Dialogue Through Poetry

Photos from the readings around the world / Reading posters

In order to create true dialogue among civilizations, the coordinators contacted reading coordinators, editors, poets, and poetry lovers around the world and asked them to setup readings in their cities to support this program. During the last week in March, there were over 200 readings in 150 cities around the world. The readings were open to everyone.

Read the letter from UNESCO. (pdf file) / Read the letter from the UN. (pdf file)
Read the letter from the Neruda Foundation (pdf file)
Learn more about the press conferences. / Press information

What is Dialogue Through Poetry?

It is a coalition of poets, writers, organizers, and UN officials committed to the principles of the United Nations and of building a culture of peace and non-violence in the world through poetry.

Ram Devineni is the publisher of Rattapallax Press and a film-maker who has had films shown at the Cairo International Film Festival, San Jose Film Festival, Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, etc. He was an Eagleton Associate at the Eagleton Institute for Politics at Rutgers University where he studied political theory and campaign management. He has organized several state and federal elections. He also integrates new technologies (e.g networks, SANs,...) for Salomon Smith Barney and Citigroup.

Larry Jaffe is the Poet/Host at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage and the International Readings Coordinator for the United Nations Dialogue among Civilizations through Poetry program and creator and host of the Poetix Spoken Word reading series at the world famous Rainbow Room on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood (formerly PoeticLicense at the Moondog). He has been featured at numerous readings and poetry festivals throughout the United States and abroad including the Hammer Museum, Japanese American National Museum, Comedy Store, Autry Museum, University of Texas, UC Northridge, UCSB, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles Poetry Festival, Austin International Poetry Festival, San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival, Bristol, Paddington and Birmingham Poetry festivals. Jaffe is the Co-chair of Poets for Peace and has spearheaded organizing poetry hosts around the world through the Poetry Host community group.

Bhikshuni Weisbrot is secretary of the United Nations Society of Writers. As secrectary of the UNSRC, she organized the World of Poetry reading at the United Nations featuring U.S. Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz.

Proposal for the creation of the Poet Laureate of the United Nations created by Ram Devineni

Statement: to establish an honorary position at the United Nations called Poet Laureate to promote the principles of the UN through literature and dialogue.

The position will be for three years to ensure enough time for the Poet Laureate to implement and promote their initiatives.

A committee composed of UN officials, literary non-government agencies, poets, editors, educators and publishers from around the world will determine the selection of the Poet Laureate of the United Nations.

The Poet Laureate will be responsible for promoting the principles of the UN throughout the world.
-- Advice and consent on literary matters that pertain to the UN.
-- Participate in the annual UNESCO World Poetry Day events.
--Work with non-government agencies and governments to promote literary and education.

We are developing a coalition of poets, educators, writers, editors, publishers, NGO's and UN officials to present the proposal to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. If you would like to be involved in this extraordinary effort, please add your name to the petition.

Note: this is not a discussion on selecting the Poet Laureate of the United Nations. Until the position is established, we will not be entertaining this issue.

Supported by Marilyn Hacker, Grace Schulman, Cornelius Eady, Iztok Osojnik, Richard Jordan, Philip Corwin, C. K. Williams, Michael Hulse, Rick Moody, Khaled Mattawa, Edwin Torres, William Pitt Root, Edita P. Page, Ilya Kaminsky, Raks Seakhoa, Jane Hirshfield, S.V. Atalla, James Ragan, Christiane Tricoit, John Kinsella, David H. Lynn, Robert Minhinnick, Larry Jaffe, Eva Hung, Wole Soyinka, Bob Holman, and Molly Peacock.