Anáhuac University hosts 2011 and 2013 Bioethics Art Competition Winning Pieces in Mexico City

The Anáhuac University in Mexico City displayed the winning pieces of the 2011 and 2013 Bioethics Art Competition in its school of architecture during the Fourth International Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion Conference in Mexico City. The following is a personal reflection shared at the exhibit’s opening ceremony from art gallery owner Yvonne Denbina, one of the competition’s founders. Her account expresses how the works have stimulated minds and touched hearts around the world. Her experience also suggests that future competitions will continue foster the art of convergence and cooperation in global ethics through the universal language of art. A catalogue of the winning pieces can be found online for 2011 competition here and for the 2013 competition here.

I am an humble artist, not a bioethicist nor a philosopher.  But I have listened with interest to those present in the conference this week as they have discussed many ideas, elaborated with many words. In September of 2010, Father Joseph Tham and Alberto Garcia visited my art gallery in Old Town Spring, Texas and shared with me their mission to explore ways to connect art and Bioethics. I shared with them my experiences with the art competitions that I had organized in my gallery to benefit breast cancer research. Marie Valdez, a friend and an art professor, was also in the gallery that day and the four of us began exchanging possibilities, discussing ideas. A week later, a group of friends gathered at my house to hear Father Tham and Dr. Garcia’s remarks about the UNESCO Chair and soon we had a competition underway.

From thoughts, come words, then action. I stand before you today with a whole array of thoughts, which begat words in the form of artist statements and then actions in the images you see in this exhibition. In the course of four years, as the art has been exhibited in Rome, New York, Houston, Hong Kong, Spring and The Woodlands, TX, I have spoken with many people as they view the images. I would like to share some of those conversations with you.

In the first image, “Sisters”, we have a black and white photograph of two young women, one black, the other white, with similar hairstyles and beautiful complexions. They are facing each other, touching at the forehead, with a long strand of natural pearls connecting them around the neck.  A woman in the gallery asked me, “Do you really believe that?  That they are Sisters?” I wasn’t sure if she was asking me whether their familial relationship was possible, or if they could be as sisters in a social relationship.  I responded, “look at their beautiful complexions, their similarities….” She was quick to respond, “No, I don’t believe that can be, or should be.”

I drew her attention to another image of two nearly identical human hearts, with dissection around the same vessels, “Hearts.” “Look at this picture,” I said. “Can you tell me if this heart belongs to a black person or a white person?  A Buddhist?  A Norwegian? A Communist? We all have hearts and skin and we are all human.  Aren’t we brothers and sisters because we are all human?”

In another example, “Olga” we have a photograph taken of a 92-year-old woman living with her daughter and family. She suffers from dementia and is bedridden. A frequent response to this image is that of individuals recoiling and expressing their inability to look at the photograph.  I ask why this is so painful for them.  They respond that it reminds them of a family member who was in a nursing home or hospital.  I am able to relay the artist’s information that in this situation, Olga is at home in familiar surroundings cared for by those who know her and love her.  Dying is a part of life, just like birth.  If, as in Olga’s case, we are fortunate to see a long life, and we are given the time to experience a dying process, we must remember to celebrate the life spanning birth and death.  Each day of life is a gift, whether it is difficult or exhilarating.  We must all go through death, not as a process to fear, but a transition that concludes the opportunities we choose on Earth. It is natural and it may or may not have complications, but it is not a process to recoil from.

The opportunity for dialogue occurs when we offer the stimulus for provocative interaction. The winning images in the competition are selected by international judges in the arts and sciences. These images selected represent the artists speaking through their images and words. I, the artist, share my heart with you the viewer and you, the viewer, share with those you know what your impressions and responses may be.  We begin a ripple of love.  And that is how we affect the world: with ripples of love, with conversations about what we have in common, how we are united in finding comfort and how we long to live in love and peace.

