President's Peace Commission

Ms. Sophia Henrichs, member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Dr. Yolanda Leyva, professor of history at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Dr. Larry Hufford, professor of international relations and political science at St. Mary's University. Discussion centers on the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its impact on foreign policy formation. It is commented that: UDHR passage owed much to the efforts of grassroots organizations; the United States continues to place priority on economic, rather than human, rights; and most current conflicts are intranational and, therefore, are not covered by the UDHR. In conclusion, it is stated that education is the key to human rights. (65 minutes)

Dr. Alice Kersnowski, professor of English at St. Mary's University and member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Dr. Elijah Akhahenda, professor of English and Communication Studies at St. Mary's University, and Dr. Don Clark, professor of international studies and history at Trinity University. They discuss difficulties arising from the issues of nationality, citizenship, and residence, particularly in the wake of colonialism. Questions ensue. (69 minutes)

Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Fr. John Moder, president of St. Mary's University, presents: Ms. Euphemia Rangel, director of the Learning and Leadership Development Center, a city-funded organization located at St. Mary's University that offers courses in GED, English, citizenship, and work skills; Ms. Valentina Arevalo, community liaison for Project QUEST, a city and county funded organization dedicated to employment-targeted training and education; and Mr. G. C. Dean, business services representative of the state and federally funded Alamo Workforce Development, whose mission is employee training and retraining and job referral and placement. Each guest talks about the mission of and services provided by his or her respective agency. Obstacles facing the unemployed and underemployed as well as sources of agency funding are discussed. Each speaker stresses the need for increased community awareness of available services. (66 minutes)

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Bro. Mike Sullivan, professor of music at St. Mary's University, presents Mr. Steven Bailey, executive director of JumpStart Theatre, Ms. Graciela L. Sánchez, executive director of the Esperanza Center, Ms. Amy Kastely, professor at St. Mary's University School of Law and board member of the Esperanza Center, and Dr. Antonia Castañeda, professor of history at St. Mary's University and board member of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. In sharing experiences of art in their own lives, the speakers express their visions of art as a daily necessity, as a fundamental expression of humanity, and as an assertion of minority identity and heritage. (45 minutes)

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Ms. Márida Carmona, member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Dr. Stephen Calogero, professor of philosophy at St. Mary's University, and Mr. Ernani Falcone, president of the San Antonio branch of Amnesty International. While discussing the Catholic Church's involvement in human rights, Dr. Calogero asserts that having rights implies responsibilities toward others; in the realm of business, this translates into the duty to provide a living wage to employees, to protect rather than destroy jobs, businesses, and communities, and to practice stewardship, not indiscriminate exploitation, of natural resources. Mr. Falcone traces the development of human rights from political and civil rights to inclusion of economic, social, and cultural rights, and eventually to peace and environmental rights. He discusses the work of Amnesty International. (40 minutes)

Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Dr. Leona Pallansch, member of the President's Peace Commission and professor of political science at St. Mary's University, presents Mr. Terry Coonan, attorney specializing in refugee and international human rights law, and Ms. Angie Cortez, employee of St. Mary's University and refugee worker. Mr. Coonan discusses trends in U.S. immigration law and legal grounds for asylum. Ms. Cortez discusses her motivations and experiences as a refugee worker and safe haven provider for immigrants from Central America. (49 minutes)

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 14
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Ms. Victoria Hurtado, member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Dr. Roger Barnes, professor of sociology at the University of the Incarnate Word, and Professor Jeffrey J. Pokorak, clinical professor and acting director of clinical programs at St. Mary's University School of Law. Professor Pokorak discusses his work representing death row inmates in Texas. Dr. Barnes discusses some of the legal and religious implications of the death penalty; he asserts that gun accessibility is a greater predictor of murder than is the death penalty. (66 minutes)

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Dr. Inmaculada de Melo-Martín, member of the President's Peace Commission and professor of philosophy at St. Mary's University, presents Ms. Susan F. Zinn, an attorney for Texas Rural Legal Aid, and Dr. Meredith B. McGuire, professor of sociology and anthropology at Trinity University. Ms. Zinn discusses the importance of access to health care, especially for children, and outlines the diffences between Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program). Dr. McGuire pursues the moral and philosophical implications of health care as a human right. (70 minutes)

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Ms. Dyaneh Arredondo, member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Dr. Judith Maxwell, professor of anthropology and linguistics at Tulane University, and Mr. Tom DeKunder, superintendent of the Marion Independent School District. Dr. Maxwell discusses her work on a UNICEF-funded project in Guatemala to develop vocabulary and educational materials in Cakchikel. She extends this idea to the value of bilingual education as a whole. Mr. DeKunder discusses equity in school funding and asserts that children should not be the victims of their place of residence. (68 minutes)

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

After a brief introduction by Dr. Thomas Bolin, professor of theology at St. Mary's University and member of the President's Peace Commission, J. Michael Parker, religion writer for the San Antonio Express-News presents Mr. Roy Robbins, professor of economics at St. Mary's University, and Mr. Tom Keene, member of Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace movement. Mr. Parker discusses the development of and similarities between the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Catholic social justice teaching. Prof. Robbins highlights the inherent optimism of each, and the asserts the need to use property thoughtfully and responsibly and to respect labor(ers). Mr. Keene stresses the importance of taking action in order to address political and economic injustice and to fulfill our obligations as citizens and Christians; he asserts that a life of commitment is a life of joy. (80 minutes)