Public Talks is a new form of international dialogue that will strengthen the process of democracy worldwide

To Students in Universities and Colleges around the World:

You are invited to participate in an unprecedented event that will happen on six continents over the course of one day.  We are asking university organizations worldwide to post a founding document "The Idea: Public Talks" on the door of their library on:

October 6, 2010

This catalyzing event is designed to spur many leaders in the U.S. and around the world to endorse the action called for in the Open Letter: President Obama

The founding document for Public Talks that will be placed on these library doors is at the end of this page.  A brief summary:

Public Talks is a structured process that would only come into existence after an overseeing body creates the rules and terms for a level communication playing field between two sides of a conflict. This organization would also define when this process should and should not be used.

The central communications instrument of Public Talks is a series of magazine-size "Dialogue Documents" distributed both online and through at least one major print media. This new “challenge media” would include each side's interpretation of history, questions to one's adversary, fundamental assumptions, negotiating positions and other content relevant to international conflicts.

Once Public Talks is established and that failed negotiating process fulfills the criteria of the overseeing body, either party to a conflict could unilaterally put their Dialogue Document before the world public.  If the side challenged refuses to participate in this new form of political dialogue, it risks having its opponent’s historical narrative widely accepted as true.

Public Talks is not intended to supplant private talks, but rather to revitalize and infuse this traditional process with a greater sense of urgency.  All sides would know that there is a new communication structure, which would formally continue the negotiating process after private talks failed. 

An Overseeing Organization: To be widely accepted internationally, representatives of many nations would need to participate in the creation of the rules and terms for Public Talks.  The U.S., U.N., E.U., Norway, Sweden, Switzerland are just a few of the possible entities that could establish this new structure.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Committee of Foreign Affairs: These committees are the path by which U.S. organizations can petition their government to establish a far ranging process such as Public Talks.  For this reason, some comments from experts on this page have called for hearings at these Committees. 

Once Public Talks has been institutionalized, the world’s communications environment will have changed. A new process would come into existence that would focus on the underlying causes of conflicts and not simply the symptoms. Support for Public Talks will be widespread as this direct clash of opinions will result in a greater public recognition of historical truth.

The University Event:

The Objective: To create an unprecedented worldwide event that will precipitate a series of cascading actions and reactions whereby citizens across the globe would understand that there is a new form of international negotiations that could – and often should – augment traditional negotiations. 

Web conferences: Preceding this October 6, 2010 date, the Institute will organize and pay for a series of web conferences with groups of participating schools.

No Expenses: There are absolutely no fees or costs associated with this event or these web conference calls for any of the participating university organizations.

“The Idea: Public Talks” that will be placed on the library doors