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New Issue of Studia Bioethica released

The first issue of Studia Bioethica for 2015 has been published and is now available online here. The text is dedicated to the theme of “Social Responsibility in Bioethics” and includes many articles revised in light of discussions held during the Fourth International Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion Conference in Mexico City in November 2014. Previous issues of the bioethical journal of the Regina Apostolorum Faculty of Bioethics can be found here.

International Conference on Social Responsibility in Health

November 10-13, 2014

Mexico City

International Conference: Social Responsibility in Health

Bioethical thought leaders from six major religions and twelve countries gathered in Mexico City for the Fourth International Bioethics, Multiculturalism, and Religion Workshop and Conference to discuss the role of social responsibility in health from their diverse traditions. 

Publication

Il Principio di Responsabilità Sociale in Bioetica”

Editors: Chris Durante; David Joyce; Fabio Persano; Ruiping Fan …

Publisher: Studia Bioethica

Year: 2015

Link: Riviste UPRA

Publication

“Religious Perspectives on Social Responsibility in Health”

Editors: Fr. Joseph Tham, Chris Durante, Alberto García

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Year: 2018

Link: Springer.com

Fourth International Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion Workshop and Conference On Social Responsibility in Bioethics

AnahaucNorte

Mexico City, November 10-13, 2014

www.anahuac.mx

Speakers list

Three international conferences and workshop on “Bioethics, Multiculturalism and Religion” were held in Jerusalem (2009), Rome (2011) and Hong Kong(2013).  These academic activities sought to foster the art of convergence and cooperation in global ethics among experts in bioethics coming from the world religions including Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.

dfHosted by the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, established in two Roman universities, the Università Europea di Roma and Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum, the conferences were a first step in creating a permanent academic forum to promote dialogue and bioethical reflection in the light of human rights and duties addressed from different religious and cultural perspectives in an actively-advancing medical, legal and technological environment.

By gathering experts from these religions, a rare space of dialogue has been created where an atmosphere of friendship and respect reigns. Such dialogue and encounters allow us to see the other as our brothers and sisters in our common humanity.   Such dialogue and encounters allow us to see the other as our brothers and sisters in our common humanity. This is more urgent in our globalized reality, and can eliminate suspicions that are sometimes causes of distrust and even violence.

Anahuac University is an UNITWIN privileged partner of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights from its very beginning in 2009. As co-organizer of this international workshop and public conferences which will be held in México City at its campus, this will be one of the commemorative events of the 50th Anniversary of Anahuac University’s foundation. This event hopes to reinforce its commitment to integral formation and development of individuals and society through positive leadership.

The UNESCO Chair seeks to create a forum of diverse bioethics thought leaders. Collaborating in a spirit of respect and friendship we hope to deliver a common framework to guide the application of bioethical principles in the light of the UNESCO Declaration. In this manner we can inform and enlighten ethical, legal and public opinions, decisions, and actions relative to medicine, life sciences and human rights and responsibilities.

Our common inspiration and Christian identity prompt us to engage in dialogue and work toward the goal expressed by UNESCO Chair’s motto, “Fostering the Art of Convergence and Cooperation in Global Ethics”.

Workshop

During the 2011 Rome workshop we dealt with the principle of the protection of vulnerable peoples in bioethics in the light of the UNESCO Declaration in Bioethics and Human Rights. Soon became clear that with so many different religious traditions, many conceptual problems were unresolved. The workshop in Hong Kong (2013) focused on the tension between human rights and cultural diversity, as they affect the life sciences, healthcare and the appropriate use of technology in these fields.

In Mexico 2014 the workshop will focus on the Principle of Social Responsibility and Health from the perspectives of different religions and cultures. Article 14 of the UNESCO Declaration in Bioethics and Human Rights states in part that:

1.      The promotion of health and social development for their people is a central purpose of governments that all sectors of society share.

