The Middle East continues to represent an intersection between the economic, political, religious and cultural interests of the East and West. The conflict has been changed considerably through developments or changes in policy, leadership and perceptions. However, the issue at its most base form was and continues to be a struggle for multiple groups to call the same land their home.

While most of us find ourselves comfortably halfway across the world and removed from any recent conflict in Libya, Iraq or Israel, we are obligated to bear witness and to observe testimony from a variety of sources with the intention of gaining understanding. For the 2011 festival, the Checkpoints Activism Panel on Tuesday, April 12 will present personal voices from some recent areas of conflict for a variety of perspectives. The purpose of this panel will be to observe and discuss tactics of bearing witness. Additionally, the panel will illustrate one of FLEFF’s many strengths by bringing an impressive variety of perspectives for an engaging and hopefully transformative dialogue.  

Here are the details:

 What: Checkpoints Activism Panel: Documenting Iraq, Burin: Stories from a Palestian Village, and Witness to Uprising:  Voices from Cairo and New York.

Where: Ithaca College, Friends 309  

When: 7 p.m.

Who:  Beth Harris (moderator) Menna Kahlil and Michael Kennedy.

Admission: Free. 

See you there!