Venue: St Brides Church, Fleet St, London EC4Y 8AU
Organised by the International Media Council, in partnership with the St Brides Forum, on the seven-year anniversary of 9/11. Discussion will be wide-ranging, and will compare the US and UK views on immigration and the development of an integrated society. Discussion will further address racism and xenophobia. The conference aims to discuss the effectiveness of the US policy of integration, and lessons to be learned from the British model with its emphasis on multiculturalism. Participants will examine efforts at social cohesion and their relative success in incorporating immigrant communities of different ethnic backgrounds. Discussion will also focus on the degree to which these communities participate in the political process.
Integration vs multi-culturalism
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12:30 pm: A non-denominational service will be held preceding the opening of the conference, and will be taken by Rev David Meara and Rev George Pitcher of the St Brides' Forum. Ambassador Hon Mark G Hambley will give a short address during the course of the service to mark the seven-year anniversary of 9/11.
A light lunch will be provided at 1.00 pm, and the debate will start at 1:30 pm.
1:30 pm Opening Speaker:
· Mr Shahid Malik MP, Minister for International Development, will open the conference
Subject
Immigration: Is Integration better than a multi-cultural approach?
Panel chaired by George Pitcher, St Brides' Forum
Keynote Speaker:
· Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, Chair, The Communities and Local Government Committee
Panelists:
· Hon Mark G Hambley, former Director of Outreach to the Islamic World for the USA; Former Ambassador to Qatar and Lebanon; Former Chief Negotiator on Climate Change.
· Michael Goldfarb, freelance journalist and commentator, USA
· Liza Davis, Cultural Attaché, US Embassy (t.b.c.)
· Dr Gloria Gordon, Centre for British African Caribbean Studies; author, Towards Bicultural Competence
Racism, Prejudice, Islamophobia: The media's coverage
3:00 pm Panel chaired by Ambassador Mark G Hambley
Panelists:
· Paisley Dodds, London Bureau Chief, Associated Press
· Baria Alamuddin, Al Hayat newspaper
· Sharif Nashashibi, Arab Media Watch
· Adel Darwish, Just Journalism
· William Morris, Chairman, International Media Council
· Professor Robert Pinker CBE, Press Complaints Commission (PCC)
4:30 pm Concluding remarks. Rev. George Pitcher of the St Brides' Forum will give his observations in conclusion. Followed by refreshments.
Conference concludes 5 pm