“There is not an archaeological site in the world that is safe,” Gibson said. “This is the problem — it’s not just the loss of Iraq’s treasuries, but the loss of treasures even [in the United States].”

McGuire Gibson, an archaeologist from the University of Chicago said in the Stanford Daily, January 29, 2008

Watch "Thieves of Baghdad" (Al Jazeera, 2007) which details the theft and smuggling of artifacts from Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War. To view "Thieves of Baghdad" in its entirety, sign up to host your Candlelight Vigil here, and SAFE will provide a URL enabling you to download and view this intriguing, rarely-seen documentary.

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Candlelight vigils around the world

Iraq

Iraq Museum
Apr 10 Baghdad

Lighting of candles

Canada

Lakehead University, Orillia Campus - Anthroplology Club
Apr 12 Orillia, ON

Candles, brief statement of students' concern about worldwide theft of, and trade in, ancient arts and antiquities. PR to media to raise awareness.

Forest Hill Public School
Apr 10 Toronto, ON

Grade 5 and 6 students will light candles and discuss the ongoing cultural and ethical implications of looting and and the desecration of cultural property and antiquities.

Netherlands

National Museum of Antiquities
Apr 10 Leiden

From 10-12 April, in the Great Tempel hall of the National Museum in Leiden, The Netherlands we will coninuously run a film from our newly developped educational program "The Middle East: war and cultural heritage" with a short explantory text to commemorate the sad aniversary of the looting of the Bagdad Museum.

Sweden

Iraq Solidarity Association
Apr 10 Gothenburg, INT

April 10th at the Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg: A Seminar will be held with the title "Culture Politics and Globalization". In connection with this seminar a light vigil in support of SAFE and in memory of the plundering of the Baghdad museum in 2003, will take place. The vigil is arranged by the International Womens League for Peace and Freedom, the Peace Coalition of Gothenburg and the Iraq Solidarity Association of Gothenburg.

United Kingdom

SAFE/Saving Antiquities for Everyone
Apr 10 London

An informal opportunity for SAFE supporters in London to meet and discuss the state of cultural heritage.

United States

Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Apr 10

The candlelight vigil corresponds with the Mead Art Museum's current temporary exhibit "The Third Space: Cultural Identity Today" Carol Solomon Kiefer, Curator.

From 6-6:45 we will be viewing the documentary "Robbing the Cradle of Civilization: The Looting Iraq's Cultural Heritage" in the Pruyne Lecture Hall, Fayerweather Hall.

From 7-7:30 There will be a gallery talk on the Mead Museum's Assyrian wall-reliefs in the Mead's Kunian Gallery.

Dept. of Historic Preservation-Art History, Rutgers University
Apr 11

7:00 pm Welcome: Archer St. Clair Harvey and Tod Marder, Certificate Program in Historic Preservation, Department of Art History

7:15 pm "The U.S. invasion, "nation building" and the destruction of Iraq's cultural heritage" - Eric David, Center for Middle Eastern Studies and Department of Political Science

7:30 pm Film: "Robbing the cradle of Civilization"

8:30 pm "Rutgers Classicist Documents, Lost Iraqi Museums: the Photos of Emeritus Professor Christoph Clairmont" - T. Corey Brennan, Department of Classics

8:45 pm "The Iraq Museum Today" - Migdalia Tollens, Department of Art History

Alaska Peace Center
Apr 11 Fairbanks, AK

Poster presentation and discussion Candlelight Vigil

Assyrian Cultural Center of Bet-Nahrain
Apr 11 Ceres, CA

The Assyrian Cultural Center of Bet-Nahrain Candlelight Vigil for the Iraq Museum, which runs concurrent with its annual telethon broadcast by KBSV-TV Channel 23 in Ceres, California and across North and South America, Europe and the Middle East via AssyriaSat satellite television, will consist of the lighting of candles, a moment of silence, and a Christian prayer in the Assyrian language and in English.

West Los Angeles College
Apr 10 Culver City, CA

Presentations by Dr. Alice Taylor, Professor of Fine Arts and Humanities, West Los Angeles College and Lucy Blake-Elahi, Artist and Art History Instructor, West Los Angeles College
Participants will receive a button and a postcard commemorating this event and the thanks of the international arts community.

Directions:
Overland Ave., between Slauson & Jefferson. rom Freshman Drive, take second right (Albert Vera Drive), up hill to parking on the right. alk up hill. First building on left is Fine Arts Complex. The Gallery is turquoise in color.

Saint Paul Catholic High School
Apr 10 Bristol, CT

8:000 pm Lighting of the candles, introduction to event
8:10 pm Short prayer by St. Paul Chaplain, Father Jose Mercado
8:15pm Viewing of the film "Robbing the Cradle of Civilization: The Looting of Iraq's Ancient Treasures" in the St. Paul Library

Oriental Institute
Apr 10 Chicago, IL

Join us for the opening of the special exhibit: Catastrophe! The Destruction and Looting of Iraq’s Past (April 10–Dec 31, 2008) on April 10, 2008 at the Oriental Institute.

