Using Computer Games to Support Democracy and Conflict Resolution

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:10:55 +0000

Video games can be fun to play. They also can teach people how to settle conflicts peacefully. This is a video game called Food Force. It can be downloaded from the Web site of the World Food Program. The groups Jennifer Parmalee says the game shows children the difficulty of getting food to areas of conflict.

JENNIFER PARMALEE: It helps them feel like they can be part of a solution. Thats something empowering and fun for them.

Another video game is called A Force More Powerful. It takes place in a city similar to Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia. Ivan Marovic designed the game. Ten years ago, he organized protests against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

The president resigned after disputed election results in two thousand. He was arrested on war crimes charges, but died before his trial was completed.

Marovic says his game shows non-violent ways to help remove oppressive governments.

IVAN MAROVIC: Like strikes, boycotts, civil disobedience, street protests, in order to force the regime to either concede or to step down.

Marovic says another goal is to win public support. He says the goal is to win the loyalty of people who support the government. Another goal is to keep up the interest of your current supporters.

This game deals with the situation in Darfur, Sudan. The conflict in Darfur has displaced three million people.

A Web site called Second Life was used to create the Darfur video game. Players can build their own make-believe world and contact others through voice and text messages. Scott Sechser works for Linden Labs, which created Second Life. He says the game lets players come in and see what is taking place in Darfur, listen to a family which left Darfur and is now in a refugee camp.

The Second Life Web site is able to change text messages in English to other languages. Sechser says he has communicated with people from around the world.

Other parts of Second Life help to support democracy and conflict resolution. They include a courtroom where people can learn about legal systems in a democracy. I’m Bob Doughty.

Duration : 0:2:58

The Cold War’s Friendliest Quarrel

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:55:38 +0000

Only these two Americans held positions of great influence throughout the entirety of the Cold War, and they were the chief advocates for the opposing strategies for winning–and surviving–that harrowing conflict. Both men came to power during World War II, reached their professional peaks during the Cold War’s most frightening moments, and fought epic political battles that spanned decades. Yet despite their very different views, Paul Nitze and George Kennan dined together, attended the weddings of each other’s children, and remained good friends all their lives.

In this masterly double biography, Nicholas Thompson brings Nitze and Kennan to life. Nitze–the hawk, and Thompson’s grandfather–was a consummate insider who believed that the best way to avoid a nuclear clash was to prepare to win one. More than any other American, he was responsible for the arms race. Kennan–the dove–was a diplomat turned academic who authored what was arguably history’s most influential, if not its longest, telegram. The often-misunderstood architect of the Cold War’s containment strategy, Kennan exercised more influence on foreign affairs than any other private citizen.

Thompson’s vividly written book weaves a fascinating narrative that follows these two rivals and friends from the beginning of the Cold War to its end, thus telling the story of the last half-century from an intriguing vantage point. http://www.newamerica.net/events/2009/cold_wars_friendliest_quarrel

Duration : 1:13:6

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Using Computer Games to Support Democracy and Conflict Resolution

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The Cold War’s Friendliest Quarrel

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