Newsletter - March-April 2015

Armenian Genocide

13 April
On CBC Homerun, Kyle Matthews weighed in on the implications and significance of Pope Francis’ statement: “Pope Francis calls the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks 'the first genocide of the 20th century'”.
 
23 April 
Kyle Matthews published an op-ed in The Gazette (Montreal) titled "It's time for Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide."
 
24 April 
As Armenia marked the centenary of the genocide, CTV News spoke to Frank Chalk about Turkey’s refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide and the Yerevan Conference Against Genocide, which he attended.

The Canadian International Council partnered with MIGS  to create a series titled “Understanding ISIS: Myth and Realities”. Scholars and experts came together to explain how ISIS operates. Contributors included Max Abrams and Henry Tuck, who write about ISIS and social media, Alex Bellamy looked at ISIS and R2P, Elizabeth Ferris and François Audet focused on humanitarian challenges, and Marie Lamensch tackled the dangerous myth of the female victim-fighter.

Following the announcement that Canada would extend its military mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Kyle Matthews published a number of op-eds, including in the National Post and in the Montreal Gazette co-authored with former MIGS intern Zach Paikin. Kyle also debated Canada’s mission in Syria and Iraq on Al Jazeera’s “The Stream” and on CBC’s “Day 6”. Finally, Kyle was quoted in iPolitics, Global News, and by foreign affairs expert Olivia Ward in the The Star (Toronto)”.

Digital Mass Atrocity Prevention Lab

April 17
In an article published in The Dallas Morning News titled “Engagement, not censorship is the best way to fight extremists on social media”, Kimberley Curtis spoke to Kyle Matthews about the goals of the DMAP Lab.

April 24
Kyle Matthews and Marie Lamensch spoke about the DMAP Lab’s new “Youth Ambassadors Against Digital Extremism” initiative in an iPoliticsarticle titled “Montreal researchers launch online anti-radicalization project.”

Saudi Arabia

On Radio Canada and the CBC, Kyle Matthews weighed in on Saudi Arabia’s reaction to Quebec efforts to free Raif Badawi. Please see “Saudi Arabia to Quebec: Stay out of Raif Badawi case” and “Affaire Badawi : l'Arabie saoudite demande à Québec de se mêler de ses affaires”

South Africa

22 April
MIGS’ Fellow Daniel Douek was quoted in La Presse about the xenophobic attacks on foreign workers and shop owners in South Africa. Read the article titled “En quatre mots: xénophobie en Afrique du Sud.”

Other

Kyle Matthews was named Concordia’s Newsmaker of the Week
 
April 9
Senior Distinguished Fellow Roméo Dallaire received the Calgary Peace Prize for his work with the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. Gen. Dallaire was interviewed by Global News Calgary about his mission as well as about the recruitment of child soldiers by the Islamic State.

EVENTS

1 April
MIGS, in partnership with the Montreal Press Club and the Canadian International Council (Montreal Branch), organized a screening of “Iraq and other wars: The challenges and risks of reporting from the field”, an online panel discussion organized by the Canadian International Council. Maclean’s Michael Petrou, CBC's Saša Petricic and photojournalist Louie Palu discussed the challenges of reporting about war, the importance of government transparency, and the differences between current and past campaigns. Watch the video of the panel discussion.

7 April
As a co-organizer of the event, MIGS’ Marie Lamensch took part the in 21^st commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The event included a silent march and a ceremony at McGill University with members and representatives of the Cambodian, Jewish and Armenian communities of Montreal.

18 March
Frank Chalk gave a presentation titled "The Effect of Not Punishing the Perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide on Later Genocides, including the Holocaust" at the Armenian Youth Committee’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, McGill University.

23 March
Frank Chalk gave a lecture titled "The Role of Education in the Creation, Maintenance and Dynamics of Historical Memory: A View from the Lectern," at the symposium on "Teaching about Extremism, Terror and Trauma: 9/11— Policy, Pedagogy and Curriculum", Concordia University

22-23 April
MIGS Director Frank Chalk presented a paper and chaired a panel at the Armenian Government's Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide in Yerevan.

23 April

MIGS, in collaboration with the city of Montreal, Montreal Mayor M. Denis Coderre and the Armenian Community of Montreal, held a special event to commemorate the 100^th  anniversary of Armenian Genocide. The event took place at City Hall and brought together 200 people, including Montréal city councilors, journalists, NGO representatives, and members of the Armenian, Jewish and Rwandan communities.

On the Annual Day of Remembrance and Action Against Mass Atrocities, Kyle Matthews gave a presentation at the 2015 Ottawa Youth Conference at Carleton University. Watch the video.