A Celebration for MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK’s 130th Birth Year (1881-1938)
Concept and PROJECT Summary: Since its foundation, Turkey has attached the utmost importance to the key role of “universal education” (UNESCO: Equality in education: educational institutions are open to all regardless of race, sex, or religion.”), gender equality, and empowering women nationwide, and has exerted every effort in policy and in practice to ensure “gender equality and empowering women”, and to eliminate discrimination of all kinds against them. The founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, regarded “universal education” and “equal rights for girls and women” as the pillars of the society he was building. He formed all the necessity institutions and took measures during his lifetime to ensure these rights for all peoples in Turkey. Ataturk underlined these in his own words: “Peace and development necessitate the equal participation of women in every field.”
Implementations of these visions were followed by the formation of Turkey in 1923, through radical and immediate series of reforms. Modern and democratic Turkey of Ataturk, then and now still has been one of the most pioneering, visionary, and compelling examples for the most parts of the Middle East, Developing(DCs), the Least Developing(LDCs), Land Lock Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States(SIDS) as of today. On the occasion of Ataturk’s 130th Birthday, this proposal aims to celebrate it at the United Nations HQ in NYC, with a specific focus on the above defined concepts in conjunction with a new look at Ataturk’s visions and reforms through the lenses of the MDGs#2, #3, including #7: Environment, and #8: Global Partnership. Highlighting Ataturk’s visions and well established institutions for “universal education”, “girls-women”, “development”, “global peace” within the MDGs framework, the program will also highlight a powerful and effective model for the developing and the least developing countries (DCs, LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS) by inspiring and encouraging them for similar modernization, changes, and implementations in achieving the MDGs.
The proposed project contains 3 parts as follows(envisioned format for the UN):
1) The first part will focus on Ataturk’s pioneering and visionary implementations, which brought in drastic changes and development through the issues of “universal education”, “girls-women”, “development” and “global peace”, while pointing out the relevancy of these implementations with the MDGs. Also the major changes in life style with the founding of the Republic and the Westernization of Turkey will be presented through examples of fine arts, music, theater, literature, and film in order to reflect the prompt outcomes of these implementations in the overall spectrum of the Turkish daily life.
2) Multi-Media/Documentary & Live Performances: The second part of the program will present selected examples of Ataturk’s ways of modernization and democratization of Turkey in the areas of culture, arts, music, and poetry. This part will include live performances as well as multi-media, documentary and/or short theatrical presentations.
3) Opening an Art Exhibit and Reception at the Main Lobby of the UN at 6:30pm.
Ideas for exhibition:
3a) Utku Ozden Otman/oil painting: “From the coffee ground to the Canvas": http://www.isikbinyili.org/docView.php?d=article&id=271; or
3b) Girls and Women in Turkish Paintings 1900-1950 (A Selection through Turkish oil paintings on canvas which depicts changes in life style, attire, schools, professionals, and taking roles in professional and social lives of Turkey.)
About The Light Millennium/LM:
The LM (2001) provides an international platform for free expression of ideas and experiences to foster a global dialog and better understanding among all people, and a channel to remove prejudices between various cultures and countries. As an innovative public benefit multi-media and arts-culture organization, LM uses Internet, TV, and public events to cross borders in order to conduct research and to compile, and publish information concerning global issues, peace, UN, MDGs, arts, and literature, regardless of age, gender, disciplines, ethnicity, and cultural background. The organization is associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations in December 2005. Up to date: E-published 47 issues; organized 57 events and produced/promoted 65 TV programs since 2000: Selected Themes: “Voices for Peace”, “Choices for Humanity”, "UN Vision and MDGs Speak Through the Arts", “Human Security for All”, “Wild Cards in Climate Change”, “A World without Nuclear and All Weapons”, “2015 & Beyond in Science and Arts”, “MDGs: Where are we now? & Freedom of Expression”... Was member of the DPI/NGO Annual Conf./Planning Committees in 2006-07-08, and led 2 events in 2006-07. LM’s website visited in 155 countries and monthly hits over 750 thousand.
References for Ataturk’s Centennial Birth Year (1-7):
1) 34th Session of the General Assembly – Official Document – 19 December 1979
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/landmark/pdf/a34pv107e.pdf
2) UNESCO - Turkey, Profile of Education:
http://www.ibe.unesco.org/en/worldwide/unesco-regions/asia-and-the-pacific/turkey/profile-of-education.html
3) UNESCO Centenary of Ataturk’s birth - The Executive Board http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0003/000370/037018e.pdf(Page: 21) November1979
4) The Unesco COURIER - November 1981
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000747/074752eo.pdf
5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atatürk_Centennial
6) Anniversaries of Great Personalities and Important Historical Events 1981-1982 (Dated: Paris, November 27, 1980) http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0004/000423/042343Eb.pdf
7) “Ataturk and Modernization of Turkey” Symposium, Jerusalem, Israel, October 1981 (also as a published Book)
8) Prof. Asim Sen, Leadership, Inequality, and Economic Crisis
http://orgs.bloomu.edu/gasi/2009%20Proceedings%20PDFs/SENLEADERSHIP,INEQUALIY%20AND%20ECONOMIC%20CRISIS%2012.pdf
Contact: Bircan Unver, The Light Millennium – http://www.lightmillennium.org
E-mail: contact@lightmillennium.org
About Bircan Ünver: http://www.lightmillennium.org/biographies/bu_profile.html
- For Pdf format of the Open Proposal please click
Image Sources:
http://twinning.vet.gov.tr/history/
http://www.atamanhotel.com/ataturk.html
ImageShack
"Fostering Global Connectivity","Promoting 'Freedom of Expression' from all walks of life in every corner of the world," "Removing prejudices," and "Working towards to cultural globalization and global peace."
