Washington, U.S.A. – On Tuesday, July 24, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in cooperation with the Council on Foreign Relations and CNN, will present a symposium exploring the challenges of preventing genocide in the 21st Century. The symposium will be webcast live at act.ushmm.org/endgenocide.

“Sixty seven years after the Holocaust, after which the world vowed ‘Never Again,’ it is unacceptable that genocide persists,” said Museum Chairman Tom Bernstein. “We have learned much from the past about the causes of genocide, and now it is time to also look over the horizon at emerging trends that will impact how these atrocities unfold in years to come. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hopes this symposium and our ongoing efforts will make a substantial contribution to understanding and preventing genocide and other mass atrocities in the future.”

The symposium will feature a keynote address by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and remarks from Christopher Kojm,  chairman of the National Intelligence Council, which is conducting its first-ever estimate on risks of mass atrocities. Symposium participants will include senior leaders from government, think tanks, business, academia, philanthropy, and the genocide prevention field, as well as the next generation of young leaders.

Two panels moderated by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Washington Post Pulitzer Prize winner Dana Priest will focus on how economic, political, technological, demographic and other trends will affect the risk of mass killing, and on innovative strategies for preventing genocide. Panelists include futurist Peter Schwartz, Holocaust historian Timothy Snyder, military strategist Sarah Sewall, business entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa, CNN Beirut correspondent Arwa Damon, and diplomat Richard Williamson.

“The Council on Foreign Relations is pleased to cooperate on this important initiative to assess recent efforts to prevent mass atrocities and consider new, innovative responses to preventing future threats of this kind,” said CFR President Richard N. Haass.

The Museum will also unveil the results of a large-scale public opinion poll that will provide new insight into Americans’ knowledge of and attitudes towards genocide and prevention, including their perspectives on whether and how the U.S. should engage in recent situations such as Syria and Sudan.

The symposium and poll have been made possible in part by a generous in-kind pro bono contribution from Burson-Marsteller, Penn Schoen Berland, and with support from Palantir Technologies.

Image Courtesy of  United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

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Los Angeles, U.S.A. - Arnold Spielberg, father of USC Shoah Foundation Institute Founder Steven Spielberg, was honored Thursday, April 26 with the Institute’s inaugural Inspiration Award at a private luncheon in Los Angeles. Arnold was recognized for his many years of mentorship and support of the Institute’s work, especially in the area of humanity through technology.

A computer pioneer and former electrical engineer, Arnold was a volunteer and guiding light helping inspire the early team at the organization to overcome technical and logistical hurdles. Phil Rosenthal, creator of the highly acclaimed hit comedy series Everybody Loves Raymond, who is a longtime supporter of the Institute, served as the master of ceremonies for the event. He is also the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors. Olga Kern, internationally renowned concert pianist, was the special musical guest and gave a stellar performance.

The Inspiration Award, which will hereafter be known as the Arnold Spielberg Inspiration Award, was established to honor friends who have supported and inspired the Institute, including community leaders, Institute volunteers, teachers, scholars, survivors, and other unsung heroes, and to raise awareness of the Institute’s goals of promoting tolerance, cultural understanding, and mutual respect through the educational use of the testimonies in its Visual History Archive.

The USC Shoah Foundation Institute has collected and maintains an archive of nearly 52,000 video testimonies of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses, from 56 countries in 32 languages–the largest visual history archive of its kind in the world.

“Arnold’s contribution not only to the Institute, but also to the world, through his pioneering work in the field of technology has created a lasting legacy for current and future generations,” said Stephen D. Smith, executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute. “Arnold provided mentorship and support when it was greatly needed, and his astute council helped move the organization in the right direction and frame the groundwork upon which the Institute’s Visual History Archive is built.”

“I am so pleased and touched to be able to recognize my father’s vital contributions to the organization,” said Steven Spielberg, founder of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute. “With this Inspiration Award that will carry his name in perpetuity, my father will continue to be a beacon as we pursue our mission.”

Microsoft served as presenting sponsor of the event. “It is a great privilege to be a part of this special celebration to recognize Arnold Spielberg for his contribution to the Institute by building upon the promise of transforming and promoting humanity through technology,” said Don Mattrick, president of interactive entertainment business, Microsoft.

“We are proud to support the important educational work of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute and Steven Spielberg’s visionary purpose to transform people’s attitudes, beliefs and the way we learn through eyewitness testimony.”

During World War II, Arnold served with the 490th “Skull & Wings” Bomb Squadron, known as the “Burma Bridge Busters,” and became communications chief. Arnold helped design and build the first business computer. He also invented and patented the first electronic library system and designed the first electronic cash register, transforming the “point of sale” retail industry.

“I am very proud that my son Steven had the foresight to record the stories of the survivors so that future generations could learn lessons from the voices of those who were subjected to intolerance and hatred, and scholars could research the archive and use the content in whatever way they could to benefit humanity,” Arnold said.

“Eisenhower told his commanders to take many pictures, because in the future the Holocaust would be denied, as it is even now. I believe the power of the Institute’s Visual History Archive, like those photographs, remains a testament to the truth that no one can deny.”

The Award Luncheon highlighted some of the organization’s milestones and educational programs while allowing Arnold’s friends and colleagues to share personal anecdotes about working with him at the Institute. His son, filmmaker and Institute founder, Steven Spielberg, and his three daughters, Anne, Sue, and Nancy, presented their father with the award, with his extended family in attendance.

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AJC applauded the Norwegian prime minister for publicly apologizing for his country’s role in the Holocaust. ”Without diminishing the Nazis’ responsibility, it is time to recognize that police and other Norwegians took part in the arrest and deportation of Jews,” said Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. “I find it appropriate to express our deep apology that this could have happened on Norwegian soil.”

The prime minister was speaking yesterday at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at the site where, 70 years ago, 532 Norwegian Jews were forced onto the Donau ship and sent to Auschwitz. ”During the war, a total of 772 Norwegian Jews and Jewish refugees were arrested and deported. Only 34 survived,” said the prime minister. ”The murders were without a doubt the Nazis’ work, but it was Norwegians who arrested. It was Norwegians who drove the cars. And it happened in Norway.”

Twenty years ago, as the Prime Minister noted, Norway’s parliament provided both private and communal restitution for the “economic liquidation” the Norwegian Jews had been subjected to, which signified, “a moral acceptance of the state’s responsibility” for what had befallen the country’s Jews.

“Now, 20 years later, Prime Minister Stoltenberg has gone an important step further with his expression of regret for the role played by some Norwegians in the Holocaust,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “His words on International Holocaust Remembrance Day are a powerful reminder that the Nazi evil was too often assisted by some locals in occupied countries. We welcome the prime minister’s apology, as well as his forthright call for vigilance against those who continue to hate.”

In his speech, Stoltenberg said, “Seventy years later, it pains me to say that the ideas that led to the Holocaust continue to live on.” He expressed concern that Norwegian Jews have said they live in fear today. “We shall not have it like this in Norway,” said the prime minister. “No one should have to hide his own faith, cultural identity or orientation.”

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/statsministerenskontor/

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