OSI Forum: Organizing in the Obama Era/CANONISATION OF FATHER DAMIAN/ CANONISATION DU PÈRE DAMIEN/

OSI Forum: Organizing in the Obama Era


The Perils and Promise of Civic Mobilization

The Obama campaign vividly demonstrated the power of mass civic participation. But many organizers still struggle with questions of efficacy and legitimacy. Panelists will address the following questions:
• Can we mobilize large groups of people while also fostering a sense of engagement by individual participants?
• How can an organization's members hold their leaders accountable?
• What distinct challenges arise when working with communities that face social, economic, or political marginalization?
• How can we apply lessons from electoral campaigns, which are date-specific and focused on candidates, to community- and issue-based organizing?
Veteran organizers Zack Exley, Ai-jen Poo and Zephyr Teachout will discuss these and other questions as they draw lessons from past mobilizations—including the Dean and Kerry campaigns, Domestic Workers United, MoveOn.org and others—and offer ideas for building grassroots power today.

For all the media hype, the Obama campaign’s organizing strategy is still not well understood. Organizer, writer, and Open Society Fellow Zack Exley led a conversation about how the Internet actually contributed to efforts on the ground, what worked and what didn’t, and how the organizers' training and work was a radical departure from traditional electoral politics.
He discussed how the campaign borrowed strategies from the community-organizing world and specific innovations that can be exported back out to nongovernmental organizations. Exley also looked at what activists inspired by the campaign are doing today.
Leonard Benardo, director of the Open Society Fellowship program, introduced the event.


Kyrgyzstan: The Five Lessons of the Great American Air Base Debate
Alexander Cooley
February 12, 2009
As the Kyrgyz government continues to negotiate with Washington and Moscow over the future of an American military base, U.S. policymakers would do well to reflect on their recent experience in the Kyrgyz Republic, writes Open Society Fellow Alexander Cooley. more
Dear President Obama: In Talking to China, Remember Its People
Rebecca MacKinnon
January 29, 2009
To take U.S.-China relations to a new strategic level that rises above the day-to-day issues, the U.S. needs to find new ways to engage the Chinese people themselves—not just their government, writes Open Society Fellow Rebecca MacKinnon. more







CANONISATION OF FATHER DAMIAN/ CANONISATION DU PÈRE DAMIEN

Press conference - Wednesday 6 May 2009 at 11 a.m. in the International Press Centre, Brussels

Wednesday 6 May at 11 p.m., the Archdiocese of Malines-Brussels, the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts, the Damien Foundation, and others organize a press conference in 4 languages in the International Press Centre of Brussels. The International Press Centre is located in the Résidence Palace, Rue de la Loi 155, Brussels.

Cardinal Godfried Danneels (in Dutch & French) will emphasize the international importance of Father Damian. The postulator, Father Bell will explain (in German) the process of canonization and the miracles of Damian. The Provincial Superiors of the Congregation, Father Fritz Gorissen (in Dutch) and Father Edouard Brion (in French) will discuss the meaning of Damian for their congregation. Most of the events during the ‘Damian Year’ will also be presented by Hans Geybels (in English), spokesman of Cardinal Danneels .

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CANONISATION DU PÈRE DAMIEN

Conférence de presse – Mercredi 6 mai ’09 à 11H au Centre International de Presse, Bruxelles

Ce mercredi 6 mai 2009 à 11H, l’Archevêché de Malines-Bruxelles, les Pères des Sacrés-Cœurs, l’Action Damien et d’autres organisations tiendront une conférence de presse en quatre langues au Centre de Presse International, Résidence Palace, 155 rue de la Loi à Bruxelles.

Le Cardinal Godfried Danneels mettra l’accent (en français et néerlandais) sur l’importance internationale du Père Damien. Le postulateur, le Père Bell expliquera (en allemand) le procès de canonisation et les miracles attribués au Père Damien. Le Père Fritz Gorissen, provincial de la province flamande des Pères des Sacrés-Cœurs, et son homologue francophone, le Père Edouard Brion, commenteront la portée du Père Damien pour leur congrégation. Hans Geybels, porte-parole du Cardinal Danneels, présentera (en anglais) les événements majeurs de « l’Année Damien ».

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