Press Room

IN IRAQ, THE WORD CULTURE TAKES ON A NEW MEANING

Valerie Lucznikowska — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:32:35 -0400

WIDE-RANGING CULTURAL ACTIVITIES PROMOTE NONVIOLENCE

The culture of nonviolence as an essential path to political, social and economic change was lauded in Iraq for a week in October with poetry readings, art exhibitions, television programs and films, theatrical productions, dances, operettas, sporting meets -- even a children’s operetta on peace -- and the symbolic release of doves and balloons over the skies of the war-weary country.

Across Iraq, from Mosul to Basra, in Baghdad, cities and rural sectors in all 18 governates, a distinctive blue poster depicting the white dove of peace in flight with a ballot box in its grip was plastered on highway lighting poles, on fences around fields, on buildings and even on military check points. The posters and other literature describing the nonviolence methods of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were handed out to soldiers, shoppers, school children, police, politicians, youth and women’s groups, in an intensive week of activities aimed at spreading the culture of nonviolence.

A variety of peaceful actions were led by provincial representatives of a nonprofit coalition known as LaOnf (“No Violence” in Arabic). In a society where extreme caution is required and the fear of violence plagues everyday life, even hanging a poster can be fraught with danger. In Haweja, Kirkuk, two men hanging posters were arrested by the police and detained for two hours. Unknown armed forces interfered with activists in Reyad, but the situation was peacefully diffused.

According to a founder of the three-year-old LaOnf, “Today, LaOnf exists within the polarized and dangerous political environment of Iraq where if you speak of resistance to you are accused of supporting terrorists and advocating violence; but if you speak of nonviolence you are accused of supporting the occupation. LaOnf seeks to create a third way with its message that nonviolence is a tool to resist occupation, terrorism and corruption.”

At seminars, workshops, public meetings and speeches, Iraqis from all walks of society gathered to discuss techniques of nonviolence and how they can help to make the upcoming provincial elections demonstrate integrity, transparency and impartiality toward all voters, including women and to those of different clans and faiths. Provincial elections have been mandated by the Iraqi parliament to take place by January 31, 2009.

In Karbala, politicians, academics and the public heard a local journalist describe the benefits of nonviolence and fairness in elections and formed a board to send letters to political parties to support the government’s efforts toward this, and to appeal to the Iraqi army and police to maintain professionalism in protecting all citizens at the polls.

Seminars and a nonviolence festival in Kirkuk gathered tribal elders, government officials, heads of multinational forces and people of all sects, religions and nationalities. One group formed a consensus that nonviolence leads to stability and the preservation of rights and freedoms. In its concluding statement, the festival condemned the forced displacement of Christians and was so popular that the participants demanded the affair be an annual event. Many meetings were held with district judiciaries, clans, and heads of local councils.

Children, as in all wars, have been particularly hard hit by the violence, and a special spotlight was focused on them. LaOnf has pressed successfully for legislation to ban toy guns in one governate, and is doing the same in others. Children have been killed by nervous soldiers who could not tell that life-life guns were only toys, and LaOnf members exchange soccer balls and other toys for toy guns and violent games. During the week, children’s schools and institutions in Babil (Babylon), Baghdad, Dahuk, DhiQar (Nasiriya), Erbil, Kirkuk, Muthanna (Samawah), and Najaf, were visited.

Athletic games were organized and children were given peaceful toys with the advice “Nonviolence brings you gifts and games, while violence brings terrorism and murder.” They were reminded how good it felt when Iraq won the Asian Cup for soccer through teamwork and solidarity within the team and with the support of fans. Youth in Salahuddin (Tikrit) organized a soccer match that was attended by top local officials, and wore team shirts that read “Nonviolence is our Choice”. Other sports events took place in Ninewa (Mosul) and elsewhere.

Blind children in Al-Qadisiyyah (Diwaniya) recited poetry of peace and children from the Institute for the Deaf enacted a play titled, “Peace Iraq”. In Erbil, children performed Kurdish traditional dances and a circus show, and received booklets about Gandhi and peace in Iraq. Satellite television covered the event, which concluded with a release of balloons symbolizing peace and nonviolence.

