MEDIA ALERT October, 2011

‘In a time of violence and abuses of human rights, a brilliant, inspiring choice.’ in to receive 2011

Distinguished American linguist, social scientist and human rights campaigner Noam Chomsky is the 2011 recipient of the Sydney Peace Prize. Prof Chomsky will be in Sydney from Wednesday 2nd November to Friday 4th November to receive Australia’s only international prize for peace.

In receiving the Sydney Peace Prize, Prof Chomsky joins significant previous recipients such as Archbishop , , Sir and former Secretary General of .

Official public engagements to honour this award, hosted by the Sydney Peace Foundation and attended by Prof Chomsky, include:

- Wednesday 2nd November, 7 pm Sydney Town Hall: Peace Prize Lecture by Prof Noam Chomsky.

- Thursday 3rd November, 10:30am Sydney Opera House: Chaired by veteran Australian broadcaster , Prof Chomsky answers audience questions on ‘Problems of Knowledge and Freedom’- linguistics, global politics, human rights, responses to climate change, the nature of democracy.

- Thursday 3rd November, 7pm MacLaurin Hall, the : Gala Dinner when Patrick Dodson will award Noam Chomsky with the 2011 Sydney Peace Prize; a $50,000 prize and a hand-made glass trophy crafted by the Australian artist Brian Hirst.

- Friday 4th November, 8:30am Cabramatta High School – “Voices Inspiring Peace”. A welcome by thousands of high school student, hundreds in national costumes from all over the world, in a music and dance festival to honour Noam Chomsky. The release of two dozen peace doves in that day’s finale is the last piece of Sydney hospitality for Noam Chomsky.

Professor Chomsky will be available for interviews Wednesday 2nd November

All media enquires to:

Melissa McCullough Media and Publicity | Sydney Peace Foundation [email protected] | 0432 861 653

FAST FACTS: NOAM CHOMSKY AND THE SYDNEY PEACE PRIZE

- The Sydney jury’s citation for awarding Prof Noam Chomsky the Sydney Peace Prize reads:

‘For inspiring the convictions of millions about a common humanity and for unfailing moral courage. For critical analysis of democracy and power, for challenging secrecy, censorship and violence and for creating hope through scholarship and activism to promote the attainment of universal human rights.’

- Speaking from his home in Boston, Professor Chomsky says, ‘I am honoured to receive this prestigious award. I very much look forward to coming to Sydney. I am also grateful to the Sydney Peace Foundation in their pursuit of justice, as in their recent award to for his courageous exercise of his responsibilities as a citizen of free societies”.’

- Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation, Professor Stuart Rees, says, ‘Professor Chomsky is one of the West’s most influential intellectuals in the cause of peace, the most significant challenger of unjust power.

‘This inspiring choice comes at a time of violence and protest around the world. Across the Middle East brave people challenge authoritarian rule, yearn for freedom and for a state of their own. Yet, in Australia, leading politicians are still to find the courage to craft policies, such as those affecting refugees and asylum seekers, which reflect the hopes and standards set by Chomsky’s life and work.

- Previous recipients of the Sydney Peace Prize have included the Nobel Laureates Professor and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson, former Governor General Sir William Deane, diplomat and nuclear disarmament advocate Dr. , human rights campaigners such as the Palestinian educator Dr. , the Indian novelist Arundhati Roy and the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights .

Media Enquiries: Melissa McCullough Media and Publicity | Sydney Peace Foundation [email protected] | 0432 861 653

FAST FACTS: THE SYDNEY PEACE PRIZE

- The Sydney Peace Prize is Australia’s only international prize for peace, and honours a lifetime’s commitment to the promotion of peace with justice and the principles and practice of non- violence. - The Sydney Peace Prize was first awarded in 1998 to Prof Muhammed Yunus, Founder of the and has since been awarded annually.

FAST FACTS: THE SYDNEY PEACE FOUNDATION www.sydneypeacefoundation.org.au

- The Sydney Peace Foundation is a partnership between business, media, public service, community and academic interests, fostering a dialogue in the Australian community on the value of peace with justice.

- The Sydney Peace Foundation: • Selects and awards the Sydney Peace Prize • Recognises significant contributions to peace by young people through the Youth Peace Initiative • Awards scholarships and internships in peace, human rights, and conflict resolution • Develops corporate sector and community understanding of the value of peace with justice • Supports the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney

- Peace with justice: • Peace with justice is a way of thinking and acting which promotes nonviolent solutions to everyday problems and thereby contributes to a civil society • Sets standards for the security of children and for primary health care • Promotes an end to the violence of poverty • Facilitates personal fulfilment through the creation of rewarding opportunities in education and employment

Media Enquiries: Melissa McCullough Media and Publicity | Sydney Peace Foundation [email protected] | 0432 861 653