January 28, 2005: Headlines: Museums: Libraries: Endangered Peoples: Centre Daily Times: RPCV Helen Sheehy is Exhibit Organizer for "Endangered Peoples: Struggling to Survive in a Global World" at Penn State

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Library: Peace Corps: Museums : Museums: January 28, 2005: Headlines: Museums: Libraries: Endangered Peoples: Centre Daily Times: RPCV Helen Sheehy is Exhibit Organizer for "Endangered Peoples: Struggling to Survive in a Global World" at Penn State

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RPCV Helen Sheehy is Exhibit Organizer for "Endangered Peoples: Struggling to Survive in a Global World" at Penn State

RPCV Helen Sheehy is Exhibit Organizer for Endangered Peoples: Struggling to Survive in a Global World at Penn State

RPCV Helen Sheehy is Exhibit Organizer for "Endangered Peoples: Struggling to Survive in a Global World" at Penn State

Exhibit explores globalism's effect on cultures

By Cole Hons

For the CDT

The Diversity Studies Room at Pattee Library on Penn State's University Park campus is hosting an exhibit titled "Endangered Peoples: Struggling to Survive in a Global World." The concept grew out of the university libraries' global studies group's desire to highlight Pattee's resources on endangered peoples.

Featuring several glass cases filled with books, flyers and unique artifacts from around the globe, the exhibit offers a wide variety of vibrant and sometimes jarring imagery. Posted a few feet away from a photograph of a traditionally dressed Mayan Indian woman sitting with her child in front of a huge Coca-Cola sign in Guatemala City, a statement on the wall at the entrance to the room encapsulates the purpose of the exhibit with this quote from the Web site TurningPoint.org: "Every place is becoming everyplace else: monoculture. Get there before it's ruined."

"As globalization accelerates," the statement asks, "are we headed toward a world 'monoculture,' and what are we losing of the world's cultural and biological diversity?"

The United Nations estimates that fewer than 300 million indigenous peoples survive on their native lands, retaining much of the cultural heritage of their ancestors.

Their oral traditions, languages, crafts, music, performing arts, and traditional knowledge of nature and medicine are all at risk.

This exhibit looks at a few of the many cultures at risk of disappearing and prompts viewers to reflect on what that loss would mean to the world's cultural, spiritual and intellectual heritage.

The materials in the exhibit all came from the libraries' collection and the personal collections of faculty and staff.

Books with titles such as "Globalisation," "The Cultural Dimension of Development," "Victims of Progress" and "Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity" sit alongside a wide variety of photos and objects representing indigenous people from the world's continents.

Figurines, rugs, tapestries, carvings, baskets, pottery, utensils and other fascinating items bear silent testimony to the cultural richness of planetary culture.

Exhibit organizer and international documents librarian Helen Sheehy said that "looking at it holistically in terms of all of the cultures" was the most exciting aspect of putting it all together.

"I think because I've actually lived and worked with some endangered peoples in the Peace Corps," said Sheehy, "I gained a broad perspective of what we're likely to lose culturally."





When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

January 22, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: January 22 2005 No: 391 January 22, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
Spread Freedom — but not at gunpoint 22 Jan
Dodd has ring side seat at Inauguration 21 Jan
Peace Corps works in Georgia 21 Jan
Trey Aven monitored Ukraine elections 21 Jan
RPCV group makes quiet indie-pop 21 Jan
Anthony Shriver considers race for Florida Governor 20 Jan
Thomas Tighe says internet brought funds to DRI 20 Jan
Stacy Jupiter researches Australia ecosystems 20 Jan
Libby Garvey is education activist 20 Jan
David McIntyre captures medals on land and in water 19 Jan
Carol Bellamy new president of World Learning 18 Jan
Reed Hastings crossed "Latino Caucus'' 18 Jan
RPCVs sponsor Freeze for Food to aid Colombia farmers 18 Jan
RPCVs urge Bush to aid Democracy in Ukraine 17 Jan
Tom Petri proposes changes in student loan program 17 Jan
Golden Globe Win for Jamie Foxx in RPCV's "Ray" 17 Jan
Stephen Smith is new consul-general in Australia 17 Jan

Ask Not Date: January 18 2005 No: 388 Ask Not
As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Date: January 8 2005 No: 373 Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion
Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."
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In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.
RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid  Date: January 4 2005 No: 366 Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid
Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?
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Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.
Changing of the Guard Date: December 15 2004 No: 330 Changing of the Guard
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RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.
Is Gaddi Leaving? Is Gaddi Leaving?
Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.
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Read the stories and leave your comments.






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Story Source: Centre Daily Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Museums; Libraries; Endangered Peoples

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