Women are also hard hit by war, violence and inequality. LaOnf is adamant that women be treated equally at the ballot box, and mandates a percentage of their leadership be women. Women’s groups throughout the country met to discuss nonviolence and take part in the range of activities. Violence against women was denounced, and visits were made to women’s unions, clubs and those in institutions suffering from domestic violence. A variety of pressures, including war, have caused a rash of hundreds of cases of Kurdish women burning themselves to death. Victims of violence were brought gifts in Dahuk and were encouraged to forego violence.

Television, radio and newspaper coverage of the events, as well as the widespread use of distinctive posters brought the message of nonviolence to thousands across Iraq. The art exhibition in Maysan (Amarah) that was to last two days is now permanent at the al-Huda Institution for Studies, by popular demand. The Institute, which has a large library of religious, historical and political books and an internet café, is host now to a steady stream of visitors who come to see the nonviolence-themed paintings under the banner “The permanent Display of the LaOnf Iraqi Group in Maysan for the Rejection of Violence and Electoral Violence.”

Many new members have joined LaOnf as a result of the activities, and the 2009 Week of Nonviolence is expected to be even larger and more exciting. Through personal interaction, cultural displays and discussion, nonviolence appears to slowly be bringing hope to the people of Iraq.

LaOnf Newsroom

IRAQIS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION REJECT VIOLENCE, AND OFTEN AT GREAT RISK

Valerie Lucznikowska — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:15:19 -0400

LaOnf- Some of Its Members

One of LaOnf’s founders, Ismaeel, explained the central vision of the coalition. “We look forward to being the major focal point in Iraq to defend our citizens’ right to use methods of non-violence as the means to struggle for democracy, equality and respect of human rights,” he said. “Our intent is to promote and [make] widespread the culture and knowledge of non-violence as an effective [means of] resistance. We… teach non-violence techniques and tools as an alternative to war.”

On September 15, 2008, the New York Times reported that a Sunni Arab leader in Baghdad who had been a proponent of reconciliation in his neighborhood was assassinated, one of many peace activists who has suffered the consequences of violence in Iraq.

Here are some of the people who carrying out a vision of nonviolence, often risking their own safety. They are regional coordinators of LaOnf, a growing coalition of Iraqis committed to building a culture of peace and ending the occupation of Iraq. (Last names are omitted for protection as practicing nonviolence does not always ensure your safety in the war-torn country):

• Hassan from Kirkuk describes his ethnically diverse and divided governorate as a “miniature Iraq.” Kirkuk’s residents are Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Christians. Under Saddam Hussein, many Arabs were relocated to Kirkuk to change its ethnic balance. The governorate sits atop a very large oil field and disagreement over who will profit from the oil underlies much of the divisive and often violent politics of the region. Hassan directs an NGO called Human Rights Net, which he founded along with four partners. All of his partners have been assassinated over the last several years. But Hassan truly believes there are nonviolent solutions for Kirkuk. The LaOnf committee that was elected in Kirkuk includes 2 Kurds, 2 Arabs, 2 Christians and 1 Turkomen. They have gone out together to visit the families of victims of terrorism, and many surviving family members have since joined LaOnf. The local committee has also planned and sponsored a workshop open to the public called “Dialogue for the Sake of Kirkuk.” Hassan believes one of the greatest challenges is to confront and diffuse political parties that are stoking the fires of ethnic hatred for their own political gain.

• Salama from the governorate of Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad, held a workshop in March, 2008 to teach attendees about the principles and tactics of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a time of heavy military fighting and she often felt that she should postpone the meeting. Gunfire was constant during the workshop, but members were able to complete the workshop and hold elections for a coordinator. As the participants departed at the end of the day they were stopped by soldiers who said it was not safe to travel. Salama remembers being trapped; unable to get home till 9PM where she found a cold house and a hungry husband and daughter who had been unable to go out to buy food. As she describes it, Salama thought, “Maybe I am not going to be able to do this!” But she took strength from the other committed people who had stayed and the next morning her resolve and eagerness were restored.

