Chris Mburu Archives | University of Central Florida News Central Florida Research, Arts, Technology, Student Life and College News, Stories and More Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:35:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/blogs.dir/20/files/2019/05/cropped-logo-150x150.png Chris Mburu Archives | University of Central Florida News 32 32 ‘A Small Act’ to Promote the Right to Education /news/a-small-act-to-promote-the-right-to-education/ Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:35:44 +0000 /news/?p=42498 Kenyan human-rights activist Chris Mburu shed light on the importance of considering education as a fundamental human right on Thursday. The event, which drew more than 100 people, was organized by the UCF Global Perspectives Office as part of the 2012-2013 theme, 麻豆精品 S淭he Changing Face of Freedom in Today 麻豆精品 S檚 Turbulent Times. 麻豆精品 S

Growing up in a small village in Kenya, Mburu was able to attend secondary school only because of a Swedish woman named Hilde Back who sponsored him. Now with an advanced degree from Harvard Law School, Mburu said he considers himself 麻豆精品 S渧ery privileged 麻豆精品 S to have gotten an education.

Mburu explained that while education is not considered a civil or political right by most people, it is an important economic, social and cultural right. 麻豆精品 S淵ou see that ignorance is used as a tool for political power, 麻豆精品 S he said.

Mburu shared some familiar tragedies in the developing world. For example, he discussed how warlords in some countries recruit mainly among the impoverished and uneducated. Further, he said, police feel that they can violate those same people 麻豆精品 S檚 civil rights because they are unaware of the proper channels to defend themselves. Mburu offered education as the solution to these problems. It is, he said, the foundation of development and peace.

Discussing the United Nations 麻豆精品 S Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mburu underscored Article 26, which says, 麻豆精品 S淓veryone has the right to education. 麻豆精品 S However, he explained, the declaration is not legally binding on signatories. To Mburu, the right to education should be guaranteed.聽

Mburu encouraged audience members to consider what they might do individually to promote education. In honor of his sponsor, Mburu created a scholarship program in Kenya called the Hilde Back Education Fund. The story is the subject of an award-winning documentary, 麻豆精品 S淎 Small Act. 麻豆精品 S He reflected on the meaning of the film 麻豆精品 S檚 title by suggesting that we 麻豆精品 S渢ry to do small things, 麻豆精品 S rather than focus on the inability to do everything that is needed to fix global problems.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office, sponsors and partners included UCF Global Peace and Security Studies Program, UCF Diplomacy Program, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, UCF Political Science Department, UCF International Services Center, UCF LIFE, UCF Book Festival 2013 in association with the Morgridge International Reading Center and the Global Connections Foundation.

 

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Kenyan Activist to Discuss Education as Global Solution /news/kenyan-speaker-to-discuss-education-as-global-solution/ Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:45:34 +0000 /news/?p=41986 “Once you have a society that is ignorant, it becomes the breeding ground for violence; it becomes the breeding ground for intolerance.” These are the words of Kenyan human-rights activist Chris Mburu, who is coming to UCF to discuss “The Right to Education: A Solution to Global Problems.”

His presentation, which is free and open to the public, takes place on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the UCF Student Union.

Mburu has been doing human rights work for the last 20 years 麻豆精品 S first as an activist in Kenya, then while earning his LLM at Harvard Law School, and finally by working with organizations such as Amnesty International, Global Rights and the United Nations.

Mburu is heading the anti-discrimination section of the UN Human Rights Agency, based in Geneva, Switzerland. His work involves conducting research on discrimination and intolerance that could result in the commission of serious crimes.

In addition to the Global Perspectives Office, sponsors include the UCF Global Peace and Security Studies Program, UCF Diplomacy Program, Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, UCF Political Science Department, UCF International Services Center, UCF LIFE, UCF Book Festival 2013 in association with the Morgridge International Reading Center, and the Global Connections Foundation.

 

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Speakers, Events Sharpen UCF’s International Focus /news/speakers-events-sharpen-ucfs-international-focus/ Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:31:29 +0000 /news/?p=39788 Dozens of distinguished speakers, including former President Abdul Kalam of India and humanitarian Alison Thompson, will present talks at the University of Central Florida this year hosted by UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Global Perspectives Office.

The presentations are part of the office 麻豆精品 S檚 mission to sharpen UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 international focus. Global Perspectives recently celebrated 10 years of advancing global initiatives at the university and is entering its second decade with a robust programming schedule.

Each event connects to the office 麻豆精品 S檚 annual theme for 2012-2013, 麻豆精品 S淭he Changing Face of Freedom in Today 麻豆精品 S檚 Turbulent Times. 麻豆精品 S The theme is a natural development from last year 麻豆精品 S檚: 麻豆精品 S淧eople Power, Politics and Global Change. 麻豆精品 S

Kicking off the season are two speakers who soften serious observations about political crises with a bit of humor. Doug McMarlin and Jason Recher will share their experiences as conservative political strategists and former White House aides. Drawing from their inside look at how the White House handles national and global crises, the duo will discuss lessons for political leaders.

The event will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 聽4, in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the UCF Student Union.

This semester 麻豆精品 S檚 other highlights, which are free and open to the public, include:

  • Former President Abdul Kalam of India, who will present 麻豆精品 S淪ustainable Development for 3 Billion, 麻豆精品 S at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union.
  • Kenyan human-rights activist Chris Mburu, who will present 麻豆精品 S淭he Right to Education: A Solution to Global Problems, 麻豆精品 S at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the Student Union.
  • Humanitarian and author Alison Thompson, who will be featured in the annual Women and Leadership forum, with the theme 麻豆精品 S淩eaching out to Touch the World, 麻豆精品 S at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the Student Union.
  • Lawyer and author Corban Addison, who will present, 麻豆精品 S淎 Walk Across the Sun: Abolishing Modern Slavery, 麻豆精品 S at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Cape Florida Ballroom of the Student Union.
  • For a full list of upcoming events or to learn more about the Global Perspectives Office, visit .

     

     

     

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