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September, 1981 | October, 1981 |
The International SceneLocalizing International Issues: How-to's For LWV MembersThere's a pressing demand for popular education in international affairs. Ohio State University has established a network of community volunteers energizing an ongoing organization offering citizens information and services on international events. Georgia has FRIENDSHIP FORCE, a dynamic city-to-city intercultural exchange, committed to the single goal of creating an environment for the establishment of friendship among cultures. (Imagine how effective this could be in Hawaii!) In 1978 Transnational dialogues for American civic leaders were co-sponsored by the Overseas Development Council and the Kettering Foundation. The Carnegie Endowment has summarized five community education programs on International Peace conducted in the U.S. in the 70s. International and intercultural affairs are especially relevant to us in Hawaii because we have a unique position. Hawaii exists as a mini-multinational. Although, by comparison, San Francisco and New York City began and continue to grow through internationalism, they are more homogeneous than Hawaii. There are special lessons to be learned in our mini-multinational state. Multinational mixes have a special effect on the economy of a state, on its cultural growth, on religious divisions. Growth is not as predictable as in a more homogeneous state. Hawaii's economy is a model to be studied as a concentrated example of the effect of international change. An international community has civic, business, educational and cultural links to the rest of the world. The international affairs integrated into Hawaii's community life open opportunities for LWV to effect liaisons between community members with international experience and knowledge and the schools and interested groups. National education in international relations is accelerating as people begin to realize that the resources, expertise and experience necessary for forums on international issues already exist within a community in local companies and businesses and religious, civic and ethnic associations. Hawaii's LWV has the opportunity to contribute to national understanding by following closely and reporting the workings of Hawaii's ever-changing multinational scene. The possibilities are there. We can volunteer time and LWV members to interview, write, and communicate what we learn. Small groups of three people working effectively together can outline their own goals, assign tasks, write up results, and submit their reports to national LWV as coming from HAWAII: AN INTERNATIONAL STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. It's an exciting prospect. Dottie Gullicksen |
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