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Dear Arthur,
Most of this newsletter is being written on Monday: "Happy Snow Day" to students, teachers, and even administrators. Our regrets to those who did not join in on the fun.
In this newsletter, we provide updated information on Campaign 2004. By the time you read this, you will have long known the results from the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary results will be known by mid Tuesday morning. A week from today is the Missouri primary!
We have far new and expanded information about our February Revenge & Reconciliation conference. We had a wonderful prep session on Saturday, Jan. 17 and two more outstanding ones planned for the weeks ahead.
We now have links to extended information on the conference, our on-line sign-up sheet, photos from last Saturday, and perhaps most importantly, to keynote speaker Laura Blumenfeld's book Revenge. A few spaces for the conference remain, so if you are interested, please sign up ASAP. Our next preparation session is on Saturday, January 31, at Crossroads School from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
We also have information on a new moviefest that we will be sponsoring this Saturday, Jan. 31 with the theme of the movies being "Revenge & Reconciliation."
We had hoped to have "knowledge area" assignments in this newsletter for students enrolled in the conference, but since some students have very legitimate reasons for having not yet signed up, we'll delay the assignments until late in this week.
We have a new survey on next week's Missouri presidential primary. We also have the results of our previous poll on future space exploration with some most interesting comments included.
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MISSOURI Suddenly Comes Into Play!
The results from the IOWA political caucuses have been in for over a week and you probably know that MISSOURI Congressman Richard Gephardt came in a weak 4th in the Democratic primary. Since IOWA had been key to Gephardt success, the fourth place finish essentially ended his chances an last Tuesday he withdrew from the race.
None of the other candidates were previously willing to test Gephardt in his home state of MISSOURI on the February 3 primary. However, the six remaining candidates have already set up organizations in Missouri, with former VERMONT Governor Howard Dean having by far the most advanced team. But MASSACHUSETTS Senator John Kerry has momentum and the fresh faces of other candidates may appeal to Missourians as well. Stay tuned for the primaries a week from today (Feb. 3) which will include MISSOURI and six other states. MISSOURI will be the largest of the seven!
In the meantime, today is the NEW HAMPSHIRE primary. This is key and John Kerry seems to have the lead. However, this is a very unpredictable state and it can turn everything topsy-turvy before the seven contests of Feb. 3.
Link to CNN election coverage
Second "Revenge and Reconciliation" Prep Session This Saturday, Jan. 31
We are moving further into our 2004 Conference on Revenge/Reconciliation: Breaking the Cycle of Conflict.
Our second prep session is this Sat., Jan. 31, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM) at Crossroads (map below). Having simulated several scenarios of revenge and reconciliation in our first prep session, we will now look into general strategies for conflict resolution with the assistance of Washington University School of Law attorney and mediator Ms. C. J. Larkin. Those of you who were at the first session with our "prom date scenario" and "Native American-European settler scenario" know that we only scratched the surface of techniques to respond to threats. This Saturday, C. J. Larkin will introduce us to many of the well-tested and generally successful means of trying to resolve conflict. In many cases it will work; in others revenge will be the only remaining option. It should be a most engaging session. We'll also have time for general discussion on related topics and more great food.
In our final prep session on (Sat., Feb. 14, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM), our speaker will be Dr. Cecil Abrahams, professor of African and African-American Studies at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. He is from South Africa and worked with both Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmund Tutu as the "Truth and Reconciliation" commission began its work.
The culmination of the conference will be on Fri. - Sat., Feb. 20-21. At that time, we will look at long-standing international conflicts, such as those in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, South Africa, and the Balkans; the death penalty; war-crimes tribunals; the mafia; and much more.
The real headliner will be our outstanding keynote speaker on Friday evening: Ms. Laura Blumenfeld; author of the 2002 best-seller Revenge, the story of her personal feelings on revenge following the shooting of her father in Jerusalem. We have copies of the book for all participants and distributed most of them last Saturday. If you have not received a copy of the book and our planning on participating in the conference (including the remaining prep sessions), e-mail us by clicking here.
We were originally planning on assigning "areas of knowledge" to students in today's newsletter. However, since a number of students from St. Joseph's Academy were in Washington, DC for the "Close-up" program last week and yesterday was a snow day for most schools, we have not yet determined if we will have two or three committees. We may not know that until the end of this week. At that time we'll make assignments and e-mail them to you.
Let us know if you have any questions.
We have a link to photos from last Saturday's session posted, and more will be uploaded on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Conference on Revenge and Reconciliation
Friday, February 20 3:00 PM - Saturday, February 21 3:30 PM at the Doubletree Club Hotel.
NOTE: See next story on Saturday's Revenge & Reconciliation Moviefest!
Click here for a Conference Description, or to Sign Up Online!
Click here for the application form!
Prep Session 1 Photos from Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004.
Link to Laura Blumenfeld's book: Revenge
Map & Directions to Crossroads School
Revenge & Reconciliation Moviefest!
 We are happy to announce that this Saturday, Jan. 31 at 12:15 PM and at 3:30 PM. there will be a movie showing at the house of the Civitas Office Monkey (AKA Bobbi Clemons). This movie strongly relates to the upcoming Revenge & Reconcilation Conference
The 12:15 PM movie will be Amandl -- A Revolution in Four Part Harmony. It depicts the horrors of the Apartheid system in South Africa prior to the revolution that lead to the election of Nelson Mandela as president. Key to the movie is the role that non-violent music and dancing plays in this revolution.
We'll have a short break and then at 3:30 PM show the classic American Western, Unforgiven, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. It shows another perspective on the conflicts inherent in revenge.
