Daily Terror: Cluster Bombs (exhibit opening at Y)

In response to the tremendous human toll that cluster munitions have inflicted in Laos and many other parts of the world, the University YMCA and First Mennonite Church of Urbana are sponsoring an exhibition entitled Daily Terror. Titus Peachy's presentation will discuss the impact of cluster bomb munitions on civilian populations as well as the work of MCC and others to advocate for their elimination.

Produced by the Mennonite Central Committee of the Mennonite Church USA and Canada, this display presents stories and graphic images of devastation and pain that cluster bombs inflict upon civilian populations decades after their deployment in a conflict.  The project also presents the advocacy work and on-the-ground ordnance clearing efforts that Mennonite Central Committee and other non governmental agencies have engaged in for many years.

Titus Peachy is the Director of Peace Education for the Mennonite Central Committee. Titus registered as a conscientious objector and performed alternative service in Vietnam from 1970-1973. He and his wife Linda worked with MCC in Laos from 1980-1985. Titus later returned to Laos to help coordinate the Cluster
Bomb Removal Project. The MCC Peace Education Program engages in a broad range of peace advocacy as well as coordinating with other peace
organizations and those engaged in cluster bomb and mine clearance work.

Visitors to the exhibit will have the opportunity to join the postcard campaign in support of the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act. 

Daily Terror is a free event and will be on view at the University YMCA from October 23 until October 28, 2011 (9am-9pm daily).

Please note: Titus Peachey can be heard on WILL's Keepin' the Faith hosted by Steve Shoemaker on Sunday, October 23, 5:00pm.

http://www.universityymca.org

http://greatlakes.mcc.org/clusterbombs

Bolokada Conde, Master Drummer, to give Free Performance

Bolokada Conde, master drummer and expert of Malinke rhythms, will play a free show at the University YMCA on September 16^th at 7:00pm with his band, Rhythm Manding.

One of the world's best djembe players from Kissidougou, Guinea, Bolokada Conde has been living in the midst of Champaign-Urbana since 2008. 

Only a year after he was awarded immigrant status with extraordinary ability in the arts, he became a full-time visiting artist at UIUC and gave drumming classes at the University, for the community, and in public schools (as part of the "World Music and Dance in the Schools" program).

Bolokada Conde has traveled all over the world to perform, has created several albums, and has been featured in the IMAX movie, ‘Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey.’ He is the subject of an upcoming documentary, ‘Bolokada Conde, Malinke Village Djembefola.’

The performance is hosted in partnership with the Spurlock Museum. This event is sponsored in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Global Lens Film Series 2011: Featuring 'Dooman River' this Thursday

 "Every person has a voice. Every voice tells a story. Every story reveals a world. The Global Film Initiative proudly presents an extraordinary series of ten feature films."

Download pdf of poster.

Thursday, April 21st

5:30pm @ the University Y

FREE and open to the public

Directed by Zhang Lu
Korean and Mandarin, with subtitles in English
China, 2009, 89 minutes

STORY

Writer-director Zhang Lu’s fascinating window into a rarely seen corner of rural China revolves around 12-year-old Chang-ho, living with his grandfather and mute sister along the frozen riverborder with North Korea. Although fraught with unemployment and other tensions, his community seems sympathetic toward the Korean refugees fleeing famine and misery; Chang-ho even bonds over soccer with one young border-crosser who comes scavenging food for a sibling. But he soon turns on his new friend as suspicions mount against the illegal immigrants and his sister reels from unexpected aggression, provoking a quandary over his loyalties in an exquisitely detailed story of compassion and strife across an uneasy geopolitical border.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:

Zhang Lu was born in Jilin-Sheng, China in 1962. He studied Chinese literature at Yenben University and began writing poetry and novels in 1986. He made his feature debut with Tang Poetry in 2004, and his second feature film, Grain in Ear, was invited to the 2005 Critics’ Week in Cannes, where it won the ACID/CCAS Support Award. Dooman River is his fifth feature film.

Come to the Y every THIRD THURSDAY AT 5:30pm to see our monthly International film!

Schedule: http://www.universityymca.org/globallens/

Location: 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign

The Global Lens film series is sponsored by the Center for Global Studies and the Global Film Initiative. For more information, visit www.globalfilm.org.