July updates from Argentina

Let's see...
it got a little bit crazy at the end of my because the first term ended and I had four 5000-7000 word papers to write. However, I got them all written and one of them may well turn into my thesis. I have thinking of writing on the topic of the existence of two concepts of education that exist at the international level: education as a human right and education as a commodity, the inherent contradiction that exists between the two, and the impact it has on implementing the Education for All goals in developing nations. Anyhow, that is a very general explanation. As it develops, I will keep you posted. The new semester has begun and is proving to be a bit more relaxed than the first semester. I think that the more relaxing feel has more to do with my being accostomed to student life once again. I am taking four courses: Public International Law, International Security, International Political Economy, and Development Models and Processes of Latin America. With regards to Rotary involvement, I have been working with my counselor on coming up with strategies for involving Rotary here in Argentina in the education campaign that I proposed to Rotary back home. I hope that having Rotary on board in Argentina will prove useful in obtaining support back in the U.S. I also am working on getting more funds for some projects that the Argentine Campaign for Educational Rights is trying to realize. Recently, I sang along with my roommate at the change of presidential authority event for my host Rotary Club. My counselor became president, which made the night very special. You can go to my blog to see pictures and a short video of me singing. In October, I will be presenting on the World Peace Fellowship at a Rotary conference in Mar de Plata. In other areas, I will be coming home in September to Portland to attend a unique training provided by the Centre for Nonviolence Action and Strategies (CANVAS) as part of the Peace and Justice Studies Association annual conference. I applied for one of only 30 slots of this training that is being offered for the first time in North America. The CANVAS approach was successfully employed in Serbia, South Africa, and Ukraine. It is a unique opportunity to be able to participate in this training and doubly so in my own home town. Let's see...my acting career ;-) is also coming along...we'll see how famous I become in Argentina before leaving next year. I have been writing songs and singing whenever I have the chance. I am glad that you have so many qualified applicants. Was it helpful to be able to send more than one Peace Fellow candidate to Rotary Foundation this year? It sounds like they were having a hard time getting enough qualified applicants. By the way, congratulations on retirement. Are you looking forward to it, not really, or having mixed feelings. Well..it's really late so I best be going.

Un abrazo fuerte, Jane

You can read more and see pictures on Jane's personal blog at:
http://janespeaceoftheworldforum.blogspot.com/