2.      Taking into account that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition, progress in science and technology should advance:

(a) access to quality health care and essential medicines, especially for the health of women and children, because health is essential to life itself and must be considered to be a social and human good

The meeting in México will consist in a three-day workshop where bioethics experts from Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Mesoamerican traditions will gather to discuss different papers submitted for this occasion. The collection of these papers will result in the publication of a book.

Methodology

The following papers will be commissioned:

1. One expert from each of the 8 religious groups will write and present a paper (approx. 10-page) that must be submitted on July 31, 2014.  The papers should primarily offer religious perspectives supported by scriptural, textual and other authoritative sources.  The papers should comment on Art. 14 of the aforementioned UNESCO Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights, (no. 1, 2a).  In addition, one can comment on how this article has its basis taken from the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 25).  The IBC has published a Report on the Principle of Social Responsibility that should be consulted.

a. After our previous discussion on the relationship between human rights and responsibilities, how does your religious tradition understand social responsibility in terms of justice, equal access to all in healthcare?

b. How does your religious tradition see, judge and advise the political and governmental instances in their allocation and provision of healthcare?  What are the areas of cooperation, interaction or contention?

c. How does your religion practices its works of mercy in offering services in healthcare, if any? How does this service collaborate with the secular healthcare system in different countries (or example of where it is a predominant religion)?  What is the added value of religious participation in healthcare delivery—specific mission, spiritual or pastoral care, etc—that can make a difference to the secular counterparts?

2. A second expert of the same tradition will be assigned to respond to the above paper (approx. 4-5 pages) and submit it before the workshop.

3. A third expert from a different tradition will be assigned to respond to the above paper (approx. 4-5 pages) and submit it before the workshop.

The workshop will be held on November 10-13, 2014 in Mexico City. The language of the workshop is English.  Participants of the workshop include:

a) Experts from the religions who have written and submitted the papers. They are expected to have read the other papers before attending the workshop.  During each workshop session, they will give a 20 minute summary of their papers followed by the two 10 minute critiques and an ample period of discussion, clarification, and questions from other authors.

b) Academics interested in the workshop may also participate in the sessions, after approval by the organizing committee (send requests to jtham@unescobiochair.org). They can raise questions only after the above group has exhausted the discussions.

It is hoped that these discussions will provide a clear and thorough understanding of each religious tradition on their understanding of the principle of social responsibility and health in the light of human rights.  Their papers may also be modified based on this dialog before submission for eventual publication.

Public conferences

As means of publicity and involvement of university community and the public we suggest to organize at Anahuac University one or two open events on topics related to sensible bioethics issues in the light of human rights.

On two evenings, experts in the workshop will provide open academic conferences for educational purposes of human rights.  We will encourage participation of the public including public authorities, political parties, teachers, university students, and anyone interested in these relevant topics. The conferences are primarily academic and apolitical, even though we encourage participation of politicians and human right activists. There will be simultaneous translation into Spanish and English. The conferences and discussions could address some of the following questions:

  • Human Rights and Multiculturalism
  • Human Rights and Bioethics
  • Human Rights and Social Responsibility

Bioethics Art Exhibition

During the days of the workshop and conference, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights will set up an art exhibition of the winners of Bioethics Art Competition that have taken place in 2011 and 2013.

These artworks have been successfully showed in several art venues and institutions: in the United States (at the UN Headquaters in New York and in Houston), Rome and Hong Kong as a correlate cultural activity and environment to illustrate universal values related to bioethics in the light of human rights. The mission of this competition as well as the themes and pictures of the works of art can be found at: www.bioethicsart.org.

Around this exhibition we could organized a presentation in order to involve talented students and scholars in the next edition of the competition that will be launched on September 2014 and with a deadline for submission in May 2015.

Co-organizers

  • UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, Rome, Italy
  • Anahuac University North, Mexico City, Mexico.

