2011 Week One

The Hebrew phrase “Tikkun Olem” means “repairing the world.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” in Matthew 5:9. In Hinduism, the concept of karma guarantees that people who are charitable and kind will benefit in the next life. The teaching of “earthly Buddhism” is an environmental approach to repairing the world.

The summer’s theme for the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle is challenge, and for the war-torn African children of Say You’re One of Them, the season’s first selection, their greatest challenge is survival. Uwem Akpan’s short stories detail the children caught in the crossfire, both their tragedy and their strength. The author will speak at the CLSC Roundtable at 3:30 p.m. today in the Hall of Philosophy.

A journalist who has reported from South Africa and the Middle East will conduct an interview on the Amphitheater stage today. Charlayne Hunter-Gault, a freelance journalist based in Johannesburg, will interview Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE USA, at 10:45 a.m. today in the Amphitheater. They will discuss CARE’s work in the global health sphere.

John Hamre, president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in Wednesday’s 10:45 a.m. lecture that America’s future as a global leader depends on developing political health as foreign aid. “There is just a profound disagreement on where we’re heading as a country with our politicians,” he said, referring to politicians on both sides of the spectrum. Hamre, who is also a former U.S. deputy secretary of defense, presented “Charting a Development Agenda in a Time of Austerity,” the third lecture for Week One’s theme “Global Health and Development as Foreign Policy.”

The sun dazzled Mole’s sleepy eyes as he poked his nose out from his chilly underground home into the sweet-smelling spring air of the English countryside. The thrill of adventure beckoned as Mole set off in pursuit of what would soon become one of the most beloved tales of children’s literature, The Wind in the Willows. At 4:15 p.m. today in the Garden Room of Alumni Hall, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle Young Readers Program will meet to discuss the most binding theme of this classic novel — friendship.

Nunziatas bring cabaret to Amphitheater tonight

If the way to get to Carnegie Hall is to practice, practice, practice, how do you get to the stage of the Amphitheater? For Will and Anthony Nunziata, it was practice and the PBS special Chautauqua: An American Narrative.

When he steps behind the podium today, John Hamre says the audience he’ll be addressing will be made up of the same type of people he tries to recruit every day to effect international change. Hamre is the president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a bipartisan, non-profit organization that seeks to change policy by providing ideas and strategies to government officials, international figures and members of the private sector. He will speak at 10:45 a.m. today in the Amphitheater.

At an early age, Dr. Afaf Meleis learned from her mother and grandmother that there are different kinds of power and different types of leadership. Now, she teaches others to rethink their attitudes toward power and gender inequalities around the world. “It’s important to be able to detect some of the challenges and risks that women are suffering from and to fix the quality of life and health, and if it does that, it also affects families and communities and societies,” Meleis said. “Empowering women is a cause that could lead to, and does lead to, peace in the world.”

Tuesday’s lecturer Sandra Thurman, president and CEO of the International AIDS Trust, quoted Martin Luther King Jr. to convey her views on global health diplomacy: “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” The International AIDS Trust is a non-governmental organization that focuses resources to aid the worldwide battle against AIDS. The organization must overcome cultural and religious barriers abroad to take preventative action.

The facts speak for themselves. HIV/AIDS is an equal opportunity killer. Thirty million people are currently infected. Instead of targeting the young and elderly, the disease most frequently kills those between the ages of 15 and 40. “If we don’t act on this, it’s a lack of faith, hope and love,” Ambassador Mark Dybul said.

Families looking to enjoy a stress-free Tuesday night have to look no further than tonight’s Family Entertainment Series act. Michael Harrison, a ventriloquist, puppeteer and comedian will perform at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. tonight in Smith Wilkes Hall. A semi-finalist on the 2008 season of “America’s Got Talent,” Harrison takes his passion for entertaining kids and families very seriously. He has performed on many cruise lines, including Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean International and Holland America, and he just finished his 10th year with Disney Cruise Line.

The members of Apollo’s Fire bowed to the audience’s applause after their performance at Chautauqua in 2007, but this year’s performance of “Come to the River” may yield even better results. “This program is really special for Chautauqua in particular because Chautauqua has this long tradition of focusing on Protestant church history and the different ideals that have been discussed,” said Jeannette Sorrell, the founder of Apollo’s Fire.