The Connect U.S. Fund and U.S. in the World
Please join the Connect U.S. Fund and U.S. in the World for a brownbag lunch and briefing on the latest human rights and national security messaging research from the Topos Partnership. Register online.
How can advocates discuss human rights and national security with the American public in a fearful time? Please join the Connect U.S. Fund and U.S. in the World this Thursday, January 21, for a brownbag lunch and briefing on the latest human rights and national security messaging research from the Topos Partnership. Sue Veres Royal, co-director of USITW, will be facilitating an interactive conversation about where the public "is" on this issue - and implications for communicators.
The briefing will take place from 12:30 - 2:00 pm (Eastern) at the Connect U.S. Fund, 1120 19th St. NW, 8th floor, Washington DC 20036. The session will also be accessible via webinar. Please register online to participate in the discussion.
BRIEFING:Â Reframing the Conversation on Human Rights and National Security
The U.S. in the World Initiative (USITW) will be briefing advocates on research commissioned by USITW on behalf of the National Security and Human Rights Campaign.  The research, conducted by the Topos Partnership, was completed in October 2009.  This research was designed to develop frames that improve communications across three issue areas - torture (and detention), widespread surveillance, and racial profiling -to mutually reinforce and advance commonly shared ideals.
From the research, two promising broad "re-frames" were uncovered. The briefing will examine these "re-frames" as well as suggestions for helping connect the dots from a broader conversation about national security and human rights to more specific recommendations for discussing torture, detention, surveillance and racial profiling. USITW will also discuss the frames that failed in the research and discuss thoughts as to why they weren't more successful.
Topics for Discussion:
How can we discuss civil liberties in a fearful time without triggering default patterns of thinking by the public?
What narratives might help counter the conservative mantra of "keep America safe", which has been used to justify abusive practices, and changes in U.S. law surrounding surveillance and detention?
What can we learn from the current conversation around the failed Christmas Day bombing and the discussion of a potential increase in domestic terrorism?
Who are the best messengers for our narratives? What role can we each play in shaping a new conversation?
Resources:
Highlights and implications of the Topos Partnership's research. Produced U.S. in the World Initiative (December 2009) http://www.connectusfund.org/resources/usitw-memo-topos-partnerhip-research-national-security-and-human-rights-campaign
Poll: 58 Percent Concerned Anti-Terrorism Policy Has Not Gone Far Enough To Protect The Country - Pew - Jan 14. (http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/578.pdf)
Poll: U.S. Fear of Terrorism Steady After Foiled Christmas Attack Gallup - Jan 13 - 42 percent of Americans now worried, compared to 39 percent in mid-December. (http://www.gallup.com/poll/125051/U.S.-Fear-Terrorism-Steady-After-Foiled-Christmas-Attack.aspx?CSTS=alert)
Poll: Majority (63%) Find Government's Anti-Terror Policies Lean Too Far Toward Protecting Civil Liberties Rather Than National Security Qunnipiac - Jan 14. (http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1413)
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Sue Veres Royal, U.S. in the World
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