Pakistan Relief Efforts in Indy

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Dance Kaleidoscope: World Carnaval

"Play Mas" from Dance Kaleidoscope will be on stage at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 7-10 January. Billed as "a vibrant up-beat collection of dances inspired by Brazilian and Trinidadian Carnavals featuring large costume sculptures like those in a Carnaval parade, and the return of Food of Love, an exotic blend of international music, sensual dancing and sumptuous costumes," it features music from Argentina, Pakistan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Africa.

Tickets are available IRTLive.com, and range from $6 (for the "mini-matinee at noon Thursday, 7 January) to $37 for the performance on Friday (8 January) January.

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"Great Decisions" Series Starts Next Month

The Great Decisions Lecture Series addresses eight current international issues important to the United States. The series includes a lecture followed by group discussion.

Participation in this Indy-based series, sponsored by the Indiana Council on World Affairs, is open to the public, with sessions scheduled for eight Tuesday evenings. They will be held in the Pharmacy Building, Butler University, Indianapolis. Registration begins at 7 p.m. with the program following at 7:30 p.m.

THE ARCTIC AGE - 3 February - Richard Fredland, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Political Science, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis

AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN - 10 February - Milind Thakar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of International Relations, University of Indianapolis

ENERGY & THE GLOBAL ECONOMY - 17 February - Jesse Kharbanda, Executive Director, Hoosier Environmental Council

THE U.S. AND RISING POWERS - 24 February - Pierre Atlas, Ph.D., Director of the Richard G. Lugar Franciscan Center for Global Studies, Marian College

EGYPT IN THE 21ST CENTURY - 3 March - Amira Mashhour, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, World Languages and Cultures, IUPUI

GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY - 17 March - James Morris, Former Executive Director of the U.N. World Food Program

CUBA AFTER CASTRO - 24 March - Gaston Fernandez, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, Indiana State University

UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS? - 31 March - Paul Hanson, Ph.D., Professor of History, Butler University

For further information on the local, contact Annette Johansson, 317:879-1338.

"Great Decisions" is a program of the Foreign Policy Association.

Pakistan Joins IU Global Research Network

Pakistan has joined a global research community through a new high-speed network, managed by Indiana University, according to Inside INdiana Business.

The connection enables Pakistani scientists from 60 universities and institutes to work with their international peers on research projects that require fast data transfers.

Summer Intensive Program for Hindi and Urdu

Interested in learning the languages and cultures of India/Pakistan? The India Studies Program at Indiana University in Bloomington will offer an intensive four-week Hindi-Urdu course (equivalent to one semester of university-level instruction) from 13 June through 11 July.

The SIPHUR program, targeted at middle and high school students, is residential -- and students selected for inclusion will receive free meals and lodging. SIPHUR is funded by STARTALK, one of the projects of the National Security Language Initiative that is aimed at increasing the number of Americans learning critical-need foreign languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Persian, and others.

For more information, contact Dr. Sungok Hong, 812:855-6697, send an email or go to the website.

Mariane Pearl To Speak at Butler in March

Mariane Pearl, widow of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and subject of the film "A Mighty Heart", will speak at Clowes Memorial Hall at 7:30 p.m. 2 March as part of Butler University's Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture is free and open to the public, but a ticket is required for admission. Tickets may be obtained at the Clowes Hall box office, 317:940-6444. In her talk, "A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Daniel Pearl,” Mariane Pearl (pictured at right with their son) will address the kidnapping and brutal murder of her husband by a militant Islamic fundamentalist group in Pakistan. Her speech is a hallmark event of Butler’s Women’s History Celebration.