[psych-hr] Welcome!

Welcome to the International Peace Practitioners Network Internet
Discussion Group on Psychology and Human Rights! 

I can't tell you how delighted Anne, Mike and I are with how the process
is evolving. We have a terrific group of psychologists who have agreed to
join, thus far. I say "thus far" because several of you have recommended
additional psychologists working on human rights issues in
conflict/post-conflict societies to join the network and the acceptances
are still coming in.

I have told several of my colleagues in the human rights education
community about the plans for this discussion group (including
interviewing several, as potential audiences, to see what they would like
to get out of the network's deliberations) and the response has uniformly
been VERY positive. Every one I have talked with is very eager to see
what we come up with. 

This is the first of two e-mails. 

-- This e-mail addresses three topics: (1) who we are thus far, (2) in an
effort to "get to know one another", a request that you share with the
rest of us some information on yourself; and (3) logistics.

-- The next e-mail "launches" our first e-mail discussion using as a
focal point the Peru human rights education (IPEDEHP) case study. 

1. WHO WE ARE THUS FAR

As of today the following psychologists have indicated that they would like 
to participate in the network:

Dean Ajdukovic, Croatia (dean.ajdukovic@ffzg.hr)
Anne Anderson, USA (psysrusa@compuserve.com )
Adrianne Aron, USA (aron@igc.apc.org)
Ahmad Baker, West Bank, Gaza (abaker@admin.birzeit.edu)
Marcy Bernbaum, USA (mbern362@aol.com)
Maria Angela Canepa, Peru (mac@correo.dnet.com.pe)
Joane Connors, USA (jconnors@comp.uark.edu)
Dan Christie, USA (christie.1@osu.edu)
Cesar Gayoso, Peru (a932275n@pucp.edu.pe)
Brandon Hamber, South Africa (brandon@wn.apc.org)
Elizabeth Lira, Chile (ELira@reuna.cl)
Brinton Lykes, USA (lykes@bc.edu)
Tina Montiel, Philippines (montielc@gusun.georgetown.edu)
Raija Leena Punamaki, Finland (Punamaki@Elo.Helsinki.fi)
Matilde Ruderman, Argentina (mruderman@psi.uba.ar)
Marilyn Safir, Israel (msafir@psy.haifa.ac.il)
Nora Sveaass, Norway (nora.sveaass@psykologi.uio.no)
Francoise Syroni, France (FSironi@aol.com) 
Viviana ValsGen, Peru (psico@cnddhh.org.pe)
Mike Wessells, USA (mwessell@rmc.edu)

In addition, Rosa Maria Mujica, Peru (RMujica@telematic.edu.pe), the
President of IPEDEHP and the person responsible for designing and
implementing the IPEDEHP training program for Peruvian leaders in human
rights, democracy, and citizen participation (the focus of the first case
study) has agreed to sit in the discussion, at least for this first case. 

We will keep you informed as new members sign on.

2. AN OPENING EXERCISE DESIGNED TO HELP US GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER

Each of you, through Anne's May 2 e-mail, now know a little about me. 
However, we don't--as a group--know who we all are. In addition to
knowing our names, where we are from and e-mail addresses (which are
listed above), I believe knowing something more about one another will
enhance the substance/richness of our e-mail exchanges over the coming
months. 

So....could you each please send to the list -- if possible by May 1 -- a
short e-mail which briefly addresses the following: 

a. Information about yourself (background, professional interests,
experience working in human rights in conflict/post-conflict situations)
that you think might be of interest to other members of the group. 

b. Why you have decided to join this discussion group and what you
personally hope to get out of it. 

c. Your "coordinates". In addition your e-mail address (which we already
have) please send me: your street address, telephone, fax (if available). 
[I ask for the latter because there may be times when you can't receive
documents by e-mail attachment and we may need to send them to you by mail
or fax]. 

Once I accumulate this information I will share it with all of you. It
will also be put on a permanent location in the server so that others, as
they join, can see this information. 

Thank you very much!

3. LOGISTICS

We have just received a magnificent offer from Frank Elbers and Felisa
Tibbitts at Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) to host our
discussion group on their server (http://www.hrea.org). They will also
serve as my mentor and guide on all matters related to the "do's" and
"don'ts" of moderating an Internet discussion group. 

By now you should have received an automated message from the listserv
software (Majordomo) confirming that you are subscribed to the list. If
you want to send a message to all of us, please send it to the list
address: psychology-humanrights-l@hrea.org. 

Soon all messages will be archived on HREA's website. This will greatly
facilitate our discussion in that: (a) it will permit us to access all
past e-mail exchanges/documents by topic, (b) we can "check in" to the
site at any time to view the discussion. For those who lead very busy
lives and/or travel a good deal this permits coming in and out of the
discussion when it is convenient It also permits any of us, at any time,
to go back and review prior e-mails/documents without having to store them
on our e-mail files or on paper. I will send you the address (URL) of the
website as soon as it is up and running. Those who only have e-mail
accounts and who do not have access to the Internet will receive all of
the messages, as they would on any listserv. 

I will be flying to Boston, where HREA is located, on April 22 to receive
training on how to operate the listserv software as a moderator. 

A final request: This discussion group will only work if we all work at
making it relevant to our needs. The only way I as moderator will know
whether this is in fact occurring is by receiving your feedback. 
PLEASE--and especially if you are having problems as we move along--let me
know how you are feeling about the network, what you think of the
moderation, etc. It goes without saying that positive feedback is always
welcome. However, if I as moderator am not aware of what is not going
well, I can't take steps to fix it. 

Again, welcome and....let's get started on our discussion (next e-mail)!

Marcy