Munich Airport
After an overnight flight, I arrived in Munich at about 1:00 pm local time on Tuesday. The time zone here is 7 hours ahead of Central Time in the U.S. I'm typing this at 3:20 am, feeling both exhausted and wide awake...
Philipp
On the train to Ottobrunn (where the conference is being held), I met a charming young Bavarian gentleman named Philipp, and his girlfriend Stefania, who is from New Zealand. Philipp is working on his Master's in Theoretical Physics, with an an emphasis on mathematical approaches, and Stefania is studying to be a multilingual interpreter. Philipp is looking forward to visiting the United States, and perhaps to work on his Ph.D. there.
We talked about the Syrian refugees. Philipp is frustrated that other European nations aren't helping more with the massive influx of migrants. He is especially upset with Hungary, which has closed its border with Serbia, where the Syrians have been entering. Philipp described the Hungarian government as "brownish," a pejorative German expression indicating "extreme right wing," and drawing from the cultural memory of Hitler's brownshirts - the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party.
At Munich Airport, I asked at an information desk what I could do to help with the refugee situation in the city. The attendant told me that there is a great need for volunteers at the Munich Train Station, where people are being asked to go and "roll up their sleeves." I hope to find a block of time when I can go and do that, and perhaps bring other conference-goers with me.
According to the conference organizers, cosmopolitan communication has something to do with using communication at multiple levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, systemic) to "promote real health, create ecologically sustainable organizations, and to build sustainable, peaceful societies."
What forms would cosmopolitan communication need to take in order to prepare a human being, an organization, or a network of organizations, to respond effectively and compassionately to an international crisis, like the current refugee situation here in Munich?
A policeman shows a refugee group the way to the registration office at the central train
station in Munich on Aug. 31, 2015. Photographer: Matthias Balk/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Images.
Hello Dr. Shailor,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post today. Phillip and his girlfriend sound like they are very interesting people. I had no doubt that you would easily"make friends" wherever you went.
In your post you said, "Cosmopolitan communication has something to do with using communication at multiple levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, systemic) to "promote real health, create ecologically sustainable organizations, and to build sustainable, peaceful societies." When I read this it reminds me of the organization Humanity First. Check out their website and see how or where you can be a part of their mission when you are not in Munich. The website is www.humanityfirst.org . I am proud to say that HF is doing something to help out the refugees as well.
Click on the link or copy and paste to see how HF is serving the Syrian refugees: http://usa.humanityfirst.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=279:serving-syrian-refugees&catid=1&Itemid=19
"What forms would cosmopolitan communication need to take in order to prepare a human being, an organization, or a network of organizations, to respond effectively and compassionately to an international crisis, like the current refugee situation here in Munich?"
I believe that the approach/forms need to be as the foundation of HF does when it says that "After the relief phase of the project has subsided, Humanity First works with the community to identify viable opportunities for growth and recovery."
Lastly, I hope you will get a chance sometime during your busy conference schedule to participate in the effort to build a sustainable and peaceful society for the refugees.
With Peace and Prayers for your dedication to humanity,
Ramla
Hello Ramla!
DeleteThank you for alerting me to the efforts of Humanity First. I will definitely look at what they are doing, with the intention of learning more about the possibilities for cosmopolitan communication with people and agencies connected to the refugee crisis here. I really appreciate your careful thought on this issue.
I am very excited to be on this journey with you. I have realized that through Humanity First and other efforts that I, as a Muslim and what I would characterize myself as, a caring human being; would not only be will but somehow able to "roll up my sleeves" when asked.
DeleteHumanity First is an organization that is led my all people seeking the opportunity to care for all of mankind in whatever way that they can and to do so that it is sustainable and of cosmopolitan quality.
Getting started with a profound topic! I'm hooked. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLiliana Castañeda de Rossmann, Ph.D.
Good to know, Liliana! I invoked your name today at the conference. More on that in the next post.
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