206 pages · 2024
Human Rights and Peace
A Personal Odyssey
By Zafra Lerman
- Published
- August 9, 2024
- Imprint
- Jenny Stanford Publishing
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- ISBN
- 9781003496526
Overview
About this book
Zafra Lerman was precocious as a little girl growing up in Israel. She grew up with deep-seeded values—values so deeply held that they became ingrained in her being. These values led her to dedicate her life to using science diplomacy to fight for peace and for human rights. She also developed a new curriculum, where she taught science through art, music, dance, and drama. This curriculum was successful with underprivileged students around the world.
This book is a genre-busting first-person narrative in which Prof. Lerman recounts her remarkable life—a life that has led her all around the world from the Soviet Union to Peru, from China to Cuba, and beyond where she fought for dissidents who were being denied basic human rights. And, perhaps most importantly, her life has led her to Malta, the first site of the Malta Conferences. After the September 11 attacks on the United States, Prof. Lerman conceived, coordinated, and launched the Malta Conferences—the biennial, international meetings of scientists from all Middle East countries, Nobel laureates, and political leaders—which use science diplomacy as a bridge to peace in the Middle East.
The book is an inspiring call to action showing how the author’s life and work has led to the innovative use of science as diplomacy in the fight for human rights and peace. It is an inspiration to educators, scientists, policymakers, and the general readers. There is no equivalent, competing work.
Subjects
Politics & International Relations
Inside the book
Table of contents
Select a chapter to read its abstract.
Chapter Chapter 1A Reflection on Myself
Pages: 4
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Chapter Chapter 2I Sprang from Rebel Stock
Pages: 12
In order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.
Chapter Chapter 3Like a Tree Planted by the Waters
Pages: 12
Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.
Chapter Chapter 4The White Lab Coat
Pages: 10
You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement.
Chapter Chapter 5The Most Beautiful Outfit
Pages: 9
The hard we shall do today, the impossible we shall do tomorrow.
Chapter Chapter 6Coming to America
Pages: 9
I believe the benefits of two civilizations—a European education followed by the freedom and opportunities of this country— have been essential to whatever contributions I have been able to make to science.
ChapterPhotos
Pages: 32
No chapter abstract available.
Chapter Chapter 7Building Equity Through Science Education
Pages: 22
I will never forget the infectious enthusiasm of Zafra Lerman, one of the best chemistry teachers in the world. 13
Chapter Chapter 8If I Am Not Here for Breakfast, Call the American Embassy
Pages: 23
I often wondered what could make a person living in freedom, safety, and comfort to fight for somebody deprived of all that and languishing somewhere on the other side of the globe.
Chapter Chapter 9Accompanying Members
Pages: 16
To say that a person feels listened to means a lot more than just their ideas get heard. It’s a sign of respect. It makes people feel valued.
Chapter Chapter 10Pursuing Peace in the Middle East Through Science
Pages: 12
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
Chapter Chapter 11From Mission Impossible to Mission Possible
Pages: 15
Resist, insist, persist, enlist.
Chapter Chapter 12Malta X and Beyond
Pages: 8
Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.