Time: 1:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM Jerusalem Time
📍 Location: Online (Zoom link provided upon registration)
Shafiq Islam guest lecture at Krea University - A Talk on Engineering Diplomacy
This lecture will explore the intersection of science, policy, and the politics of water, spanning local to global scales. It will examine the technical, political, and socio-economic dimensions of water resource management, including transboundary water disputes, water scarcity, and water-related disasters. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding the role of diplomacy in fostering cooperation, negotiation, and conflict resolution to ensure sustainable water governance and equitable access to water resources. Using recent floods in India and Bangladesh as an example, the lecture will demonstrate how numbers and narratives shape the understanding of and responses to natural hazards.
The Distinguished Lecture series at Krea University, proposed by Professor Nirmala Rao, Vice Chancellor, Krea University, addresses current issues in world politics to promote local, national, and global engagement among the student body. Upcoming lecture themes include international humanitarian law, water and environmental security, challenges of climate change, war and forced migration, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), global governance and political thought. The lectures will be delivered by a diverse range of academics and practitioners, offering Krea students an invaluable opportunity to connect their academic studies to real-world issues and engage with leading experts. The series will be convened by Sherman Teichman, Emeritus Founding Director of The Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University (1984-2016).
SDE Teiman and Beyond: A Dive into Israel's Detention of Palestinians in the Shadow of War
Dear friends
As the world's eye is turned to Gaza, a parallel, sinister crisis has unfolded for the past 9 months. Dozens of incarcerated Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank have died in Israeli detention centers. Hundreds have suffered medical neglect, and many have been subjected to abuse and torture at the Sde Teiman military base and other facilities.
Join Physicians for Human Rights Israel for an English-language Webinar that will delve into these and other issues, including the Israeli medical system's complicity in some of these rights violations, the latest updates on Sde Teiman, and the denial of medical treatment in the Israeli prison system.
Tuesday, July 2nd at 7 PM Jerusalem time/12 PM EDT
Speakers:
Ms. Oneg Ben Dror, Project Coordinator, PHRI's Prisoners and Detainees DepartmentMs. Hadas Ziv, Director of Medical Ethics at PHRIDr. Lina Qassem-Hassan, Chairperson of PHRI's Board and a family physician with experience treating incarcerated Palestinians
Hosted by Ms. Lee Caspi, Director of Resource Development at PHRI
Sign up here
Best regards,
Lee Caspi
Director of Resource Development
Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI)
A ‘Free Russia’ Passport Could Undermine Putin
Welcoming Those Who Want To Break With The Russian Leader’s Regime Would Mobilize A Key Community To Help Ukraine To Victory.
By Garry Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky
The war in Ukraine is now well into its third year, and Western support for the country has faltered dangerously.
While the U.S. Congress did pass an aid bill after months of fitful negotiations, the assistance came late — and at great cost. In the interim, Russia took advantage of Kyiv’s shortfall in munitions, dramatically intensifying the shelling of key cities. The EU, for its part, did pass a multibillion-euro defense package in March, but the bloc remains deeply divided over the scope and type of military assistance.
In light of all this, commentary has rightly focused on the need to provide adequate support that would allow Ukraine to defend itself on the battlefield. This must remain a key area of attention. However, the West has other avenues at its disposal to help Ukraine win — and these can and must be explored too.
We speak on behalf of all the Russians who believe in the potential for a free and democratic Russia. Neither of us have been able to return home for decades because of our opposition to the regime. Thankfully, with the resources available to us, we’ve been able to establish new homes and lives for ourselves and our families in the West. But the same opportunities aren’t available to the millions of Russians who, like us, don’t support Putin’s criminal system.
At this critical juncture in the struggle for Ukraine’s sovereignty, we have an opportunity to give these Russians the chance to make the same moral choice to break with the Putin regime — and, in doing so, mobilize a key community to help Ukraine to victory.
Let us be clear about what is at stake: the freedom and self-determination of millions of Ukrainians and their government’s right to territorial integrity. But the consequences extend far beyond one country’s borders. A victory for Putin’s regime would be a clear sign that the world’s democracies aren’t able to stand together in a firm coalition to uphold their core values and support their members in need.
But we still have an opportunity to change the outcome — if we act now — and affirm that democratic institutions and values are stronger and more sustainable than what authoritarians offer.
Thus, as a vital step in the international fight for Ukraine and against Putinism, we propose the creation of a single, harmoniously operating community of pro-Western Russians, which would serve as a crucial link in the broader Western web of opposition against the regime.
Practically speaking, Russians who wish to join this group would be required to sign the Berlin Declaration, which sets out the key principles for a Ukrainian victory and a Russia without Putin. After passing the necessary checks, signatories would then be issued documents recognizing them as members of a “Free Russia,” which would allow them to obtain visas and enter all countries participating in the agreement.
This would create a powerful incentive for more Russians to disavow Putin and emigrate. Many of the over one million citizens who have already departed the Russian Federation are highly educated. And the more that leave Russia, the greater the “brain drain” Putin’s regime suffers, leaving fewer intellectual resources for him to develop new deadly technologies and fewer soldiers to send to the front.
Unfortunately, Russians who have left their country behind often find themselves in a state of limbo and at risk of politically motivated extradition, living, for the most part, in Georgia, Armenia, Turkey or Central Asian countries, unable to seek refuge in Europe. Many would gladly join in the fight against Putin openly. However, with expiring passports, uncertain residency and no representation, this is an impossibility.
