Common Ground Awardees Honored at State of the Union
Brandon and Julie Fisher behind Michelle Obama at the State of the Union Address (from dailyamerican.com)
In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama ended his speech by acknowledging Brandon and Julie Fisher, of Center Rock Inc., for their efforts to quickly build the drill bit that was needed to drill the hole that eventually freed the 33 trapped Chilean miners. SFCG honored Center Rock with a Common Ground Award in November 2010, and now the rest of the nation knows the story that has inspired us at Search for Common Ground.
Center Rock, together with their partners, Drillers Supply Inc., developed the plan that rescued the Chilean miners. His team travelled halfway around the world, working day and night, always knowing that they had the “right stuff” to get the job done. Brandon and Julie watched the State of the Union as guests of Michelle Obama in the first lady’s box.
President Obama singled out this story as one that exemplified the American dream, quoting one of Center Rock’s employees who said, “We proved that Center Rock is a little company, but we do big things.”
“We do big things,” Obama went on. “From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That’s how we win the future…The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it’s because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward and the state of our union is strong.”
We congratulate our Common Ground Awardees, Center Rock, on this wonderful acknowledgement of their work. Their story illustrates not only the American dream but also the power of compassion to transcend borders.
Brandon Fisher recieving the Common Ground Award from Senior VP, Susan Collin Marks
Radio soap opera in the Great Lakes Region
Rebel militias, illegal trade of precious metals and arms dealing come to mind first when one mentions borders in the Great Lakes region: petty corruption and illegal import of soap or palm oil may not be as sensational in the eyes of international media, yet they are certainly part of daily life for local officials and communities in these border areas. Trade provides income to thousands of small-scale traders and their families. The vicious circle of corruption and evasion increases smuggling, bribes, and sexual exploitation, these acts strain relationships between border officials and traders and among the traders themselves.
SFCG, with support from USAID, has launched a radio soap opera that will air in targeted border areas to raise awareness and foster discussion on these issues. The twice-weekly soap opera “Tuonane Sokoni”, or “See you at the market” in Kiswahili, depicts the daily struggles of three women: Noella and Bintu, two small-scale traders, and Sylla, a custom official. The storyline provides information about new initiatives to improve cross-border trade, while also addressing stereotypes and attitudes that serve to hinder regional cooperation and coexistence. Radio broadcast targets key border points in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, namely the cities of Uvira-Gatumba (Burundi); Bukavu-Cyangugu (Rwanda); and Goma-Gisenyi (Rwanda). Listen to the first episode, available on SFCG’s Radio for Peacebuilding Africa project site.
Tuonane Sokoni started broadcasting in December 2010 on three radio stations:
- RTNC GOMA : Every Thursday at 8 PM and every Sunday at 8PM
- RTNC BUKAVU : Every Thursday at 8.30 PM and every Sunday at 7:30 PM
- RTNC UVIRA : Every Thursday at 7PM and every Sunday at 7 PM
As of late January, the show will also be broadcast on Radio Isanganiro in Burundi; broadcast is being explored in Rwanda as well.
This soap opera is a component of SFCG’s Supporting Trading for Peace project funded by USAID. It aims to secure trade routes between Burundi, Rwanda, and the DRC so that regional economic activities can develop. It focuses on information and dialogue, with the media sector playing an important role in ensuring that petty traders and officials alike understand the rights and responsibilities of cross-border traders. Other project activities include monthly radio roundtable discussion programs, trainings for petty traders and border officials, community forums, and a trade festival.
A Week in Conflict: January 15th to 21st
The Pakistani Taliban has taken responsibility for the attack (Reuters)
Rebecca Sargent’s weekly update of conflict around the world currently provides information regarding a number of countries where Search for Common Ground works. Pakistan, for example is experiencing ongoing violence and attacks on NATO supplies. Twenty trucks were reportedly torched along with other supplies in attacks that wounded 12 and killed at least 34 others. The attacks were sparked by the two main rivaling parties, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party.
In light of these events which often lead to rumor and confusion, clear unbiased sources of information are greatly needed–and this is where SFCG can play an important role. At the National Radio Summit II, which took place last week in Pakistan, 40 radio stations convened to discuss best practices, raising professional standards, leadership and their contribution to building peace in their respective local communities. These radio stations are part of what is called the Radio Partnership for Peace, Asia’s largest alliance of radio stations, which began in June 2010 with 60 stations. Search for Common Ground coordinated the original summit last year. The alliance of peace-promoting radio stations has pledged to continue its efforts to support community peacebuilding in Pakistan.
Learn more about Search for Common Ground’s work in other countries and read more about our efforts in Pakistan.
In the current political environment, filled with tension and finger-pointing, can the simple act of “reaching across the aisle” really ease the needless rhetoric? Elizabeth Lesser supports this idea in her presentation, “Take ‘the Other’ to Lunch.”
Who will you take to lunch?
Jerusalem
“If a picture be worth a thousand words, how much more is a world of images?”
Hanna Jaffe is a storyteller and singer dedicated to interfaith dialogue and peace. Jaffe believes in the power of voice to convey profound meaning through stories and song, bringing diverse people together to share peaceful experiences. Hanna Jaffe has a variety of lullabies including Armenian, English, Hebrew, Iranian, Russian, Yiddish, Arabic and Amharic. Check out these lullabies as well as her stories at Stories for Peace.
Do you have a powerful story to tell? Please share below.
A woman and child in Eastern Terai (All photos by Erisha Suwal)
Current Columbia University student in the School of International Public Affairs and Nepali native, Erisha Suwal returned to Nepal last summer through Search for Common Ground’s International Internship program.
SFCG has long worked toward youth empowerment in Nepal but participation from women in various youth outreach and clubs has been lacking. Erisha was tasked with researching the reason for this as well as the role of women in peacebuilding. read more…
