[Mitai-announce] Bhopal events Sun & Mon and summer volunteer opportunity in Bosnia

[Susan Frick]

MIT's Program on Human Rights and Justice wishes to make you aware of two 
opportunities that may be of interest.

Please forgive any multiple messages about the Human Rights and Technology 
conference continuing at MIT tonight and this weekend 
(http://web.mit.edu/tac/www/conference/index.html).

On December 3rd 1984, over 40 tons of highly poisonous gas leaked out
of the pesticide factory of Union Carbide in Bhopal, India. Thousands
died in the immediate aftermath and at least 20,000 have died
since. It is estimated that 10-15 are dying every month. It is the
worst chemical disaster known to man.

Students for Bhopal, International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
(ICJB) and Association for India's Development (AID) Boston invite you
to a 2 part event remembering this disaster.

Remember Bhopal--"Bhopal Express"
May 2 (Sun) 3pm, MIT room 10-250, Movie Bhopal Express
More information on the movie at http://www.bhopalexpress.com

This screening is FREE and open to public, and organized by MIT
Lecture series committee ( http://lsc.mit.edu ):
         http://lsc.mit.edu/schedule/current/desc-bhopalexpress.shtml

Contact aid-boston at mit.edu if you have any questions.

Discussion with Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla (Winners of Goldman 
Environmental Prize)
May 3 (Mon) 7pm, MIT room 6-120
http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg
Ten years after the incident, most survivors had received less than $500 of
Union Carbide's $470 million compensation payout. Dow Chemical, which
merged with Union Carbide in 2001, maintains to this day that it has
no liability in the industrial disaster.

Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, along with thousands of others, were
injured in the Bhopal disaster.  They have spent the last 19 years fighting for
justice for the victims in Bhopal and for corporate responsibility in aims of
preventing others in the future from facing a imilar tragedy.  They were
recently awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for their
efforts.

For more information about this event please contact Matt Lehrich:
MLehrich at aol.com, 781-424-5262

Volunteer Opportunity with Builders for Peace in Bosnia: mid-June to mid-July
June 10--13:  Orientation in Sarajevo-- visit historic sites and meet with 
community leaders and scholars
June 14 July 9 (Mostar) : Perform hands-on reconstruction work in Mostar, 
rebuilding a 550-year-old mosque, a youth center, and other important 
cultural buildings damaged or destroyed in the 1992-5 civil 
war.  Participate as part-time volunteers in  Mostar2004 international 
symposium on postconflict reconstruction,  and in Mostar's Intercultural 
Arts Festival.
-or-
Work in Gracanica in northeast Bosnia in a free summer school program for 
high school students. Teach English or lead life skills workshops, and swim 
and hike with local youth.  Explore values, issues, and visions of the 
future with young Bosnians.   A small crew will also help Bosnian 
volunteers to finish construction of a new building for children with 
special needs in Gracanica.

There will be opportunities both in Mostar and in Gracanica for short trips 
to various cultural sites, including the Sufi monastery at Blagaj, the 
medieval castle at Srebrenik, and the memorial site at Srebrenica.

July 9-24: Many participants will choose to spend an extra week, at the end 
of the program, in the beautiful walled town of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic 
Sea.   Some may want to remain in Mostar or to return from the coast for 
celebrations leading up to the July 23d opening of  Mostars famous Ottoman 
Old Bridge, an intercultural symbol destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004.

Expenses: The average student will spend between $1200 and $1500, including 
air fare.  Financial aid is available through the Kokkalis Program 
(deadline April 23).

For further information:
Professor Thomas Butler 
<mailto:thomas.butler at comcast.net>thomas.butler3 at comcast.net, telephone 617 
661 5914
Martha Ondras <mailto:ondras at mit.edu>ondras at mit.edu, 617 452 4973


Susan Frick
Program Assistant
Program on Human Rights and Justice
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
E38-277, 292 Main Street
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
Tel: 617 258 7614
Fax: 617 452 3962
Email: fricks at mit.edu
http://web.mit.edu/phrj
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