Responsibility of Political Cartoonists to be subject of latest seminar

in united nations ‘unlearning intolerance’ series

The fifth seminar in the “Unlearning Intolerance” seminar series of the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), entitled “Cartooning for Peace:  The Responsibility of Political Cartoonists?”, will be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, next Monday, 16 October, from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., in partnership with Emory University’s Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning.

The divisiveness engendered at times by cartoons and caricatures demonstrates the power and the necessity of responsibility in this art.  The choice of this particular topic at this time offers an opportunity for the United Nations to be a forum where difficult but necessary questions are raised and addressed, not only to suggest answers but to spur non-confrontational thought, debate and enquiry.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan will open the seminar and the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Shashi Tharoor, will introduce and moderate the programme.  French cartoonist Jean Plantu, who has worked with Le Monde since 1972, will give a keynote address.  The panel discussion in the morning will focus on the question “Should the Cartoonist Educate?”, followed by the afternoon session that will discuss “Should Responsibilities Abridge Rights?”

Among those invited to participate are:  Baha Boukhari of Palestine; Cintia Bolio-Marquez of Mexico; Jeff Danziger, Liza Donnelly, Mike Luckovich, Ranan Lurie and Ann Telnaes of the United States; Carsten Graabaek of Denmark; Hassan Karimzadeh of Iran; Michel Kichka of Israel; Hussein Moustafa of Egypt; Godfrey Amon Mwampwemba (GADO) of Kenya; Jean Plantu of France; and Norio Yamanoi of Japan.  The seminar will be webcast live at:  http://www.un.org/webcast.

As part of this seminar, an exhibit mounted in the South Gallery of the Visitors’ Lobby of the United Nations Secretariat will showcase 40 cartoons of the participants and of others, such as Patrick Chappatte of Switzerland, Sue Dewar of Canada, Pierre Kroll of Belgium and Marlene Pohl of Germany.  The exhibit, which will travel to Geneva, Brussels and other cities, has been conceived and prepared by Mr. Plantu and the Outreach Division of DPI, the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe and the “Salon International du Dessin de Presse et d'Humour de Saint-Just-le-Martel”, with the support of the Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Ministry of Culture and Communication of France.

The “Unlearning Intolerance” seminar series is organized by the Academic Initiative Section of the DPI Outreach Division to examine different manifestations of intolerance and explore ways to promote respect and understanding among peoples.  It offers opportunities to discuss how intolerance, wherever it exists and for whatever reason, can be “unlearned” through education, inclusion and example.

The first seminar, “Confronting Anti-Semitism:  Education for Tolerance and Understanding”, was held on 21 June 2004; the second, “Confronting Islamophobia:  “Education for Tolerance and Understanding”, on 7 December 2004; the third, “Fanning the Flame of Tolerance:  The Role of the Media”, on 3 May 2005 as part of the World Press Freedom Day commemoration; and the fourth, “Critical Perspectives in Combating Genocide:  What We Can Do to Prevent.  What We Can Do During.  What We Must Do After” on 21 November 2005.  Coverage of these seminars is online at http://www.un.org/chronicle.

Next Monday’s seminar is open to academia, educators, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and the public who register in advance.  Those in possession of a valid United Nations grounds pass, such as delegations of Member States, United Nations-affiliated non-governmental organizations and accredited media representatives need not register.  Registration is free.

Registration and ID pickup:  United Nations Visitors' Lobby.  Enter at First Avenue and 46^th Street.  To register, please write, providing your name and affiliation, to:

Jose Rene Tanoy, Academic Initiative Section, Civil Society Service, Outreach Division, Department of Public Information.  E-mail: tanoy@un.org, tel: +1 917 367 9326, fax: +1 917 367 6075.

For media accreditation, please visit www.un.org/media/accreditation/index.htm, Mr. Gary Fowlie, Chief, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, United Nations Headquarters, room S-250, New York, NY 10017, tel: +1 212 963 6937, fax: +1 212 963 4642.

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For information media • not an official record