The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) will host two public events, October 24 and 25, 2012, at the CIGI Campus to present research from a unique transmedia project on the Cuban missile crisis: The Armageddon Letters: Kennedy/Khrushchev/Castro in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The Armgageddon Letters, led by BSIA faculty James Blight and janet Lang, and BSIA digital scholar in residence Koji Masutani, has put the CIGI Campus at the global forefront of observing the fiftieth anniversary of the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
On October 24, Blight and Lang will present their book, The Armageddon Letters, by using short films, graphic art and other platforms represented on the project website: www.armageddonletters.com. The presenters will be introduced by Don Morrison, president of the Morrison Family Foundation, who is executive producer for the project. The event will be moderated by co-producer David Welch, who is also CIGI chair of global security and director of the BSIA. At the conclusion of James Blight and janet Lang’s presentation, the speakers and audience will adjourn to the CIGI Campus lobby for the opening and tour of an art exhibit, Canadian Artists Portray the Cuban Missile Crisis. Art to be featured is from The Armageddon Letter’s three short films: Be Castro, Be Khrushchev and Be Kennedy.
The following day, on October 25, members of the public are invited back to the CIGI Campus for a CIGI signature lecture entitled “Empathy or Death: Applying the Lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 21st Century.” Lang will serve a moderator for a discussion between Philip Brenner of American University and Kingston Reif of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Together they will discuss how the Cuban missile crisis unfolded and what lessons we can learn from history’s closest brush with Armageddon. This event will be webcast to a live global audience. Following the discussion on Twitter via #cigilive and #cuba50talks.
Members of the public who want to attend in person can find more information, including how to register, by visiting www.cigionline.org/events.Those who not in Waterloo or who want to watch the “Empathy of Death” lecture from home can view the live-webcast at no cost by visiting the same link for registration. Members of the media can register in advance by emailing Kevin Dias, CIGI communications specialist, at [email protected].
First Event:
Publication Launch: “The Armageddon Letters: Kennedy/Khrushchev/Castro in the Cuban Missile Crisis”
Date:
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Time:
7-9 p.m.
Location:
CIGI Campus Auditorium
67 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Second Event:
CIGI Signature Lecture: "Empathy or Death: Applying the Lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 21st Century"
Date:
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Time:
7-9 p.m.
Webcast Link:
Location:
CIGI Campus Auditorium
67 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kevin Dias, Communications Specialist, CIGI
Tel: 519.885.2444, ext. 7238, Email: [email protected]
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank on international governance. Led by experienced practitioners and distinguished academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI was founded in 2001 by Jim Balsillie, then co-CEO of Research In Motion, and collaborates with and gratefully acknowledges support from a number of strategic partners, in particular the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. For more information, please visit www.cigionline.org.
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