MEPEACE Chat - March 14

Event Details

Time: March 14, 2010 from 8pm to 9:30pm
Location: MEPEACE chat (http://www.mepeace.org/chat)
Event Type: chat, chat workshop, live chat, live discussion, mepeace chat, signs, symbols, identity, conflict, symbols of conflict, symbols of peace, cultural marks, culture, religion, language
Organized By: MEPEACE.org Dialogue Team
Latest Activity: Mar 14, 2010

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Event Description

We invite everybody to another three-workshop-series with the general topic "Symbols of Conflict - Symbols of Peace".

Again, all three workshops will focus on related sub-topics. The first one will focus on the sub-topic

Signs and Symbols : Cultural marks/definitions of identity

How we define ourselves is a vast, diverse matter. It is variable to anyone, yet crucial to be able to be "one". Still we sometimes need common ground to feel attached to "others" who are like us. This common ground can be languages, songs, religions and concrete things like buildings, arts, food...etc. We go to sanctuaries to nurture our need to pray within our community. Many of us enjoy hearing our own language wherever we go. We seek the food we are familiar with. We love to join groups and communities that consist of people like us. MEPEACE.org, for instance, is a good example for that.

To what extent do we use these elements to expose ourselves to the outer world? Or maybe in other words, to what extent do we depend on these elements to get to know someone else? Do we benefit from the powerful gathering quality of symbols or do we prefer to alienate ourselves from others through them, which could obviously trigger conflict instead of peace and harmony?

The importance of a person's identity in peacebuilding is undeniable. Thus it is essential to consider symbols as identity shapers, within the peace context. You are welcomed to discuss this around these leading questions below:

What do symbols and signs mean to you? How would you define them?

Can symbols and signs be powerful and important in shaping one's/a community's identity? In which ways?

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Please note that the event will start on Sunday, 14 March at 20.00 Jerusalem time.

If you have any questions regarding the event, please don't hesitate us to contact us at mepeace.dialogue@gmail.com.

We look forward to your participation!

The MEPEACE.org Dialogue Team
Cigdem Yilmazer, Jessica de Souza, Johanna Silverthorne & Oliver Haack