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July 15, 2003 IN THE MIX AND GLOBAL NOMADS GROUP PRESENT A NEW ½ HOUR SPECIAL: 'VOICES FROM IRAQ' New PBS Special Features a Videoconference Dialogue Between Iraqi and U.S. teens. Premieres on PBS on the week of July 19th (check local listings) July 15, 2003 (NEW YORK, NY) - With the war over and with reports of continued violence in Iraq, the award-winning show In the Mix highlights a satellite conference that united teens from Iraq's Baghdad college and American students from the Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield, Connecticut, on March 3rd, 2003. The event, which was organized by the non-profit Global Nomads Group (GNG), lasted over two hours and enabled participants to look beyond the news headlines and attempt to learn more about each other, face to face. The program ends with an update on the Iraqi teens after the war. The program was made possible through a grant from the Bezos Family Foundation. Voices from Iraq gives viewers an understanding of Iraqi teenagers' lives before the war, their expectations for the conference, and their hopes for the future. During a pre-conference interview we see Omar, an Iraqi teenager make a point of destroying any negative stereotypes that his peers in the US may have about Arabs and Iraqis: "We're not just terrorists. We've played an exceptionally great part in the building up of humanity" During the conference, an Iraqi girl asks her American counterparts what their opinions are of Iraqi people. Stacey from Connecticut answers: "Here in the US, it's kind of sad 'cause we don't get a good perception of the Iraqi people. We see the politics of it, we don't see the actual people living their day-to-day routine…we can't formulate an opinion about the Iraqi people because there's nothing to formulate it with." However, participants were surprised to have so much in common, starting with unexpected musical preferences. Ruba and other teenagers liked Eminem, The Backstreet Boys and rap. They also shared similar career plans. But for all the upbeat discussions on music and individual aspirations, the weight of an impending war could not be ignored by either group of students. An Iraqi teen expresses his wish in a closing statement: "I think all people are looking for beauty, for a better life. We need to search for beauty in an easier way, a simpler way. We have just to communicate, make new friends, make a new life…simpler than using your weapons and killing somebody." Chris Plutte, Voices from Iraq producer and GNG chairman, stated: "We're glad to have the opportunity to share with a wider audience what was felt and experienced by these teens. In just two hours, these kids showed us the merits of diplomacy and the importance of inter-cultural dialogue. The future is theirs and they proved very ready to take this on together." Sue Caste, executive producer of In the Mix, adds: "This program shows the importance of giving teens a voice on important issues that affect them. They are involved and care about what is going on in the world'. The Global Nomads Group (http://www.gng.org) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to heightening children's understanding and appreciation for the world and its people.Using a combination of live remote broadcasting (satellite uplink) and videoconferencing, we bring youth together face-to-face to meet across cultural and national boundaries to discuss world issues that affect and unite us all. Now in its 11th year on PBS, In the Mix is the national award winning weekly series for teens that addresses critical issues and provides useful information. The series was created by WNYC radio. In the Mix is an independent production of Castle Works, Inc. For more information, contact: In the Mix 212-684-3940 Sue Castle, Executive Producer suecastle[at]inthemix.org Global Nomads Group 212-529-0377 Chris Plutte, Producer chris[at]gng.org |
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