5:30 PM: Members are welcome at a special reception with the faculty and curatorial staff of the exhibit in the Oriental Institute Research Archives.

6:30 PM: Public lecture: The Destruction of Iraq’s Cultural Heritage: The view from five years on presented by Professor McGuire Gibson. Breasted Hall

7:15 PM: Viewing of special exhibit: CATASTROPHE: The Looting and Destruction of Iraq’s Heritage. Oriental Institute Museum, Holleb Special Exhibits Gallery

8 PM: Candlelight (flashlight) vigil organized in conjunction with by SAFE / Saving Antiquities for Everyone marking the 5th anniversary of the looting of the Baghdad Museum. Oriental Institute Museum galleries.

Heritage Resources Program, Northwestern State University
Apr 11 Natchitoches, LA

The Heritage Resources Program's Vigil Event will consist of introductory remarks, a viewing of "Thieves of Baghdad", and a follow-up discussion geared toward generating awareness of the high costs of the illicit antiquities trade.

SAFE
Apr 11 Worcester, MA

Please join us on the steps of the Lancaster Street entrance to the Worcester Art Museum to light a candle in our vigil. This vigil is part of our event with Dr. Donny George, please see the webpage for more information. Make a stance with us!

Carleton College
Apr 10 Northfield, MN

Viewing of film, "Robbing the Cradle of Civilization: The Looting of Iraq's Ancient Treasures," followed by candlelight vigil.

University of Minnesota
Apr 10 Minneapolis, MN

We will show the film "Robbing the Cradle of Civilization" as well as images from Iraq provided by (Retired) Major Cori Wegener.

Museum of Art and Archaeology
Apr 10 Columbia, MO

The student AIA club of Montana State University
Apr 11 Bozeman, MT

We are a small student club here at MSU and are having a viewing of the film, The Giant Buddhas, and then afterwards having candles lit on the steps of Montana Hall. April 11 - film starts at 6 pm, and candlelight vigil to be held afterwards, at 7:30

Bard College
Apr 10 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

5:30 p.m.: Talk by Dr. Elizabeth Simpson "The Looting of Iraq" (45 mins. plus Q&A)

7:00 p.m.: Movie "Robbing the Cradle of Civilization: The Looting of Iraq's Ancient Treasures," (43 mins.)

Following the movie: candlelight vigil

Brooks Museum -- SUNY Cortland
Apr 10 Cortland, NY

Screening of "Raiders of the Lost Ark - Iraq" (17 mins) and a clip of "No End in Sight" concerning the looting in Iraq (7 mins). Films to be followed by an informal discussion of the impact of looted antiquities on our cultural heritage.

Cornell University
Apr 10 Ithaca, NY

4:30 brief introduction 4:35 showing of "Robbing the Cradle of Civilization" 5:30 Looting and the antiquities market in Latin America: John Henderson 5:55 lighting of candles on steps

Anthropos/Classics Club
Apr 10-11 Cincinnati, OH

On April 10th, Drs. Alan Sullivan and Kenneth Tankersley will discuss damage to archaeological sites and its implication for the study of biological remains (45 minute lectures), followed by Q&A sessions. Also, anthropology sophomore Andras Nagy will discuss the Iraq Museum looting.

On April 11th, Dr. Elizabeth Riodren will discuss Troy and her experiences with its varied archaeological record as a classics undergrad. Andras Nagy will reprise his discussion about the Iraq Museum looting. "Robbing the Cradle of Civilization", a Canadian documentary about the looting of Iraq, will also be screened.

Archaeological Legacy Institute
Apr 12 Eugene, OR

Oral presentations, films and candlelight gathering.

University of Pittsburgh, Department of the History of Art & Architecture
Apr 9 Pittsburgh, PA

Informal presentations by archaeologists and museum professionals who work in Kazakhstan, China, and Peru. Discussion to follow.

University of Pennsylvania Museum
Apr 11 Philadelphia, PA

As a prelude to the University of Pennsylvania Museum's 26th annual Maya Weekend, which focuses on the preservation of ancient Maya sites, efforts to sustain modern Maya cultural traditions, and the need to conserve vanishing tropical forests and coastal environments, UPenn Museum will light candles and hold a brief remembrance ceremony for the Iraq Museum in Baghdad to mark the 5th anniversary of the events of April 10-12, 2003.

SAFE/Saving Antiquities for Everyone
Apr 11 Charleston, SC

Museology Graduate Students
Apr 11 Seattle, WA

Students of the UW Museology Graduate Program will be invited to join the vigil in spirit throughout the day. Instructions on searching for stolen and looted artifacts on eBay will be emailed to the student listserv. Students will be encouraged to spend time throughout the day reporting illicit dealers to eBay staff.