Wednesday-Thursday, February 15-16, 2012
The year 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Great Chinese Famine, recorded by Beijing as lasting from 1958 to 1961, but actually extending from 1958 to 1962. The death of at least 40 million Chinese were not caused by bad weather or foreign plots, but by Mao’s unfeasible and reckless agricultural policies during the so-called Great Leap Forward. As human history’s most fatal famine, its death toll exceeded that of both World Wars combined.
The Chinese government has consistently withheld records of the mass devastation, twisting history to shift the blame off of the Communist Party. Half a century later, as the voices of the victims of the Great Famine disappear one by one, it is up to us to ensure this tragedy is not forgotten. For this reason, the Laogai Research Foundation and the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center are holding a special international conference entitled “The World’s Greatest Famine: Witnessing, Surviving, Remembering“. Remaining survivors of the Great Famine will share their harrowing stories, never before heard outside of China, while Great Famine experts will present their latest research on the tragedy.
Agenda
DAY 1
Heritage Foundation, 15 February, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m
Allison Auditorium, 7th floor, 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002
INTRODUCTION: Harry Wu, LRF Executive Director
SESSION 1: Chinese expert (name to be published upon exiting China)
SESSION 2: Jasper Becker, author of Hungry Ghosts
LIGHT LUNCH
REMARKS: Lee Edwards, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
SESSION 3: Frank Dikötter, author of Mao’s Great Famine author
SESSION 4: Panel Discussion of Great Famine survivors & researchers
Please RSVP on Heritage’s event page.
Invite your friends on Facebook!
U.S. FILM PREMIERE of MAO’S GREAT FAMINE
Laogai Museum, 15 February, 6-7 p.m.
PRODUCED BY: Arturo Mio
DIRECTED BY: Patrick Cabouat and Philippe Grangereau
FEATURING: Frank Dikötter, author of Mao’s Great Famine
Please RSVP by emailing laogai@laogai.org with your full name and affiliation.
DAY 2
Laogai Museum, 16 February, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
INTRODUCTION: Harry Wu, LRF Executive Director
SESSION 1: Chinese experts (names to be published upon exiting China)
SESSION 2: Alternative views of the Great Famine
LIGHT LUNCH
SESSION 3: Survivors’ Seminar (in Mandarin Chinese; no translation)
CLOSING REMARKS
Please RSVP by emailing laogai@laogai.org with your full name and affiliation.
Invite your friends on Facebook!
LRF Contact: Andrew Yang (202) 408-8300
