AGS students invited to Film Screening and Roundtable at UNESCO

On November 17th, AGS students, alumni and staff were invited by UNESCO to the screening of HBO documentary "Sergio", about UN's mediation and conflict resolution specialist Sergio Vieira de Mello, who worked for the United Nations for 34 years until he died in the bombing of the UN headquarters in Iraq in 2003 ("Canal Hotel Bombing"). This event was hosted at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris by the Permanent Delegates of the United States and Brazil to UNESCO on the occasion of the World Philosophy Day 2011.

The screening was preceded by a roundtable discussion on "Sergio Vieira de Mello: A Philosopher's Fight to Change the World", with the film director Greg Barker, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Opera Singer Barbara Hendricks, philosopher and writer Robert Misrahi, Special Representative to the Secretary General of the UN in Afghansitan Staffan de Mistura, Time Magazine's Vivienne Walt, and moderated by US Ambassador to UNESCO David Killion.

"The film provided a strong focus on the last years of Sergio Vieira de Mello's life and action, and the roundtable discussion allowed us to get more insights into his story through the eyes of other great United Nations actors", says AGS Administration Coordinator Matthew Delabre. "During the reception held right after the screening, we were able to meet some of these actors, including US Ambassador to UNESCO David Killion and Brazil Ambassador to UNESCO Maria Laura da Rocha. It was a great priviledge for AGS that we were happy to pass on to our students both in the graduate degree programs and in the undergraduate study abroad programs".

More information about the film screening and roundtable on the website of the US Mission to UNESCO