The Thor Heyerdahl International Day. Programme. 2nd November 2006 Oslo University, Aula

Transcription

1 The Thor Heyerdahl International Day Programme 2nd November 2006 Oslo University, Aula

2 Borders? I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people. Thor Heyerdahl

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4 Programme 2nd November 2006 AMIN MAALOUF Born in Beirut in 1949 into the minority community of Christian Melkites, journalist and writer Amin Maalouf emigrated to France in After working for the Lebanese daily newspaper An-Nahar and later the Jeune Afrique, he subsequently decided to devote himself entirely to writing. He is the author of many novels set in the Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean. In this important series of reflections, Amin Maalouf considers how we define ourselves and how identity is understood in the different cultures of the world. Maalouf emphasises the importance of respecting the multiplicity of identity and the dangers of reducing it to a single, simple score. We should all be encouraged to recognise our identities as the sum of various parts rather than an irreducible whole A 50 voice mixed choir, Vestre Aker Dusjlag, will sing on the steps at the entrance to the Aula, welcoming guests with Arabic folk songs and songs sung at Thor Heyerdahl`s grave in Colla Micheri, Italy All participants should take their seats A musical opening by the group AUM with The Kon-Tiki Man A presentation of The Heyerdahl Institute, Norway s newest arena for the international exchange of ideas and social dialogue, by Thorbjørn Jagland, President of the Norwegian Parliament and Member of the Board of The Heyerdahl Institute A performance by Plire Multi Dance choreographed by Tharan Revfem The Thor Heyerdahl International Speech Author Amin Maalouf Identity, individuals, cultures, civilisation Can we listen? Can we survive? Global solutions? A closing performance by AUM with Free Programme subject to change

5 International Lecturer Amin Maalouf The Institute has engaged the internationally renowned author Amin Maalouf to hold The Thor Heyerdahl International Speech at Oslo University Aula, and to be the main attraction on the day s programme of events. Maalouf is particularly well known as a bridge builder between cultures and has been described as a crusader for tolerance. He has said the following: In Lebanon, where I grew up, the West was seen as threatening and self assured: When I moved to France, I discovered that people in the West viewed Muslims as inexplicably threatening and aggressive. The lack of knowledge about the others was mutual, says Amin Maalouf. These are and will continue to be challenging issues that can only be solved by the global community. Performance by AUM AUM is an exciting group inspired by ethnic music and based on co-operation between farmer and opera singer Petter Simonsen (vocal, percussion, keyboard) and doctor, music therapist and author Audun Myskja (choir, Tibetan singing bowls, mouth organ, string instruments). They have written the music themselves and the song Kon-Tiki as an epic tribute to the spiritual legacy of Thor Heyerdahl. Performance by Plire Multi Dance The prize-winning choreographer Tharan Revfem and her dance company Plire Multi Dance will present the multimedia production DOT, which takes the audience on a journey into a creative, satirical and energetic universe. The dancers work frantically to free themselves from the reality we are bombarded with on a daily basis by the media. They create their own fantasy world a world based on one of the simplest shapes the circle. THOR HEYERDAHL ( ) Bridge builder Challenger Boundary breaker Thor Heyerdahl is world famous for his expeditions at Fatu-Hiva, Kon-Tiki, Ra I and Ra II, Easter Island, Tucume in Peru and Tigris. The Heyerdahl Institute The Heyerdahl Institute, Norway s newest arena for the international exchange of ideas and social dialogue, would like to invite interested parties to a conference with visions for the 21st century. The aim of the day is to explore the importance of promoting knowledge within the context of major world issues, and to demonstrate that it is difficult to find solutions to world problems in anything other than a global international setting. The Heyerdahl Institute is located in Thor Heyerdahl s home town of Larvik. The overall objective of the Institute is to promote and continue the research and development ideals that were central to Thor Heyerdahl s life and work.

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7 An institution that reflects the visions of Thor Heyerdahl.

8 Phone: Photo: The Heyerdahl Institute