These individuals aren’t in need of economic assistance — they’re fully capable of supporting themselves. The system we propose would give them the opportunity to help themselves, their families and the West by supporting the international struggle against Putinism openly and without fear.
If the idea sounds far-fetched or impractical, we point to a historical example that suggests otherwise: Nansen passports, developed for stateless persons in the political chaos following World War I, were issued by the League of Nations after the Russian government officially revoked the citizenship of hundreds of thousands of Russians abroad. Named after Norwegian politician Fridtjof Nansen, their chief promoter on the international stage, nearly half a million Nansen passports were issued during their nearly two-decade existence. And the office responsible for their operation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in combating this massive displacement crisis.
While the parallel is imperfect — as historical analogs always are — the growing number of Russians disaffected with Putin’s rule today similarly stand to have their lives transformed by such international recognition. In recent days though, Norway, along with Finland, banned the entry of Russian tourists (with few exceptions for essential travel and humanitarian reasons). And while the measure signals a strong stance against Putin’s war, it offers no way of distinguishing between Russians who fall in line behind him and those who seek to disavow him. It only further points to the urgent need for an international juridical mechanism for making precisely this kind of distinction.
As the war staggers on, we must use all the resources at our disposal — military, economic and legal — to help Ukraine prevail. The establishment of an extraterritorial free Russia, so to speak, with international recognition, would mark a crucial step toward Ukraine’s victory, dramatically shifting the balance of power in the struggle between democracy and dictatorship.
We cannot shy away from the truth that victory for Ukraine entails the full defeat of Putin’s regime. The steps we take to ensure Ukraine’s future are also steps that pave the way for a free, fair and democratic Russia aligned with the West. We urge the leaders of the free world to take this proposal seriously: to bring like-minded Russians to their side of the current fight and, as a result, integrate them into the international democratic fabric.
Rachel Svetanoff keynote panelist for UN Foundation's Intergenerational Townhall
Convisero mentor Rachel Svetanoff sits alongside two UN youth leaders, Ose Ehianeta Arheghan and Sophia Kianni, on the National Visions for 2100 Intergenerational Townhall for the UN Foundation’s Our Future Agenda program in collaboration with United Nations Association of the USA at the 2024 Leadership Summit. Each panelist shared lessons learned about youth activism that came from lived experience, demonstrating their diligence and passion for solving issues that face current generations today and future generations. This townhall is part of Our Future Agenda’s intergenerational action initiative where participants also crafted solutions surrounding 12 ideas for future generations. Rachel and her colleagues facilitated round table discussions who shared their ideas for creating pathways pathways forward towards a shared vision of intergenerational unity.
The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) was selected to serve as the main implementing partner in the United States for the Intergenerational Town Hall Series. This initiative, underpinned by the United Nations Foundation and supported through the Unlock the Future Coalition, provides the opportunity for 16 UN member states to host Town Halls that are designed to engage, empower, and elevate voices of young people and future generations.
The Intergenerational Town Halls are designed to convene a diverse assembly of participants and speakers, ranging from visionary young leaders and activists to seasoned policymakers, experts, and global thought leaders. UNA-USA encourages and welcomes non-members to participate in these Town Hall elements, so that their voices are heard and represented within the cumulative report that will be developed from the consultations.
13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
The Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) is the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders. The South Pacific Commission (now The Pacific Community - SPC) launched this dynamic showcase of arts and culture in 1972 to halt the erosion of traditional practices through ongoing cultural exchange. The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture, will convene in Hawaiʻi, 6–16 June 2024. “Ho‘oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania” will serve as the theme of FestPAC Hawaiʻi 2024, honoring the traditions that FestPAC exists to perpetuate with an eye toward the future.
Combatants for Peace: The 19th Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony
Dear Friends,
We are excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Annual Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony. In the midst of the violence, the despair and the most divided society in our history, we are choosing to follow a different path.
Now in its 19th year, the ceremony is a chance to reflect, to mourn, to acknowledge the pain of the other but also to feel there is hope. Since October 7th 2023, tens of thousands of lives have been cut short, families torn apart, children traumatized - now more than ever we need to continue to show up for one another, to demand an end to the war and call for a political solution that brings freedom, justice and safety for all. In mourning together, we seek not to equate experiences, but rather transform despair into hope and build compassion around our shared humanity. We remind ourselves and the world that occupation, oppression, and conflict are not inevitable.
The ceremony takes place on the eve of “Yom Ha’Zikaron” (Israeli Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror). It is one of the most somber days in Israel- where everything shuts down, the state TV channels only broadcast coverage of the national memorial ceremony- and everything feels very dark. But our ceremony is different. You will hear from both Israelis and Palestinians bereaved through conflict and feel the light seep in as we come together to both remember the past and look ahead to a brighter future.The theme of the ceremony this year will focus on the stories of children. Children whose only crime was being born Palestinian or Israeli. What will be the future of the next generation?
Please, support the ceremony, so we can truly show the world that this is the will of the people, that the international community is behind us, and together, we can create a more peaceful future. Last year we had 300,000 people with us live - let’s grow our community, and declare once again - war is not an act of fate, there is another way!
In Peace & Solidarity from Israel/Palestine,
Rana Salman & Eszter Koranyi
Co-Directors, Combatants for Peace
