2006 Fall Conference:
The Arab Israeli Conflict
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High
School Students Explore Difficult Middle East Issues
This year’s
Oahu Fall Conference was the largest ever, drawing
172 students from 18 schools to Hawaii Tokai International
College to discuss this summer’s war between
Hezbollah and Israel in the context of the ongoing
Arab-Israeli conflict. The morning began with two
guest speakers, Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong, President
of the Hawaii Chapter of Hadassah, and Dr. Ibrahim
Auode, Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University
of Hawaii at Manoa. The speakers shared their perspectives
on the region, and helped the students to realize
how deep the divisions between the sides are.
In the
afternoon, students responded to a fictitious crisis
situation involving hostilities between Israel and
Hezbollah by simulating peace talks. Acting as delegates
from nine different countries, students discussed
issues ranging from border disputes to foreign assistance.
With help from their teachers and volunteer facilitators,
students were prepared for the simulation and displayed
their knowledge of the region’s history and
current events.
The Fall
Conference was also attended by 39 students from three
high schools on Maui on November 15. The Hilo conference
will be held on November 29.
A student
expressed, “I learned that the simulation was
similar to the real world in many ways. Trust between
countries is limited, and each country demanded things
to help themselves out.”
PAAC is
grateful to Hawaii Tokai International Tokai College
for the in-kind donation of its facilities. We would
also like to recognize our volunteers: Brian Bilsky,
Steve Catt, Jay Chu, Brenda Imada, Richie Kiyabu,
and Adriana Overdorff. Thank you for helping to make
this event possible!
SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS
Punahou
Study Abroad Scholarship application deadline: December
20, 2006.
PAAC students in grades 10 and 11 are eligible to
apply.
PAAC’s
Summer Study Tour to Vietnam applications deadline:
February 27, 2007.
All public high school students, grades 9 –
12, are eligible to apply.
For Photo Gallery, please
click here
Please
contact the High School Program Director for more
information by e-mail at hs@paachawaii.org
or by phone at (808) 944-7759.
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