• Salem from Sulamaniya in Kurdistan was a victim of Saddam Hussein’s poison gas attacks in Halabja in 1988. He speaks with personal knowledge of how the legacy of violence where he lives, and the all-to-common desire for revenge, are tremendous challenges to teaching nonviolence. But Salem is an extraordinary man; the violence of the past has made him appreciate what nonviolence truly is. He believes that an important long-term goal is to minimize militarism in Iraqi society. He criticizes the media for focusing heavily on violence and killing, and not on what the people are trying to do to restore their society.

• Thawar is the coordinator in Najaf, and is a committed defender of women’s rights. A high school teacher, she has challenged the use of corporal punishment in the classroom. She asks searching questions about the connections between how a society raises its children and the kinds of violence that exist in that society.

• When Ayad from Ninawa left the LaOnf conference this August in Erbil, he traveled to Baghdad where he marched in a demonstration, coinciding with the International Day of the Missing, August 30, to demand that the Iraqi government seriously investigate the cases of the more than 250,000 Iraqis who have gone missing since 1980. Ayad’s brother, who is a human rights lawyer, is among those missing.

• Azam is not one of the LaOnf coordinators, but is a member of the committee in Tikrit, Sullaheden. A former major in the army of Saddam Hussein, Azam learned about LaOnf from Salama. After the Iraqi army was disbanded by the U.S., Azam studied law and started a human rights organization. He never joined a militia. He feels he was forced to join the military and was glad to leave. Today, he writes, “My message is [to] spread the culture of nonviolence and cooperation in Iraqi society especially among the Iraqi police and the army members.”

LaOnf Newsroom

Preview	Attachment	Size
	IRAQIS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION .doc	33 KB

A FORCE FOR PEACE EMERGES FROM WITHIN IRAQ AMID STRIFE AND TURMOIL

Valerie Lucznikowska — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:57:43 -0400

“WEEK OF NONVIOLENCE” ACTIVITIES TO TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT IRAQ OCTOBER 11-16

LaOnf, Arabic for “No Violence,” is a coalition of Iraqi civil society organizations which is working to bring peace to Iraq through nonviolent actions that gain and amplify popular support among Iraqis of all religious and ethnic backgrounds. The coalition’s hopeful message is being acted on in all of Iraq’s18 governorates (provinces) during a “Week of Nonviolence,” October 11-16. The week will see locally-organized activities created to spread support for LaOnf’s goals: ending sectarian violence and foreign occupation, and promoting transparent and accountable governance.

The message of this Week -- it is the third annual Week of Nonviolence for LaOnf since its inception in 2006 -- focuses on how the upcoming elections in the governorates can be made safe, free and inclusive of all of Iraq’s peoples, so that the nation’s civil society can function effectively and democratically. Provincial elections are scheduled to be held by January 31, 2009, according to the compromise legislation passed by the Iraqi Parliament earlier this month.

LaOnf has called for the elections to consist of an open list of individual candidates rather than having political parties as the only voting options, as was the case in the last election. The importance of personal safety at the polls is paramount, and LaOnf specifies that polls should be guarded by Iraqi police, with the Iraqi Army as back-up, to maintain neutrality at the polls and allow everyone to vote regardless of sectarian, ethnic or religious affiliation or gender. Iraqi militias and US troops must be kept away from polling places, LaOnf says, to ensure fair and open elections.

LaOnf is also calling on the candidates to fully explain to the voters each of their programs for rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, their plans for creating employment, as well as explaining their positions on the rights of women, the right of free speech, and how a culture of nonviolence can be promoted in Iraq.

