Saudi youth collecting goods for flood relief (Lulua Asaad)
By Lulua Asaad
Vienna – When we read or watch news about the Middle East and North Africa what we hear are politicians gathering to talk about the economy, employment rates or education; or an analyst breaking down headline news stories. What we don’t usually hear about are youth coming together hand-in-hand – regardless of their differences, their doctrines and their upbringing – to create a better world to live in, one city or one home at a time. These stories deserve to be heard and can serve as a powerful reality check, dispelling popular stereotypes about a country, a culture or a religion.
The Youth Initiative Group (YIG) is new in Saudi Arabia, founded in 2010 with the aim of bringing together volunteers in Saudi Arabia to work together for positive change in their society. YIG encourages individuals to volunteer their time and skills to benefit the society they live in. read more…
A photo from 2006 showing miners digging for diamonds in Marange, in eastern Zimbabwe. Human rights groups say the Robert Mugabe government seized the mine by killing hundreds of prospectors and then forced countless people into hard labor(Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, AP)
Last week, SFCG hosted a presentation by Masango Matimura about diamond mining in Zimbabwe and the controversy over whether the country’s diamonds should be declared “conflict diamonds.” Masango, who is from Zimbabwe, has been studying in the US as part of the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program. As part of his fellowship, he has been interning with SFCG’s Africa Program, where he has been researching conflict diamonds in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. A former British colony, Zimbabwe officially gained independence in 1980. The late start to independence may be partly to do with Zimbabwe’s wealth of natural resources. The country is rich in minerals and has one of the world’s largest diamond deposits. There are three major centers of diamond mining in the country. While there is no controversy surrounding two of them, there is disagreement about whether the diamonds mined in the Marange diamond fields are conflict diamonds or not. read more…
Our work on restoring peace to DRC’s troubled Equateur Province was recently featured on TV5-Monde. Two years ago the region was wracked by violence and thousands fled to neighboring countries. They are only now beginning to return. The video shows scenes of a recent peace festival and the signing of the non-aggression pact, which SFCG helped to facilitate:
Cast members of The Team visit Naivasha, Kenya for screening and discussion.
The Silverdocs Documentary Film Festival starts today in Silver Spring, MD. As we previously wrote, a film about SFCG’s production The Team in Kenya will be screened. It’s part of a group of films being presented by the US Institute of Peace (USIP). This is the 2nd year that USIP is partnering with Silverdocs to present a special “Peacebuilding on the Screen” program.
The program will provide a forum through which meaningful discussions and new insights about international peacebuilding and conflict management can be received. The selected films represent a variety of issues around the world and connects USIP’s expertise of international peacebuilding to the power of documentaries and storytelling. Each film will be followed by panel discussions with leading thinkers and filmmakers.
The Team will be screening this Saturday, June 25 at 3pm. Get your tickets today!
Other films in the peacebuilding strand:
Diary, is Tim Hetherington’s account of what it’s like to be a war journalist, told in a dreamlike, insightful and experimental way. Hetherington, who also directed the Oscar-nominated film, Restrepo, was killed this April while covering the conflict in Libya.
Diary – screening Friday, June 24, 3:30pm
The Green Wave, is a creative narrative of Iran’s 2009 Green Movement that incorporates animation with live-action footage and testimonials from the Iranian protesters and bloggers who dared to make their voices heard.
The Green Wave – screening Wednesday, June 22, 5:30pm
Love During Wartime, shows the personal effects of conflict, as it follow two young lovers, one an Israeli Jew, the other a Palestinian Muslim. The pair enact a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story as they fight opposition from country, family and friends and struggle for the right to live together.
Love During Wartime – screenings Tuesday, June 21, 3:45pm; & Sunday, June 26, 6:45pm
The Rescuers follow Rwanda antigenocide activist Stephanie Nyombayire and Holocaust historian, Sir Martin Gilbert as they trace the story of 12 diplomats who put themselves at great risk to help save tens of thousands of Jews from Nazi concentration camps. In a journey that covers 15 countries, Nyombayire and Gilbert unravel the remarkable true story of a dozen heroes of World War II and look toward building a more peaceful world.
The Rescuers – screenings Wednesday, June 22, 10:45am; & Thursday, June 23, 5:15pm
Untitled
General, your tank is a powerful vehicle.
It smashes down forests and crushes men.
But it has one defect:
It needs a driver.
General, your bomber is powerful.
It flies faster than a storm
and carries more than an elephant.
But it has one defect:
It needs a mechanic.
General, man is very useful.
He can fly and he can kill.
But he has one defect:
He can think.
~by Bertolt Brecht, Germany (1898-1956)
SFCG Hosts: The Roles of Religious Communities in Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict
This drawing by a Cambodian child depicts events under Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge (from openlearn.open.ac.uk)
Our Africa Program Associate recently wrote about the role of faith in peacebuilding and if you’re interested in the topic, we’re offering a chance to explore a facet of it in greater depth.
Next Tuesday, Search for Common Ground is hosting a discussion with the Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict (WNCAC) on the Roles of Religious Communities in Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict.
Representatives from UNICEF and Religions for Peace will be presenting on the topic and speaking about their partnership to strengthen the engagement of religious communities and child protection actors to protect children affected by violence and conflict. The project aims to develop and strengthen the capacity of religious communities to protect children affected by conflict, as well as find ways for child protection actors and religious communities to work together effectively.
Spaces are limited so reserve yours now!
The Roles of Religious Communities in Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict
Tuesday, June 21
Search for Common Ground
4th Floor, Large Conference Room
1601 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
Dupont Circle Metro North
