Armenian Genocide education advocates testify at California SenateApril 27, 2018 - 10:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - California State Senator Anthony J. Portantino on Thursday, April 26 invited Armenian education leaders to testify before the State Senate on the importance of Genocide Education and Genocide Curriculum. “Accurately telling the history of the Armenian Genocide is critical to student education and helps combat denialist efforts that continue today. This Tuesday we witnessed efforts in Washington to bow to Turkish pressure. I’m proud that California does not and I’m grateful to the education advocates who came to Sacramento to help argue this case,” commented Portantino. Last year, Portantino placed $10 million dollars into the State Budget to update the social science curriculum framework in California to include among other issues, Armenian Genocide Education. Today’s hearing provided the genocide education experts the direct opportunity to testify in front of the California Legislature and the Department of Education representatives. Senator Portantino who is the chair of the Senate Budget Sub Committee on Education Finance invited Roxanne Makasdjian, Executive Director of the Genocide Education Project, Dean Cain, Prouder of the Architects of Denial, and Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region to testify at this morning’s hearing. “It is so appropriate that we had the opportunity to testify during Genocide Awareness Month and we are very thankful to Senator Portantino for providing us the opportunity to bring the accurate implementation of genocide education to the forefront of the discussion,” added Roxanne Makasdjian, Executive Director of the Genocide Education Project. “We are grateful that California is leading this discussion and our input will ensure that the history of our ancestors is accurately taught. Having both a State Senate that promotes complete understanding of civil rights and a Senate Education Budget Committee that cares so deeply about getting historical facts right is testament to the relationships the Armenian-American community has cultivated with California’s leadership.” commented Nora Hovsepian, Chair of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region. Senator Portantino is also the chair of the Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |