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PRESS
RELEASE
RATTAPALLAX
PRESS RELEASE
DIALOGUE
AMONG CIVILIZATIONS THROUGH POETRY
International
Poetry Dialogue at the United Nations and in 100 Cities
NEW
YORK --Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa
will join renowned poets Joyce Carol Oates, Mei-mei
Berssenbrugge and James Ragan for an evening of "Dialogue
Among Civilizations Through Poetry" on Thursday, March
29, 2001 at the United Nations Building in New York
City.
In
1998, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2001
as the "United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations"
to foster tolerance, respect and cooperation among peoples.
To further this aim, Rattapallax Press together with
the United Nations Society of Writers, will present
a series of literary programs around the world. A poetry
evening at the United Nations is one of over 200 poetry
readings in over 100 cities worldwide. Participants
include Guild Complex in Chicago, Chinese University
of Hong Kong, and the 14th Street Y in New York City.
Individuals living in the city where the events will
be held will coordinate each reading. Several special
readings in international territories include 2001 Mallory
and Irvine Research Expedition to Mt. Everest, Casey
Station in Antarctica, a scientific boat in the West
Philippine Sea and possibly, the International Space
Station.
These
readings will coincide with an international literary
conference co-organized by Poetry International--Rotterdam
involving acclaimed Australian poet John Kinsella, co-editor
of Stand magazine (U.K.), David H. Lynn, editor
of the Kenyon Review (USA) and editors from around
the world. In addition, satellite panel discussions
are being developed in Calcutta, Tokyo, New York City
and Santa Monica to discuss various topics. An anthology
featuring the poets and organizers will appear as an
eBook by Fictionpolis.com.
On
September 5, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, " The
United Nations, at its best, can be the true home of
the dialogue among civilizations, the forum where such
dialogue can flourish and bear fruit in every field
of human endeavor". His Personal Representative for
the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations,
Giandomenico Picco, added in his provisional report
annexed to the report of the Secretary-general (document
A/54/546): "The establishment of the United Nations
was intended to provide a paradigm of international
relations based on inclusion rather than exclusion.
It seems appropriate, therefore, to speak, within the
United Nations context, of two sets of civilizations:
those that perceive diversity as a threat; and those
that perceive diversity as an integral component of
growth. The dialogue should be between these two civilizations
or set of civilizations".
For
more information about the year, please visit http://www.un.org/Dialogue
or for information about the program, please visit http://www.rattapallax.com
Download
a pdf version of the press release.
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