Ishmael Beah, Rom茅o Dallaire, reveal war鈥檚 brutalities
海角社区 welcomes "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" author Ishmael Beah, with an introduction by Sen. Rom茅o Dallaire
海角社区鈥檚 Department of Political Science and the 海角社区 Bookstore are pleased to welcome Ishmael Beah, former child soldier, human rights activist and author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, on April 16. A first-hand account of the brutal ten-year civil war in Sierra Leone, A Long Way Gone reached number one on the New York Times Bestseller List this week.
Ishmael Beah will be introduced by his former professor at Oberlin College, Khalid Medani, now a professor of political science at 海角社区. Senator Rom茅o Dallaire, former head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, will give a brief presentation about child soldiers as an introduction to Beah鈥檚 reading.
What: Book launch, Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solider
When: Monday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.
Who: Author Ishmael Beah, and Sen. Rom茅o Dallaire
Where: 海角社区, Leacock Building, room 132, 855 Sherbrooke St. W.
Born in Sierra Leone in 1980, Ishmael Beah became a child soldier at age 13. After three years of fighting, he entered a rehabilitation programme sponsored by Unicef. He moved to the United States in 1998 and finished his last two years of high school at the United Nations International School, New York. In 2004, he graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in political science. He is a member of Human Rights Watch Children鈥檚 Division Advisory Committee, and has spoken before the United Nations and the Council on Foreign Relations.
In 1993 Senator Rom茅o Dallaire commanded the United Nations Observer Mission 鈥� Uganda and Rwanda (UNOMUR) and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross for his role in the peace-keeping effort. Among his numerous awards, Senator Dallaire has been invested in the Order of Canada, awarded the United States Legion of Merit and is the first recipient of the Aegis Award on Genocide Prevention from the United Kingdom.
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