Opening Convocation at Southwestern College Highlights the Center for Belarusian Studies

October 24th, 2011 admin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through the agency of the Center for Belarusian Studies, Southwestern College welcomed David Kramer, President of Freedom House, at its opening convocation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kramer was greeted by Dr. Survilla, Ambassador Swartz, and Dr. Sheppard. In his keynote address, Kramer challenged students to use their education to further civil society. He pointed to the Arab Spring and young activists in Belarus as examples of young people making a difference in the world and he encouraged the audience to explore government service as a viable career path.

HR Support by Pompeo: trip to Washington

September 24th, 2011 admin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Center for Belarusian Studies would like to express its thanks to Congressman Mike Pompeo for serving as a co-sponsor for HR 515 Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011.

Pompeo and his staff responded quickly to the CBS’s request for sponsorship made by Dr. Survilla and Ambassador Swartz during a visit to the Congressman’s offices in Washington in April of 2011. The legislation is in continuing support of media broadcasts for the people of Belarus in their own language. It also includes criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions including: the release of political prisoners from the 2010 presidential election; the prosecution of the senior leadership responsible for the violations of human rights in connection with the presidential election; and the removal of politically motivated legal charges against opposition activists and journalists in connection with that election. Congressman Pompeo represents the 4th district of Kansas which is the home base for the Center for Belarusian Studies.

Australian Diaspora Loss: Michas Luzynski

September 20th, 2011 admin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year the global Belarusian community lost one of its seminal members, Michas Luzynski, a dynamic, consistent, and seemingly untiring force who dedicated his energies to the betterment of life for Belarusians and for Belarus.

After settling in Australia he saw the establishment in Sydney of the Associations of Belarusians in Australia, became President of the Belarusian Cultural and Social Club, and in 1976, became a member of the Belarusian Broadcasting Committee coordinating Belarusian radio programming. The Center for Belarusian Studies also felt Michas Luzynski’s dedication to Belarusian affairs. During the last two years of his life, he also worked tirelessly to encourage support for the Center of Belarusian Studies. His efforts were not only significant to our initiatives but to our morale. We are honored by his efforts.

CBS Presentation at University of Kansas

April 25th, 2011 admin

On February 28, 2011, the Center’s Executive Director, Dr. Maria Paula Survilla, and Associate Executive Director, Amb. David Swartz, gave a presentation entitled “Elections in Belarus” to staff and students of the Center for Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies (CREES) at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

They were accompanied and assisted by Dr. Stephen Woodburn, Professor of Russian History at Southwestern College and member of the Center’s Advisory Board.

In their lecture, Dr. Survilla and Amb. Swartz analyzed developments and trends in post-Soviet Belarus’ history, devoting particular attention to the ascendancy of then-President and now citizen Lukashenka and his non-democratic, authoritarian regime.

They focused on the run-up to and holding of the latest presidential election, held December 19, 2010, stressing both its flawed character and the brutal repression of peaceful demonstrators who had assembled to protest the regime-proclaimed outcome.

The lecturers concluded with an expose of possible courses of action by the international community in response to what they assessed as the most serious political crisis in Belarus’ post-Soviet history.

Inter alia, they noted that the U.S. and most European governments, having declared the election fatally flawed and thus the self-proclaimed outcome illegitimate, have a wide range of options available, including fuller utilization of the NGO community in pursuing remedial initiatives.

The formal presentation was followed by a lively question-and-answer period. The entire event was videotaped by the CREES staff for subsequent classroom and seminar use.

 

CBS Participates at Lazarski University Symposium

November 5th, 2010 admin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In October 2010, M. Paula Survilla, Executive Director of the Center was invited to speak at the “Returning to Europe, Belarus Past and Future” Symposium hosted by the Lazarski University in Warsaw Poland.

One of the roles of the Center is to participate in local and global dialogues about the role and potential role of higher education in the betterment of Belarusian civil society. Dr. Survilla’s presentation, “Access to Global Discourse, Critical Thinking, and Belarusian Civil Society” will be included in the symposium proceedings slated for publication in 2011.

« Older Entries