Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
Press Release
For Immediate Release ~ August 5, 2006
(617) 923-1933
AYF Participates in Midwest Social Forum
WATERTOWN, Mass. — The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Eastern Region
was among the many organizations who gathered in Milwaukee, Wisc.,
from July 6 to 9, for the Midwest Social Forum (MWSF). During the
four-day event, activists from the Midwestern United States attended
lectures, discussion panels, and workshops under the theme "Another
world is possible."
AYF Eastern Region delegate Sossi Essajanian participated in sessions
about issues such as immigration, scholar activism, indigenous rights
and site protection, and the Darfur Genocide. She said that there
was much to learn from other organizations and many opportunities
to inform fellow delegates about the Armenian Cause, and relating
similar experiences.
During the plenary session, journalist and filmmaker Roberto Rodriguez
highlighted one of these universal themes. In discussing the recent
immigrant rights movement, he emphasized that "no human being is
illegal… This is about the future of humanity. Do we want to live
in a world of illegal and legal humanity?"
Rodriguez went on to ask, "When you react, when do you have time to
act? We are not creating; we are simply reacting."
Later, Essajanian viewed a film prepared by Rodriguez about the
connections between the indigenous population of North and Central
America. It also touched on the cultural destruction and the systematic
erasure of the ancient history of both peoples. Here, Essajanian
addressed film viewers by relating the struggle of Armenians to stop
the cultural destruction and erasure of their history by the Turkish
and Azeri governments.
During a similar lecture about protecting sacred Native American sites,
the group discussed historical memory. Speaker Ben Yahola talked about
the physical reminder of the ancient past. He said "… some got older
and never passed it on to the younger generation" and described how
today, their group has reclaimed their sacred sites by religiously
visiting them and performing sacred rites.
Here, Essajanian again pointed to similar efforts. She spoke of the
Armenian genocide and the current policy of the Azeri government
of destroying Armenian khatchkars in Djulfa and pointed to the
Armenian-American public awareness campaign as an attempt to stop
the ravaging of history. One participant also commented that the
separation of a native from his land as a form of genocide.
Essajanian also participated in a discussion addressing scholar
activism. The group asked how scholars can use research to
stimulate social movement and change. They saw intellectuals as
playing leadership roles, as translators and bridges to facilitate
communication among different groups.
In a sub-group discussion addressing ways to increase access to
knowledge and education, Essajanian commented on the "brain-drain"
in Armenia because of migration; issues of funding research on
Armenia and related topics; and ways of establishing and supporting
scholars in Armenia. The group also discussed the importance of "not
just access to information, but access to knowledge" and building a
network of students.
The forum also featured a lecture discussing the current genocide
taking place in Darfur, Sudan. After the presentation, the AYF delegate
spoke with Angela McManamon from the Wisconsin Darfur Coalition about
the efforts of the Armenian National Committee of America to call
for an end to the killing.
"The Armenian struggle is linked to the global fight for justice,
thus as Armenians we need to make our voices heard everywhere while
showing solidarity with those confronting similar problems," said
Essajanian. "During the forum many of the issues we discussed had
importance to all peoples, giving the AYF an opportunity to learn about
the difficulties of others and to share our experiences and ideas."
The MWSF, which began in 1983 under a different name, annual brings
together grassroots organizations, workers, students, and others to
create alliances and networks, exchange resources and build approaches
for change. In June 2007, the first United States Social Forum will
be held in Atlanta, Georgia.
The AYF around the world has participated in similar forums including
the World Social Forum in Caracas, Venezuela (2006); the Americas
Social Forum in Ecuador (2004); and the European Social Forum in
France (2003), and is an active member of the International Union of
Social Youth.