NEW YORK -- Following the tremendous success of "Armenians and the Left" conferences held in 2006 and 2007, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation has announced plans to hold a similar conference on May 30-31 in New York City. Entitled "Armenians and Progressive Politics," the conference will build upon earlier discussions relating to imperialism and geopolitics, democracy-building in Armenia, the role of women in Armenian society, and other topics tying Armenian issues to a broader, progressive political field. Visit www.armenianprogressive.com for more info. |
Symosium panel videos are now available! Click on image below to view. |
| AATL Sister Conference Held in Buenos Aires Argentina Conference Focuses on ‘Armenians and Progressive Politics’ BUENOS AIRES, Argentina —Progressive activists and intellectuals from North and South America gathered here on June 1-2 for a conference titled “Armenians and Progressive Politics in the 21st Century.” Organized by the ARF’s Armenia Cultural Association, the conference sought to build on the enthusiastic discussions generated by last year’s “Armenians and the Left” project begun in New York and Boston . The conference was held in conjunction with the ARF organizations of the Eastern and Western US, and included prominent Armenian and non-Armenian participants from throughout South America . Read More |
Armenian Weekly special insert on the Armenian Genocide draws on presentations at AATL conferencePost-Genocide Imperial Domination
by Henry Theriault
Progress, Obstacles, Hope, 92 Years Later: Some Reflections
by Peter Balakian
A Genocide, Three Constituencies, Thoughts for the Future (Part I)
A Genocide, Three Constituencies, Thoughts for the Future (Part II)
by Halil Berktay
Armenian Weekly Special Insert Covers AATL Symposium CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- On March 31, less than a year after the highly successful Armenians and the Left (AATL) conference in New York, scores of activists, students and intellectuals from across the Northeast converged at Harvard University for a one-day symposium organized by AATL. Co-sponsored by Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the symposium featured leading Armenian journalists and media critics, groundbreaking environmental activists working in Armenia today, and outspoken proponents of meaningful Armeno-Turkish dialogue. Read More |
Balakian and Berktay to Speak at "Armenians and the Left" Symposium
On Saturday, March 31, 2007 in Cambridge, Mass., Professors Peter Balakian of Colgate University and Halil Berktay of Sabanci University in Istanbul will head a panel discussing “Armeno-Turkish Relations: Pitfalls & Possibilities Following Hrant Dink’s Assassination.” The event will cap off a day-long "Armenians and the Left" symposium devoted to a range of contemporary issues. Earlier panels will address other vital themes: “The Media and Social Injustice in Armenia ” and “Environmental Politics in Armenia .”The symposium is co-sponsored by Harvard University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies and will be held at the Center for Government and International Studies at Harvard University.
The recent assassination of Istanbul-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was reported worldwide and has had significant repercussions on Turkey ’s internal reform movement as well as on Armeno-Turkish dialogue. Prominent academic figures will analyze what the future now holds on these issues. Major sub-themes will include an examination of Turkish right-wing nationalism and the assassination’s impact on efforts to gain acknowledgement of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
In a separate panel, investigative journalist Edik Baghdasaryan from Yerevan, Armenian Weekly Editor Khatchig Mouradian, and Professor of Communications, Gayane Torosyan of SUNY-Oneonta will discuss the structure and functioning of Armenia’s media today, focusing on 1) the media's role/effectiveness in reporting on corruption/social ills, and 2) the way in which media are organized (ownership patterns, monopolies, censorship issues, etc.). Steve Kurkjian of The Boston Globe will also provide his perspective on the issue.A third panel will feature Jeffrey Tufenkian, President of “Armenian Forests” NGO, Ann Shirinian-Orlando, US Representative for Greens Union of Armenia, Ursula Kazarian of the Armenian Environment Network who will discuss prospects for developing an environmental movement in Armenia. The panel will be moderated by Jeff Masarjian, Director of the Armenia Tree Project. Specific topics include 1) coalition-building strategies on environmental issues; 2) prospects for reforming mainstream public/private policies toward the environment; 3) Looming environmental issues that must be dealt with (illegal deforestation, depletion of urban green spaces, industrial mining, nuclear energy and the need for alternative energy resources). The panel will be joined by Robert Kalantari, a nuclear power industry expert, who will discuss the environmental impact of and the political challenges confronting Armenia ’s power generation sector.
"Armenians and the Left" is a project of the Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Eastern United States.
Banner image taken from the Fisk/Chomsky talk at MIT on April 9, 2006: final session of the Armenians and the Left Conference 2006. Photo courtesy of Roger Leisner.