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St. Cloud State University
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NOVA showcases activists
By Tia VanVeldhuizen
Published:
Thursday, April 1, 2004
Media Credit: Matthew Kaster
Derrill Bodley spoke for Families for Peaceful Tomorrows Tuesday afternoon in Centennial Hall as part of the NOVA Peace Forum. He began addressing the root causes of terrorism in front of a picture of his 20-year-old daughter, Deora, who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Since 9-11 Bodely has been an ardent advocator for nonviolent action in response to world conflicts.
So far, about 150 people from SCSU and the community attended peace forums organized by SCSU students in Nonviolent Alternatives (NOVA).
The six forums brought to SCSU's campus involved speakers on activism and progression in the world. Most emphasized events in Afghanistan.
Derrill Bodley, spokesman for a Nobel Peace Prize group called September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, talked about root causes of terrorism at a forum Tuesday evening.
"You can't change what has happened (but) what can you do to change the future?" Bodley asked.
He said causes for world problems included a lack of love, respect and peacefulness in humans, as well as a lack of sharing world resources. Bodley compared his nonviolent alternatives by coining violent acts as a "war without end."
Bodley became an activist for nonviolent actions after his daughter died on Flight 93, the flight on which passengers allegedly detoured the terrorists' plans to hit the White House more than two years ago.
While in Afghanistan, Bodley presented a picture of his daughter to a family who also lost a child in an United States bombing. He shared this moment to forum participants with a video clip.
"That could be my family," said SCSU sophomore Andy Bzdok in response to the video. "This was good insight; seeing the more human side in Afghan and Iraq."
Some of the forums led to debates on President Bush's administration and past actions by the United Nations and whether the current battles in the Middle East were avoidable.
Spokeswoman for�Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (MAHR) Megan Powers informed about a dozen students of opportunities to promote human rights Wednesday afternoon. Each student received a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948.� ��
Powers directs the education program and encourages teachers to implement human rights issues into their curriculum.�
She talked about children in St. Paul who learned about sweatshops overseas. Two sixth graders then lobbied for a proposal that the St. Paul school district not purchase anything made in these sweatshops, Powers said.�
Among other programs, MAHR also assists refugees from other countries. To apply, a refugee needs to prove persecution of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a social group in their country.
One woman was granted asylum through MAHR because of a forced abortion by the Chinese government, Powers said.
"It was a starting point.�I learned that you can go to these organizations and start instead of just worrying," said senior Khulan Altangerel, an exchange student from Mongolia.�
After her graduation this spring, she plans on returning to Mongolia to work for the UN or World Bank, to get started in activism.
Many forums suggested how to become an activist. Volunteer efforts were discussed and programs were reviewed. Women's rights in Afghanistan were presented Wednesday evening.
Today at 2 p.m. in Atwood room 239 students will discuss non-profit career and volunteer opportunities. At 3:30 p.m. in the Atwood Theatre a documentary on the missing women in Juarez, Mexico will be presented by Amnesty International.
The purpose of NOVA is to "serve as an educational center" at SCSU through various presentations to introduce and seek peaceful solutions.�Forums like this have been scheduled for the past five years, according to co-advisor Mike Sharp.� There are about a dozen active members in NOVA, Sharp said.
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