Dignity Letter — March 2021
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The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
If only we're brave enough to see it
If only we're brave enough to be it.
Amanda Gorman, U.S. Youth Poet-Laureate
The Hill We Climb, January 20, 2021
Warmest Greetings,
Because of you, our community continues to move its work forward during many dark days. We hope this edition of the Dignity Letter renews and strengthens your energy to keep being a light for dignity in the world!
Contents
- A New Schedule for Our Global Dignity Conferences — Please Save These Dates!
- Dignity Press Publications — New and Recent Books
- Good News in Hard Times — Celebrating the Efforts of Our HumanDHS Friends and Community
- Celebrating Our Annual December Workshop: Video Messages for You to View!
- Dignifunding: Thanks to All Sharegivers!
Please note: Rather than sending numerous Dignity Letters throughout the year, HumanDHS sends fewer, longer letters. We warmly welcome your feedback about this approach.
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New Schedule for Our Global Dignity Conferences!
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Global Dignity Conferences:
Continuing Our Connections
and Collaborations!
Due to the coronavirus, we are continuously adapting the schedule of our upcoming dignity conferences. We are deeply thankful to all of the hosts for their ongoing support and generous flexibility!
You are warmly invited to any or all of these conferences. Thank you for visiting our conference webpage regularly to follow the latest plans as they unfold.
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A Warm Welcome to Our Upcoming Dignity Conferences!
Please click on the links and pictures below to see the latest information on each of these gatherings.
If you would like to participate, there is no registration fee. Please send us a message introducing yourself. Please include your contact information and tell us more about your interest.
(Images courtesy of Wikipedia)
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Dignity Press books explore the dynamics of human dignity and humiliation from diverse standpoints and global perspectives. Contributing authors are from all over the world. In addition to these books below, we invite you to visit dignitypress.org for a complete list of publications.
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New: Women and the Nobel Peace Prize by Ingunn Norderval explores the remarkable lives and efforts of women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, women bold enough to work for peace during the darkest times.
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Recent: Human Dignity: Practices, Discourses, and Transformations is a multifaceted discussion of dignity from social, cultural, religious, legal, educational, psychological, and political perspectives.
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Global Campaign for Peace Education Nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize
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A New Book!
Congratulations to Sultan Somjee
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"One Who Dreams Is Called a Prophet is indispensable reading for every citizen of this world who wishes to work for a worthwhile future for our children. Sultan Somjee presents his profound insight into the peace-building traditions of Africa in a deeply touching narrative of dignity and humiliation. Reading this book is a life-changing experience." — Evelin Lindner, PhDs, MD. Please read more...
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Religious and Secular Global Dialogue:
A Conversation with Azza Karam
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Dr. Azza Karam serves as the Secretary General of Religions for Peace, the world’s largest multireligious leadership platform. In this conversation, Karam joins Berkeley Center Senior Fellow José Casanova to discuss the evolution of the role of major religious bodies and multinational faith-based organizations on the world stage and at the United Nations.
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Regaining Dignity in Europe
A Fascinating Chapter in a New Book
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Zuzana Lučkay Mihalčinová's chapter on dignity and identity in Europe appears in a new book, The Unwanted Europeanness? The chapter explores timely concepts, including meritocracy and symbiocracy; spatial and temporal migration; monoculturalism and transculturalism; and much more.
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Fr. Jean d’Amour created a powerful video telling the story of Félicité Niyitegeka, a Rwandan heroine. Refusing to abandon the Tutsi she protected, Félicité chose to die alongside them. Her life demonstrates her belief that all people have value and dignity.
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Forgiveness Redefined
A Conversation with Candice Mama
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Candice Mama's father fought against racial injustice in South Africa and was killed by an apartheid assassin. She sat down with Erica Cobb in this video and tells about the day she met her dad's killer — and how she hugged him! To learn more about Candice's journey, please visit her website.
