The Gulbenkian Programme Qualifying the New Generations and the Armenian Communities Department has organized a conference about the Sources of Intolerance and the Learning of Tolerance to be held on October 12^th at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Auditorium 2. This conference is directed to the general public, but it also incorporates parallel sessions designed especially for teachers. Entrance is free.

José Pacheco Pereira, the conference Commissioner notes that “the two questions we would like to explore at this conference are: where does intolerance come from and how can tolerance be strengthened in schools and societies. Schools and societies should not passively accept intolerance. Our aim is to discuss tolerance by speaking of intolerance. We shall do it two ways: in the perspective of how schools and the education system can teach and learn to be tolerant, getting to know better the human and social devastation that intolerance has caused; and understanding better what makes us, individually or collectively, intolerant.” After all, he added “a democratic culture is also a tolerant culture, but tolerance is not to be taken for granted. It has to be built on a day-to-day basis.”

Key note speakers include Dr. Joan Rivitz, Dr. David Justino and Dr. José Pacheco Pereira. Several acclaimed Portuguese intellectuals will take part: Dr. João Lopes, Dr. Rui Viera Nery, Dr. Diogo Pires Aurélio and Father Anselmo Borges. Prominent Armenian intellectual philosopher, Dr. Marc Nichanian will also deliver a paper entitled, “From (Eastern) Dhimmitude to (Western) Tolerance”.  Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Conference Programme:

9h30 – Opening Session
President of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – Artur Santos Silva
Commissioner – José Pacheco Pereira

9h45-10h45 – Chair: José Pacheco Pereira
Teaching Tolerance – Joan Rivitz
Intolerance in Portuguese Schools – David Justino

10h45 – Break

11h00-13h00 – Learning Tolerance through Sounds and Films on Intolerance (Parallel Sessions for teachers)
Auditorium 2
Chair: Manuel Carmelo Rosa

Seeing intolerance on D. W.  Griffith’s movie “Intolerance” (episode of St. Bartholomew’s Massacre) – João Lopes
Room 1
Chair: Razmik Panossian

Listening to war music: “Deutschland Über Alles” and the national hymns – Rui Vieira Nery

13h00 – Lunch Break

15H00-17H30 – Where does intolerance come from?
Chair: Razmik Panossian
From (Eastern) Dhimmitude to (Western) Tolerance – Marc Nichanian
QUOTIDIAN: We are born intolerant? What makes us intolerant? – Diogo Pires Aurélio
RELIGION: Sources of intolerance in Judeo-Christian tradition – Anselmo Borges

18H00 – Closing Lecture
Chair: Manuel Carmelo Rosa
Europe and its borders: on the present refugee crisis and the identity of Europe –José Pacheco Pereira