Don't miss the summit's keynote dialogue on education for the global age

January 9, 2007 3:54 AM

Sunday morning the summit will feature an important dialogue on education for a global age between Ambassador Akbar S. Ahmed and Dr. Hillel Levine. Ambassador Ahmed, who has been called "the world's leading authority on contemporary Islam," is former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain, an advisor to world leaders, author of numerous books and documentaries, frequent guest on CNN, PBS, and the BBC, and a distinguished professor of Islamic Studies at American University in Washington, DC. Dr. Levine is an ordained rabbi, a renowned teacher of sociology, religion, ethics, and Jewish history, and the author of numerous books and articles on ethnic violence and conflict resolution.

Using Jewish-Muslim understanding and interfaith dialogue as a foundation for their discussion, Ambassador Ahmed and Dr. Levine will discuss the essential role of education in promoting inquiry and respect, rather than fear and intolerance, in a global age. This conversation could hardly be more timely: Unless educators consciously promote international understanding and dialogue, globalization will likely breed dangerous exremism and intolerance. (It's all the more troubling, then, that history and social studies are being squeezed out of the curriculum to clear space for the basics.)

Ahmed and Levine are highly sought-after and inspirational speakers who have received rave reviews for their speeches and dialogues. Don't miss this important event.