Poetry & Resilience: an exploration of the Karen people of Burma, their fortitude and spirit

RSA Australia and New Zealand are hosting another event that may be of interest to both SDNM and DESIS members, in terms of community engagement and the poetry as a means of story telling, engagement and expression.

Presenters: Ron Browning, Thataw Kunoo and Moewin Tunkin

As an ethnic minority group, that represents the second largest group of refugees in the world, the Karen people of eastern Burma, have been subjected to decades of official ill-treatment, discrimination and forced relocation. Ron Browning has ministered tirelessly to the Burmese Karen people. He has travelled countless times to the Karen refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border, and also works with the diaspora parishes and communities here in Melbourne. Through this relationship with the Karen people a book of thirty-two poems called Flickering Lights has been composed that reflects on the key phases of being dispelled from Burma, times spent in refugee camps and settling in a new country.

Thataw Kunoo, President of the Australian Karen Association Victoria, 2005-08, will talk about the Karen Story and Ron will recite some of the poems. A young Karen, Moewin Tunkin a singer, will also accompany Ron and Thataw.

This evening will provide an engaging insight into the lives of the Karen people, the challenges they have faced over many decades and how the medium of poetry provides a powerful narrative and invaluable chronicle for such repressed minorities.

Free entry. Open to Fellows & guests.

RSVP

Booking essential by 18th June 2012 http://www.eventbrite.com.au/event/3377701797 For more details on RSA A+NZ, see: http://rsaanz.wordpress.com/ 

Do please forward this event on to others that may be interested.  

I would also be very grateful if you know of any other networks that may be interested in receiving postings of events of this nature.

Many thanks.

Mark