Art Fosters Empathy

"Art reminds us that we're all connected…art fosters empathy," says Liz Ahl, Chair of the Plymouth State University English Department. This is why on Tuesday, November 15th Amnesty International, along with PSU Poets and Writers, held the first ever "Poets (and Artists) for Peace".  Students and faculty gathered to share written and visual art in hopes of promoting peace and raising awareness of human rights issues.

                  This event was dedicated to Jabbar Savalan, a 20-year-old student who was arrested on fake drug charges in Sumgayit, after he advocated for protests of government in Baku, Azerbajin, in a post on Facebook. "Every region has a ‘special interests case," explains Adam Di Filippi, the organizer of the event, "he is the New England Region's this semester".   

                  Many attendees read works by published poets, such as Pablo Neruda, Martin Espada, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, and William Butler Yeats.  Others, such as Ahl and PSU students Patrick O'Sullivan and Michael DiTamasso read original poems.  Paul Rogalus, a professor from the English department, read an original story.

                  Di FIlippi said that the idea came from the LGBTQ literary potluck that was held during October as a part of Queer History Month. "Art inspires people to create, not destroy" says Di Filippi. Rogalus, who also read a quote from author Kurt Vonnegut, said that to him, "art is what makes you live in someone else's shoes". 

  "Poets (and Artists) for Peace" was an event meant to bring people and organizations together through common interests. Quite simply, "I like poetry, I like peace" says Ahl, who helped organize the LGBTQ potluck, and brainstormed with Di Filippi about a "poets for peace" event on the PSU campus. 

                  Di Filippi is the Student Area Coordinator of Amnesty International NH and the President of Amnesty International PSU, which was the main sponsor of the event. Amnesty International is a grassroots, human rights organization. "At an international level, we work with the most heinous of human rights abuses," says Di Filippi. This year Amnesty International will be celebrating its 50th year of service. 

Amnesty International strives towards a world in which the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are enjoyed by all human beings. This global movement has over 3 million supporters, drawing from 150 countries and territories. For more information about Amnesty International, visit their website, http://www.amnesty.org/en .

                  Amnesty International at PSU meets on Thursday nights at 8 pm. If you are interested in joining, or would like more information, contact Adam Di Filippi at acdifilippi@mail.plymouth.edu .