Programme Launching

“TAGORE, NERUDA and CESAIRE, for a reconciled universal”

UNESCO is proud to announce the launching of the Programme «Rabindranath TAGORE, Pablo NERUDA, Aimé CESAIRE, for a reconciled universal » to take place on the 13 of September, at UNESCO House, Room II

In response to the challenges posed by globalization, the General Conference of UNESCO decided to create the innovative program "Rabindranath TAGORE, Pablo NERUDA, Aimé CESAIRE, for a reconciled universal" intended to put forth—in the message of the collective message of these three poets—a set of reflections and activities relevant to the crucial definition of a tolerant and humanist "living together". The program will take place over the course of three years around major events of the poets’ lives: 2011 will mark the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Rabindranath Tagore, 2012 will be devoted to activities around the poet Pablo Neruda, while the final year, 2013, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Tagore’s Nobel Prize as well as the birth of Aimé Césaire in addition to the 40th anniversary of the death of Pablo Neruda.

"We must begin.  Begin what? The only thing worth starting: the end of the world by Jove!” Thus spoke Aimé Césaire with audacity in his Notebook of a Return to My Native Land, published in 1939, summarizing of the need to put an end to the contradictions emanating from yesterday and today's societies. Seventy years later, this question is more relevant than ever before, and the urgency of such a change cannot wait. UNESCO follows in his footsteps by questioning the values and intellectual commitment with the Progamme "Tagore, Neruda, Césaire, for a Reconciled Universel." How to create a pragmatic scope of these ideals and through what actions?

The launching of this program seeks to stimulate and encourage both debate and reflection on our era as a means to rediscover converging and complementary humanistic messages of the authors, as the Haitian poet René Depestre subtly described: "this exploratory journey should lead from the home of each of the three authors to other cultural areas, and to the whole unified world."

With the participation of key figures such as the philosopher Edgar Morin, the poet Jorge Edwards, and Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, as well as Mireille Fanon Mendès France, Jawhar Sircar, Doudou Diène and Daniel Maximin.

Contacts

Coordinator: Edmond Moukala

Reservations: Antonia Leroy, 01 45 68 39 34;

Other contacts: Lamia Somai-Lasa, 01 45 68 46 65

Website: Eve Grinstead 01 45 68 42 35

Division of Thematic Programmes for Diversity,

Development and Dialogue

Email: tnc_reconciled@unesco.org

Web Site: www.unesco.org/new/TNC