On the Eve of Newark Peace Education Summit, Rutgers University, Newark, Launches “International Institute for Peace”

Institute Director Aldo Civico to Participate in Summit with Dalai Lama, Nobel Laureates Shirin Ebadi and Jody Williams, and actor Edward Norton; Special  Student Daily Rate Available

Philip L. Yeagle, the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University, Newark, today announced the launch of “The International Institute for Peace” at Rutgers. The new Institute will inherit and build on the outcomes of the Newark Peace Education Summit that will take place at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on May 13 -15.

“We launch the International Institute for Peace at Rutgers University with great enthusiasm and considerable anticipation for its capacity to understand and foster peace building,” stated Yeagle. “With its culture of excellence and long tradition of engagement, Rutgers University, Newark, is the ideal space for a strategic partnership between scholars and practitioners fostering new knowledge and public policy for a more sustainable and peaceful world.”

The founder and director of the Institute of Peace (IIP) is Rutgers Professor Aldo Civico,

who will join the Dalai Lama, the Nobel Laureates Shirin Ebadi and Jody Williams, actor/philanthropist Edward Norton and community and youth leaders on the Peace in Community Panel at the summit. “For decades scholars have dedicated their attention to study the causes of war and violent conflicts. But very little attention has been paid to understanding the conditions for peace. While not disregarding the causes of war, we want to understand and promote the conditions for peace,” said Civico.

The mission of Institute is to contribute to a peaceful, equal and sustainable world. By pioneering innovative research, educating the next generation of peace building leaders, and assisting those embedded in violent conflicts, the Institute will work to reorient societies in conflict towards sustainable peace.

“This will be an institute of academic excellence for theory and practice,” Civico explained. “It is a nexus of scholars and practitioners wishing to collaborate and participate in pioneering research, fieldwork, and intervention.”

Dr. Robert Thurman, one of the leading American scholars on Buddhism and founder of Tibet House US., which is organizing the Newark Peace Education Summit, said, “All of us involved in the quest for peace, including his Holiness the Dalai Lama and the other participants of the Newark Peace Education Summit, applaud Rutgers and Professor Civico for their contribution to peace, a contribution that will live on for years through the power of education and conversation.”

The Rutgers-Newark Institute of Peace will promote an holistic, systemic and integrated methodology focusing on some cutting-edge issues such as the relation between security and peacebuilding; urban security, law enforcement and conflict transformation; environment and peacebuilding; cultural and religious dialogue; social entrepreneurship and corporate responsibility; women and peace; arts and peace; civic diplomacy to advance the role of citizens in building; and sustaining peace and democratic participation.

The Newark Peace Education Summit is a major three-day summit on peacemaking practices that will take place in Newark, New Jersey, from May 13-15, 2011. The summit will examine how individuals, communities, cities, and nations can build foundations for peaceful societies.

Peace leaders speaking at the plenary sessions will include three Nobel Peace Laureates: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who will be involved in the first two days of the summit; Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian human rights advocate; and Jody Williams, the American anti-landmine activist. 

A special $25 daily rate is available for students;  order on-line, by  phone or at the box office, using the promo code STUDENT. (Must show ID at  box office to pick up tickets.). For tickets/info:  http://www.newarkpeace.org/

For tickets, go to www.newarkpeace.org or call the NJPAC Box office toll free, at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722).  The Call Center’s normal operating hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. A per ticket handling fee applies to all orders placed via phone.

Follow The Newark Peace Education Summit on Facebook (www.facebook.com/newarkpeace) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/newarkpeace, #newarkpeace).

Follow the International Institute for Peace on Twitter (www.twitter.com/peacerutgers)