Some may be wondering why we are not showing The Godfather -- Part II as we has suggested before. The reasons are: (1) The movie is over 3 hours long and tough to watch as a double-feature; and (2) many of you have already seen the movie. If you haven't, you'll probably be more comfortable renting it and watching it at home in your most comfortable chair or bed.
The address of the "makeshift theater" at Bobbi's is 3149 Cherry Ave. (It's about 3 blocks away from the intersection of Manchester and Big Bend -- map below.) Look for a hideous blue house with brown trim.
If you have any questions please call Ms. Bobbi at (314) 265-0135. And of course, snacks and soda will be provided.
Map to Bobbi's House
DATE CHANGE re. You can help Get U.S. Support for Global Solutions to Global Problems (Repeat)
College students, & high-school seniors and juniors--
We invite you to enter a contest to participate in a
national conference in Washington D.C.
"GETTING U.S. SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL PROBLEMS"
DATE CHANGE: One of the first two weekends in June
at the Capitol Hill Club & the Capitol Hill Suites Hotel
______________________________________________________________________________________
ATTEND PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON:
IMPLEMENTING THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
HOW TO MAKE THE U.N. MORE EFFECTIVE
ENERGIZING GLOBAL ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ADDRESSING ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION & ITS EFFECTS __________________________________________________________________________
Citizens for Global Solutions of Greater St. Louis will provide transportation, registration, meals, & lodging at the Capitol Hill Suites Hotel for a college student or a high-school junior or senior to attend this national Global Solutions convention.
The conference begins at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 22, so you should be able to leave St. Louis that afternoon. It ends before noon Sunday, April 25, so you should be back by that night. Getting to & from the St. Louis airport is your responsibility.
If you want to be a contestant for this subsidized trip, write a 3-5 page typed essay (double-spaced) consisting of two parts. In the first part tell us about your background and why you would be a good person for us to send to this meeting. In the second part share with us your thinking about the problems our world community faces and how we might deal with them more effectively.
____________________________________________________________________
In exchange for this subsidy CfGS of St. Louis expects you to give us a brief written report about the conference & what you learned from it. (This helps us raise money for next time.)
Send your essay to:
Ronald J. Glossop, 8894 Berkay Avenue, Jennings, MO 63136-5004
or by e-mail to:
Be sure to include your home address and telephone number.
For more information, call (314) 869-2303.
Deadline: March 20, 2004. Winner will be notified by March 23, 2004.
This Week's Survey: Missouri Primary in One Week
With Missouri congressman Richard Gephardt having dropped out of the Democratic presidential sweepstakes, the Missouri primary next Tuesday will be contested by all candidates. Please take the survey below to indicate for whom you would vote. (If you vote in the newsletter survey, you'll have two pages of candidates from which to choose; the Civitas intranets site can fit them on one page.)
Link to Survey on Missouri Presidential Primary
Link to Poll on Civitas Intranet Site
Previous Survey Results (New)
Last week's question was:
Last week, President Bush announced new goals for NASA (National Aeronautics & Space Administration) to focus more on exploring the moon and Mars more. He pledged to increase the NASA budget 5% per year.
Opponents argue that the needs on Earth require more urgent attention. In this survey, we want to learn more about how you feel on this issue.
Responses:
1. Increase space spending as much as Pres. Bush wants or more. 31% (5)
2. Keep the proportion of Earth spending and space spending about the same as it is now.44% (7)
3. Neutral 6% (1)
4. Increase the proportion of spending on Earth-related problems while decreasing space programs. 13% (2)
5. Not Sure 6% (1)
Total: 16
Harry Imster; CEO, Foundry Software
Our technological leadership is an essential national interest economically and strategically -- somewhat comparable to the British Empire's control of the open seas. I have a copy of letter sent by Eisenhower (when he was at Columbia) thanking a donor for a major gift to the engineering school. The point of the letter was that continual investment in technology on our part will effectively crush the "red menace" because they cannot support guns, butter AND R&D!! Although I don't believe have anyone to "crush", the point is well taken. A technological edge is a strategic advantage. We get that edge by growing, recruiting, and challenging the brightest engineers - this is the real spinoff..... Moreover, "near space" (earth's orbit) is the informational hub of our digital environment and essential to the world economy. Although the US is only a marginally good caretaker of the resource, I don't think I would want to entrust its future with any one else.... I'll also point out that this perhaps the only policy of Bush's policies that I agree with. We CAN afford guns, butter AND R"&D!!!
Becca Kunce; Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School, 2007
I think since we are struggling to keep our heads above water with the Middle East situation, we shouldn't put out more funding for different things when we need to look at our top priorities first.
Kevin Blanks; Jennings High School, 2006
I am think it is sad that we are even considering spending more money on the space program when we are currently in a international crisis!!!
Crystal Williams; Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School, 2004
I do not understand the urgency for the U.S. to explore Mars. We are doing okay on Earth and the millions spent on space exploration could be used to solve some problems in America such as the shortage of affordable housing and funding for education. I don't care if there ever was or could be life on Mars. America needs to focus more on the problems its citizens have in day-to-day life rather than exploring the possibility of life on another planet.
Additional Links
More information about Civitas
Photo Gallery
Streaming Video [Real Media]
Web Calendar
Agendas
Civitas Intranets Site
Civitas Home Page
Previous Newsletters
Maps & Directions
Middle East Conference Index Page
High School General Assembly Assignments for 2003-2004
High School Security Council Assignments for 2003-2004
Civitas Participant Handbook
Resolutions (High School U.N.) for 2003-2004
Checklist for Writing a Model U.N. Resolution
Sample Resolution
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