Press Release

Panel Discussion, "From Ethiopia To Chechnya: Reflections on Humanitarian Action," at New York University, cosponsored by Bard College

From Ethiopia To Chechnya: Reflections on Humanitarian Action Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 7:00 PM Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières Panel Discussion at New York University New York City Please join Thomas Keenan, associate professor of comparative literature and director of the Human Rights Project at Bard College, as he moderates a discussion between David Rieff, author of A Bed for the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis, and Dr. Rony Brauman, former president of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to honor one of the great figures of humanitarian action, François Jean. This expert panel will look at several key crises at the end of the 20th century, examining how they have affected humanitarian activities and principles today. What did Ethiopia and North Korea teach us about addressing famine? How did interventions in Somalia, Sudan, Chechnya, and the Balkans change the way we think about security and delivering aid? How have humanitarian principles changed since their origins in the 19th century? Are they still suited to the 21st? The occasion for the reception and panel is the publication, by Medecins Sans Frontieres, of the English translation of From Ethiopia to Chechnya: Reflections on Humanitarian Action, a selection of Francois Jean's writings, edited by Kevin Q.P. Phelan and translated by Bard alumnus Richard S. Swanson '86.

The event is cosponsored by Bard College and the NYU Institute for Public Knowledge. Location

Eisner and Lubin Auditorium
New York University
Kimmel Center - Fourth Floor
60 Washington Square South
New York City This event is free, wheelchair accessible, and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.doctorswithoutborders.org or call 800.601.1466.

back to top

This event was last updated on 05-05-2008