In all governorates of Iraq, democratically elected LaOnf coordinators have organized myriad activities to bring these goals to their fellow citizens. From Anbar to Basra and Kurdistan to Muthanna, most of the Week’s activities are to be substantive: they include conferences and workshops, youth soccer games, radio and television programs, community meetings, some aimed specifically at youth and women, cultural festivals, distribution of posters and literature, art exhibitions, visits to religious figures, meetings with provincial governors and other officials, and visits with party officials and clan chiefs. Others are symbolic: in Kirkuk and Erbil, community participants will release flocks of doves to signal their hopes for a peaceful future.

Rapid growth has marked the organization’s membership in the two years since its inception, and over 100 groups have joined. With no barriers to membership other than an acceptance of their basic tenets concerning nonviolence, members are Sunni, Shia, Kurd, Turkman, Christian, and include both men and women in the membership and governing body.

Since its founding in 2006 by a few individuals, LaOnf’s influence has spread from Baghdad throughout all the governorates, where they conduct nonviolence training sessions and workshops on a continuing basis and distribute literature and posters. Specific campaigns have targeted problem areas. One such campaign against life-like war toys began by trading soccer balls for toy guns, and then expanded to lobbying efforts. In too many instances soldiers shot and killed children carrying life-like toy weapons. LaOnf’s campaign has now resulted in legislation banning the sale of war toys in Muthanna. LaOnf activists hope to see national legislation passed in the near future.

LaOnf’s activities take place in an atmosphere of constant strife, often threatening the activities and the lives of members on a daily basis. To aid them in their mission, September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows has undertaken to broadcast LaOnf’s story to Americans. Peaceful Tomorrows, founded by family members of 9/11 victims, seeks just and effective nonviolent responses to violence, and works with people similarly affected by violence throughout the world.

For further information: www.peacefultomorrows.org www.laonf.org

LaOnf Newsroom

Preview	Attachment	Size
	A FORCE FOR PEACE.doc	29 KB

Press Advisory - October 11, 2008 Begins Week of Nonviolence in Iraq

Frances Anderson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:20:50 -0400

PRESS ADVISORY

For Immediate release: October 11, 2008

“WEEK OF NONVIOLENCE” IN IRAQ

WHAT: The Week of Nonviolence in Iraq. LaOnf (Arabic for “No Violence”) is a coalition of Iraqi civil groups and individuals who are taking part in actions across the country to ensure that the upcoming provincial elections are free of violence and that the voting is open to all Iraqis regardless of sectarian, ethnic or political affiliation or gender.

WHEN: October 11-16 (English info available from October 14 see below)

WHERE: In all 18 governates (provinces) of Iraq

BACKGROUND: LaOnf was founded in 2006 by a small group of Iraqis to see if it was possible to bring peace to Iraq from within the turmoil of war, and restore a functioning civil society. The movement has burgeoned quickly and now comprises over 100 organizations. Membership is open to those of all religious, ethnic and political beliefs and to women, who are mandated a percentage of leadership roles. The three basic goals of the coalition are the eradication of violence, the removal of all foreign troops and an end to government corruption.

CONTACT: Valerie Lucznikowska
212-777-7997
Cell: 917-757-7031

DAILY INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM OCTOBER 14: Because of limited electricity in Iraq and few translation resources, we will have information on daily activities available in English beginning Tuesday, October 14, on the website of September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, www.peacefultomorrows.org Click “LaOnf Newsroom” tab under “Newsroom”

About Peaceful Tomorrows: Non-profit September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows’ members are families of victims of the 9/11 attacks who have channeled the force of their grief into actions for peace and justice. Peaceful Tomorrows is assisting LaOnf to broadcast their work to the people of the US.

QUOTE: "Please, spread the message: there is not only violence in Iraq, there is something more; people are building peace and seeking real change. . . Today LaOnf exists within the polarized and dangerous political environment of Iraq where if you speak about resistance you are accused of supporting terrorists and advocating violence; but if you speak about nonviolence you are accused of supporting the occupation. LaOnf seeks to create a third way with its message that nonviolence is a tool to resist occupation, terrorism and corruption." Ismael Dawood, co-founder of LaOnf.

LaOnf Newsroom

Preview	Attachment	Size
	PRESS ADVISORY.doc	26.5 KB