President's Peace Commission

Dr. Leona Pallansch, of the President's Peace Commission and professor in the Political Science department at St. Mary's University, opens the Spring 2003 President's Peace Commission Program, which takes place less than a week after the initial bombing of Baghdad in the second Gulf War. Father Bernard Lee, Vice Chancellor at St. Mary's University, offers some reflections on the timeliness of this program and offers an opening prayer. Dr. Pallansch then introduces the topic of discussion for this session with a brief background. The guest speaker for this session is Dr. James Schneider, professor of History at the University of Texas at San Antonio, who discusses the history of foreign policy in the United States. A question and answer period concludes the session. (72 minutes)

Dottie Laster, of the President's Peace Commission, serves as the moderator for this panel discussion. Mr. Morgan Liddick, a former United States Program Officer, retired, speaks first and discusses three questions: (1) Does a state have a right to protect itself? (2) Should the UN continue to exist in its present form? (3) Is replacing them [Taliban?] preferable to their continuing or not? Dr. Jeffrey J. Addicott, J.D., professor of Law at St. Mary's University, is the second speaker and he speaks about moral clarity and strategical clarity to promote the spread of democracy. A question and answer dialog conclues this session. (70 minutes)

Aaron Cotrell, a student at St. Mary's University and member of the President's Peace Commission, serves as the moderator for this session. He introduces Dr. Elijah Akhahenda, professor of Communications Studies at St. Mary's University, and Dr. Dominic Janes, Director of Academic Programmes at the Foundation for International Education in London. Dr. Akhahenda discusses how the media is a catalyst to discourse and how the media "frames" their stories. Dr. Janes provides examples of political cartoons and other items from the British print media and discusses the impact of those upon the public opinion. A question and answer period concludes the session. (70 minutes)

Dr. Antonia Castaneda, of the President's Peace Commission serves as the moderator for this panel discussion. She introduces Dr. Sussan Siavoshi, professor of Political Science at Trinity University; Sister Susan Mika is a founding member of the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras; and Lee J. Terán, Clinical Professor of Law at St. Mary's University. Dr. Siavoshi discusses the consequences of the economic sanctions had on the women of Iraq. Sister Susan discusses the young people and women in the Maquiladoras along the border of the United States and Mexico. Dr. Terán discusses changes in the Unitd States' immigration laws. A question and answer period concludes this session. concludes the session. (57 minutes)

Minita Santizo, of the President's Peace Commission serves as the moderator for this panel discussion. She introduces Dr. Larry Hufford, professor of Political Science and International Relations at St. Mary's University, and Rev. Charles H. Miller, SM, SSL, SThD, former Rector/President of Ratisbonne Pontifical Institute in Jerusalem, and member of the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras. Dr. Hufford argues that there are four aspects of human rights: political, socio-cultural, environmental, and economic. He also reviews the evolution of human rights throughout the ages. Rev. Miller discusses the abuses of human rights in the Middle East, particularly Jerusalem. A question and answer period concludes this panel discussion. (50 minutes)

Heather Albright, a student at St. Mary's University and a member of the President's Peace Commission, is the moderator for this session. She introduces Dr. Thomas J. Bellows of the Political Science and Geography departments at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Dr. Prasad Padmanabhan, professor of Finance at St. Mary's University. Dr. Bellows discusses the United States' dependence on imported goods, manufactured where labor is cheap and conditions are deplorable. Dr. Padmanabhan insists that there will always be change and with change there are winners and losers. He feels that innovation and adaptability are key. A question and answer period concludes the session. (46 minutes)

Aaron Cotrell, a student at St. Mary's University and a member of the President's Peace Commission, serves as the moderator for this panel discussion. He introduces Mr. Andrew J. Hill, JD, Interim Director of the Service Learning Center at St. Mary's University and lecturer in International relations at St. Mary's University, and Dr. Ray Leal, professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at St. Mary's University. Mr. Hill opens by explaining that there are three ways to think about international organizations: structurally, thematically, and chronologically. He also provides an example of person to person diplomacy. Dr. Leal states that the United States has a poor record with international courts. He declares that if you want peace you have to work for it; he believes we are at a point in world history where we must choose war or peace. Dr. Leal also describes a peace-makers program at St. Mary's University and introduces the faculty trained in mediation and peacemaking. A question and answer period concludes the session. (46 minutes)

Dr. Charles Cotrell, President of St. Mary's University, welcomes everyone to the program and introduces Sister Barbara Paleczny, SSND, PhD, professor of Ethics at Trinity University. Sister Barbara provides the introduction to the guest speaker, Laura J. Lederer, Senior Advisor for the US State Department's Office to Combat and Monitor Trafficking in Persons. Ms. Lederer gives two stories as examples of person trafficking, before defining trafficking. She explains what countries are trying to do to prevent the continuation of this demeaning practice. She indicates that improvement has been made, but there is still significant room for improvement. A lengthy question and answer period concludes the session. (78 minutes)

Patrick Simeroth, of the President's Peace Commission, introduces Tom Fletcher, Emergency Management Coordinator and Program Manager for Bioterrorism, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, and Dr. J. Philip Rogers, professor of Political Science at San Antonio College. Dr. Rogers discusses weapons of mass destruction's technological capacity and psychological capacity. He explains there are three kinds of weapons of mass destruction: chemical, biological, and nuclear. Mr. Fletcher continues the panel discussion by explaining disaster planning and what plans should look like for individuals and what plans look like on the city-wide level. A question and answer period concludes the session. (72 minutes)

Andrew J. Hill, J.D., of the President's Peace Commission serves as the moderator and introduces the two guest speakers. Dr. Larry Hufford, professor of Political Science and director of the graduate program in International Relations at St. Mary's University, speaks about how the Iraq War has caused concern from several aspects (the Europeans, the Arabs, the Muslims, etc.) and how the U.S. has perhaps stepped over the line and offers his concern about the continued war in Iraq. He explains that he has traveled to nearly 40 countries, but has never felt personally threatened and some of the attitudes he has encountered during his travels. Dr. Robert F. Gorman, professor of Political Science at Southwest Texas State University, explains the variety of reasons why we, as a people, hate. A question and answer period concludes the session. (72 minutes)

Ymelda Rivera, of the President's Peace Commission, introduces Father Norbert Brockman, S.M., Ph.D., professor of History and Political Science at St. Mary's University, and O.P. Garza, Diplomat-in-Residence at University of Texas at Austin and US Ambassador to Nicaragua. Father Brockman discusses what he believes to be the United States' obligations as the largest world power today. Mr. Garza speaks about what he foresees as the future of the United States and what we have to offer the other countries of the world A question and answer period concludes the session. James Schneider, professor of History at the University of Texas at San Antonio, who discusses the history of foreign policy in the United States. A question and answer period concludes the session. (68 minutes)