PUBLICATIONS BY UWPEP STAFF Labor and Employment in New Mexico: A Complete Desktop Guide to Employment Law Eric Sirotkin (January 1994) Butterworth Publishers Lexis/Nexis 596 p. - A reference to the law, but more importantly a guide to employers and employees on how to inter-relate with one another over conflict. Covers mediation, discipline, dealing with the difficult boss and more. • ISBN-10: 040925715X Witness: A Lawyers Journey to End Us vs Them by Eric Sirotkin (Publication 2012) Through encounters with the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Fidel Castro and others, the author faces questions of God, freedom, peace and happiness in troubled times. The essence of being human becomes a roadmap to inner peace and to heal our planet. Articles Sentient Times series SENTIENT TIMES seeks to provide information, inspiration and tools while engaging the reader in an ongoing dialogue, posing questions and offering suggestions for solutions to the challenges facing us today. “Using Truth to Reconcile” Eric Sirotkin Sentient Times Oct/Nov 2001 I’m sitting in the Dallas Airport and am almost home after four days of false starts. I have seen America under Attack, America Mourning, America Praying and America Speaking Out. I’ve heard angry people talking about a nuclear strike and declaring that we are at war “with someone” but we¹re not sure whom. I¹ve listened to the sad backlash stories of death threats and assaults against anyone who looks Arab-American..... “Terrorists and Saints; The Wisdom of Ubuntu” Eric Sirotkin, Sentient Times April/May 200 Last night I dreamed of peace. Each time I opened my eyes, a new face stared back at me in a mirror. In one moment I was a child in the Congo, in the next a Grandfather by a pond in Bosnia, and later a woman, somewhere in the Far East, brushing her long, oft-braided hair. It was reminiscent of the past life booth in Albert Brook’s Defending Your Life, sans Meryl Streep. Yet, it was only when I looked at my reflection and saw the face of an Al-Qaida terrorist, that I awoke with the answer.... “Community Consciousness” Eric Sirotkin Sentient TImes June/July 2002 A hush fell over the northern Qua-Zulu/Natal auditorium during the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings as a man described the killing spree he had ordered at a bustop. Gazing in the front row at the woman bound forever to her wheelchair and painful memories, he wept, “I have known her my whole life. I didn’t know she would be there that day.”...... “Myths of the Hermit Kingdom: A Sojourn to North Korea” Eric Sirotkin Sentient Times Dec 2003/Jan 2004 It seemed like a dream. I found myself, along a crystal clear river in the serene mountains of North Korea surrounded by groups of picnicking Koreans from the “axis of evil.” People were relaxed and laughter filled the air. After learning that a group of Americans was there, a huge plate of clams was sent over from a group upstream to welcome us. We exchanged hopes for peace and relayed greetings, through our interpreter, from the millions of peace-loving Americans.... “Reframing Peace: Crafting a New Peace Movement” Eric Sirotkin Sentient Times April/May 2005 For millions of Americans the shock still lingers. An election we thought would finally shift us away from war resulted in confusion, calls of fraud, but most significantly, a growing feeling that the message of peace and human dignity, that we thought was so clear, is not being embraced. Something is simply not working..... “The Movement to Commit Poetry” Eric Sirotkin Sentient Times Oct/Nov 2007 “The hatred of thousands is offset by the light of one loving heart.” - Gandhi In 1994, I stood in a polling station in South Africa, as lines of people snaked for miles across the fields of hope to vote for the first time. For three days of voting, the country, so filled with violence and fear in the months and years leading up to the election, celebrated peace, without any reported acts of violence. As an election observer, I saw first-hand voters marking their X next to their choice for President, most often the once banned African National Congress (ANC). Days later Nelson Mandela, the symbol of hope, of justice freed, mounted the steps outside of Parliament and took the oath of office as President. A monumental day — a colossal achievement — a step forward..... Newspaper Series - Albuquerque Journal and Tribune During the elections of 1994, where I served as an election observer,and during one of several visits when working with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I would send back articles that were published while the events were happening. I remember having to call over the phone and dictate my stories to the editors, as there was no internet or even fax machines there at the time. I would come back after a very full day and write these personal journal accounts. I was always running on excitement and amazement at what I had been experiencing. It was a gift to spread the inspiration by sharing these accounts back home with my community, friends and family. “Democracy Triumphs in South Africa Vote” Albuquerque Journal April 22, 1994 ....Journal SA article.pdf Observers Help Ease Election Tensions, Local Man Finds Albuquerque Tribune April 22,1994 .......observers help.pdf “We Should All Celebrate the End of Oppression.” Albuquerque Tribune April 26, 1994 ....CelebrateSA.pdf “First Time Voters Smiles Will Touch me Forever.” Albuquerque Tribune April 27,1994 first time1.pdf “Albuquerque Lawyer Takes New Journey to South Africa.” Albuquerque Tribune April 2, 1996 ....Albuquerquelawyer.pdf