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A Healing Window on the World
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Chipamong Chowdhury, Nomad Eco-Monk and HumanDHS Board Director, creates videos that blend inspirational images of nature with messages of healing and compassion. This visual meditation is an example of the healing and emotionally replenishing viewing available on his YouTube Channel.
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Michael Perlin's New Book
Advanced Introduction to Mental Health Law
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In his new book, Michael L. Perlin examines the long-standing but ever-dynamic relationship between law and mental health. He discusses how the law, primarily in the United States but also in other countries, treats mental health. Please read more...
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Dignity: Why It Matters More Than Ever
A Conversation with Donna Hicks
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This conversation with Donna Hicks, HumanDHS Global Advisory Board member, is part of Global Dignity's reset initiative, celebrating a new vision for a world where the dignity of every person is recognized, valued, and honored. Dr. Hicks is the author of Dignity and Leading with Dignity.
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Changing the Paradigm for Cyberbullying
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Book by Erin Daly and James R. May
Dignity Law: Global Recognition, Cases,
and Perspectives
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In their new book, Erin Daly and James May explore how dignity law recognizes the equal worth of every member of the human family, regardless of gender, race, social or political status, talents, merit, or any other differentiator. This casebook provides an introduction to this emergent and dynamic approach to the practice of law. Please read more...
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Journal of Mathematics and the Arts
Mara Alagic's Five Years as Editor
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Congratulations to Mara Alagic for five years of leadership as the editor of the Journal of Mathematics and the Arts (JMA). The inspiration for her efforts originates in her diverse experiences, including her mother's lessons in traditional, ethnic crafts, and arts; her scholarly work in mathematics; her appreciation of other cultures; and her work and passion for human dignity, diversity, and intercultural communication. Please read more...
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Poetry for Peace
UN's International Day of Peace
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International Poet Ashok Chakravarthy Tholana shares his poem marking the UN's 2020 International Day of Peace. His message supports this year's theme: "Shaping Peace Together" and recognizes the battle against the COVID-19 virus.
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Leadership Lessons and Relationships
Jennifer Goldman-Wetzler
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The provision, now twice-approved by both the NY Senate and Assembly, proceeds to public referendum on Nov. 2, 2021. Please read more...
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
A Collection of Visual Reflections
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Ardian and Andis Adzanela share this collection of compelling images of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a visual history of struggle, resilience, and beauty (photo collection by Andis Adzanela; music by Ardian Adzanela — an adaptation of a traditional Bosnian song "S'one strane Plive"; and sound engineering: Zlatko Poljo).
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Playing War
A Story About Changing the Game
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Kathy Beckwith recently released a paperback edition of Playing War: A Story About Changing the Game, a book for children (and us all), illustrated by Lea Lyon. It reflects on the power that each of us possesses to make a difference through small acts of understanding and friendship. Please read more...
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The World We Want in 2035
Change the Story to Change the Future
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Leland Beaumont shares in his blog post, "Out of the ashes of the post-truth era, intellectual honesty has emerged as a primary value. We came to understand that shared knowledge is a public good. Determined to value reliable and accurate information as much as we value free speech we recognized that each of us has a duty to know how we know."
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Do You Have Dignity News?
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We love sharing news that grows out of the global efforts of our HumanDHS community! If you would like to share your dignity news — positive progress, courageous action, promising practices, and alike — you are warmly invited to send it to our attention: humandhs@humiliationstudies.org.
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Celebrating Our 17th Annual Workshop in December
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We were amazed by the deeply dignifying dialogues, the creative contributions, and the inspiring global connections generated throughout the workshop! Please allow us to share the following sample of our workshop activities, videos, and pictures.
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This workshop was a shining example of a "co-created" event! It was energized by the intellectual and creative contributions of all who joined us — exceeding all of our expectations!
Because of Zoom, we were able to connect globally more easily than ever. We were thrilled to see new and returning friends from throughout the world, including New Zealand, India, Jordan, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Canada, Bangladesh, Rwanda, and more!
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Memorable Messages for You to View
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From a Virus Pandemic to a Pandemic of Dignity
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Michael Britton opened our workshop with his message of courage and perseverance, expressing profound empathy for all who are suffering around the globe. He reminded us to keep looking beyond the immediate pain to possibilities for a more dignifying future.
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We were deeply touched by all who created "Messages to the World" — powerful words of wisdom focused on how we can cultivate conditions that provide for the equal dignity of all people and the planet.
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From Humiliation to Dignity:
For a Future of Global Solidarity
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In the midst of global crises and deadly social divisions, how do we move humanity toward mutually beneficial solidarity?
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2020 HumanDHS Lifetime Commitment Award
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We were overjoyed to celebrate the lifework of Peter Coleman, the director of MD-ICCCR, by presenting him with the HumanDHS 2020 Lifetime Commitment Award. Dr. Coleman is a renowned expert on constructive conflict resolution and sustainable peace. His work has been a foundational inspiration for all of our global efforts for nearly two decades.
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Dignifying Dialogues Exploring Global Challenges and Change
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This workshop was highly participatory. We were delighted to have five "Pre-Planned Dignilogue Sessions" exploring urgent topics of our time. Please enjoy the video recordings of each session by following the underlined links below:
• DigniHosts – Linda Hartling, Mara Alagic, and Evelin Lindner
• DigniContributors – David Yamada, John Bilorusky, Rosa Reinikainen, and Maggie O’Neill
• DigniHost – David Yamada
• DigniContributors – Tony Gaskew, Charles Hayes, and Eunice Avilés Faria
• DigniHost – Janet Gerson
• DigniContributors – Fr. Jean d’Amour, Keri Lawson-Te Aho, and Vidya Jain
• DigniHost – Phil Brown
• DigniContributors – Chipamong Chowdhury, Zaynab El Bernoussi, Mugdha Yeolekar, and Reverend Darrell Daniel for Michelle Daniel Jones
• DigniHost – Elaine Meis, supported by Linda Hartling, Janet Gerson, and Evelin Lindner
• Contributors: The Dignity Now New York Group and the Dignity Now Hameln (Hamelin) Group
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Moments of Awe and Wonder: Many Creative Contributions
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Many participants shared their music, movement, and poetry that generated a spirit of warmth, energy, and encouraging solidarity. Please visit our webpage to learn more.
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If You Wish to Continue the Dialogue...
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If You Would Like to Join a Continuing Conversation on WhatsApp...
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Inspired by the important conversations that took place throughout the workshop, we have continued sharing ideas in an ongoing WhatsApp group!
If you would like to join, please send us your name and mobile number to be added to the group:
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Thanks to the Best and Bravest Digniplanners on the Planet!
Thanks to all of our workshop "Digniplanners" who made this first-ever DigniZoom workshop possible!
A special thanks to Anna Strout for capturing many, many joy-filled pictures available for viewing on the workshop website!
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You are warmly welcome to join us for our next Workshop on Transforming Humiliation and Violent Conflict, hosted in partnership with the Morton Deutsch-International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution (MD-ICCCR) at Teachers College, Columbia University, in December of 2021.
We are in the process of formulating plans for this annual gathering. If you wish to participate, please email us your message with your contact and introductory information. Thank you!
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Dignifunding: Thanks to All of Our Sharegivers!
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We are grateful to all who sustain HumanDHS with action gifts and economic support!
HumanDHS does not have a paid staff, administrative assistance, or IT services. We are an "extreme, lean, green, but not mean" community, essentially a "do-it-together-with-dignity" community. We do not charge registration fees for events, yet we appreciate thoughtful contributions (according to one's ability).
If you would like to contribute, we warmly welcome your kind support:
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Wishing You a World of Dignity Every Day!
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With admiration and endless gratitude!
Uli Spalthoff, PhD, Director of Project Development and Systems Administration
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