Organizing committee

Alberto Garcia, Director of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights

Gonzalo Miranda, LC, Fellow of the UNESCO Chair

Joseph Tham, LC, Fellow of the UNESCO Chair

Martha Tarasco, Researcher of Anahuac University

Coordinator

Joseph Tham, LC jtham@unescobiochair.org

List of speakers, Mexico workshop on Social Responsability in Bioethics

Organizers

Joseph Tham, Dean, School of Bioethics, Regina Apostolorum University, Rome, Italy. jtham@legionaries.org

Alberto Garcia, Director, UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, Rome, Italy. agg@arcol.org

Gonzalo Miranda, Professor, School of Bioethics, Regina Apostolorum University, Rome, Italy. g.miranda@arcol.org

Martha Tarasco, Board Member of the National Academy of Bioethics. Professor, Faculty of Bioethics, Anahuac University, Mexico City, Mexico.mtarasco@anahuac.mx

Open session lecturers

Adolfo Martinez Palomo, Emeritus Professor of Cinvestav, General coordinador of Consejo Consultivo de Ciencias de la Presidencia de la República, Mexico City, Mexico. amartinez@cinvestav.mx

Dalfna Feinholz, Team Leader, Sector for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France   d.feinholz@unesco.org

Chris Durante, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, New York University, New York City, NY, USA. c.durante@hotmail.com

Carlos Viesca Treviño, Researcher, Department of History and Philosophy of Medicine, Responsible for Master and PhD Programs in Bioethics, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico. cviesca@frontstage.org

Workshop paper presenters and respondents

(First on list—Main paper of a religious tradition; Second on list—Respondent from the same religious tradition; Third on list—Respondent from a differentreligious tradition)

Buddhism

Ellen Zhang, Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy Department, Research Fellow, Centre for Applied Ethics, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong. eyzhang@hkbu.edu.hk

Soraj Hongladarom, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. hsoraj@chula.ac.th

Colleen Gallagher, Chief and Executive Director, Section of Integrated Ethics in Cancer Care, Associate Professor, Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. cmgallagher@mdanderson.org

Christianity

Oscar Martinez, Professor, Faculty of Bioethics, Anahuac University, Mexico City, Mexico. ojmartin@anahuac.mx

Chris Durante, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, New York University, New York City, NY, USA. c.durante@hotmail.com

David Heyd, Chaim Perelman Professor of Philosophy, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. david.heyd@mail.huji.ac.il

Confucianism

Ruiping Fan, Professor of Philosophy, Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. safan@cityu.edu.hk

Roland Chia, Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine, Trinity Theological College, Singapore. roland@ttc.edu.sg

Peter Au Yeung, Diocesan Committee on Bioethics, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. lovpetay@netvigator.com

Hinduism

Vasantha Muthuswamy, President, Forum for Ethics Review Committees in India, Mumbai, India. vmuthuswamy@hotmail.com

John Lunstroth, The Health & Human Rights Research Professor, Health Law & Policy Institute, University of Houston Law Center, Houston, TX, USA.lunstroth@gmail.com

María Elizabeth de los Ríos, Professor, Faculty of Bioethics, Anahuac University, Mexico City, Mexico. marieli829@hotmail.com

Islam

Aasim Padela, Director of the Initiative on Islam & Medicine, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.apadela@uchicago.edu

Nouzha Guessous, Medical Biologist, Researcher and Consultant in Bioethics and Human Rights, Honorary Professor, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco. nouzhaguessous@gmail.com

Stefan Kirchner, Associate Professor for Fundamental and Human Rights, University of Lapland Faculty of Law, Rovaniemi, Finland.stefan.kirchner@ulapland.fi

Judaism

Jonathan & Adina Halevy, General Director, Shaare Zedek Medical Center; MSW, Psychotherapist, Jerusalem, Israel. halevy@szmc.org.il

Samuel Weingerz Mehl, Medical bioethicist, Dr Manuel Gea Gonzalez General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico. weingerz@prodigy.net.mx

Martha Tarasco, Board Member of the National Academy of Bioethics. Professor, Faculty of Bioethics, Anahuac University, Mexico City, Mexico.mtarasco@anahuac.mx