ABOUT THE WEB EVENT
The Speak Truth to Power webcast was first presented live from Chestnut Ridge Middle School in Spring Valley, New York on Dec. 10, 2010.
Students in classrooms across New York state participated as part of International Human Rights Day, which coincided with the launch of the Speak Truth to Power human rights curriculum.
The complete webcast is now available online.
For more on the Speak Truth to Power curriculum, visit blogs.nysut.org/sttp.
PURPOSE OF THE EVENT:
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To launch Speak Truth to Power: a human rights curriculum aligned to New York State standards and developed through a partnership between NYSUT and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights ;
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To recognize participation in NYSUT's Child Labor Challenge, and
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To inspire young people to become Defenders of Human Rights themselves.
WHAT:
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An educational web event to focus on issues of human rights, especially child and forced labor in the cocoa industry.
WHEN:
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Friday, December 10, 2010 (International Human Rights Day) at 1:00 pm
WHERE:
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In your classroom, school, assembly hall, campus, or home: where ever you can access the Web
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And live from a middle-school classroom in Spring Valley, NY
WHO:
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Students and teachers from around New York State who have joined in the NYSUT Child Labor Challenge
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Kerry Kennedy, President of the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights
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Human rights defender Lucas Benitez, a founder of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
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U Roberto (Robin) Romano, director of the documentary The Dark Side of Chocolate
WHY:
"Human rights are what reason requires and conscience demands." - Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations
Young people hunger for active examples on how to work constructively for justice and human rights. The web event highlights one aspect of the new Speak Truth to Power lessons about human rights which carry on Robert F. Kennedy's resolute belief in the civic and moral responsibility of each individual to take action against injustice, poverty and prejudice. The lessons, aligned with New York State standards, were published online December 10.
Hundreds of young people throughout New York State have acted this Fall to bring light to the terrible injustice of forced child labor in the cocoa industry. Educators have incorporated screening and study of The Dark Side of Chocolate, a new documentary verifying the existence of forced child labor in the cocoa industry in 2010. This event recognizes and celebrates their work and gives them an opportunity to connect with others.
HOW:
An archive of the webcast is online at http://nysut.http.internapcdn.net/nysut_vitalstream_com/speak.html
NEW YORK STATE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS:
The Speak Truth to Power lessons were written by New York State teachers of Social Studies and English Language Arts in collaboration with the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights. The lessons are aligned with the current (2010) New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies and English Language Arts middle school and high school. Some lessons also include the standards areas of Science and Family and Consumer Sciences. If the New York State Learning Standards change over the next few years, the lessons will be revised accordingly.