Quantcast
Channel: Local Forums – Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI)
Viewing all 45 articles
Browse latest View live

Maysan’s Social Forum Non-Violent Action

0
0

Salman Khairalla, 22 August 2017

In Maysan province, Amarah is often referred to as ‘the city of love and beauty’, with roots that extend back hundreds of years. Historically, it has always been home to a wide range of people of different religions and sects, yet who nevertheless lived together peacefully and harmoniously. This peaceful coexistence is precisely what we in the Iraqi Social Forum sought to revive in the minds of young activists from 18-19 August 2017 when the ISF organized a youth training on practical strategies for nonviolent resistance. The training was attended by 13 young men and women, from various civil society groups and activists in the governorate.

The training was organized in collaboration with local organizations;

  • The Misha Organization, a non-profit organization working on human rights issues, as well as on the protection and preservation of the natural heritage of Maysan
  • Youth for Freedom and Peace, a group of volunteer youth working to promote the values ​​of peace-building and coexistence within the governorate of Maysan
  • The Future Team, a group that believes that the future is in the hands of young people, and thus works on promoting youth development and capacity building
  • Sumer Humanity, a voluntary, non-profit organization that works to support humanitarian causes
  • Al-Khwa Alnadhifa, a team that works on humanitarian and community-based education campaigns in different Iraqi cities
  • Friends for Voluntary Work, a team working on issues related to young people and raising their capacity to build peaceful communities

Ahmed Salih Neema speaking about Maysan’s cultural heritage.

The training was led by Raya Assi, a member of ISF, specifically active in its nonviolence masar (path). On the first day, she talked about topics relating to nonviolence, providing concrete examples of nonviolent and violence activity, and stressing the importance of social and cultural integration among people of different backgrounds, beliefs and traditions. She went over the most important tools for the facilitator of nonviolence, such as negotiation, how to deal with our internal power, how to create our own goals, and how to develop intelligent and effective ways to achieve them. The second day was concerned with building the team and developing campaigns with clear and realizable goals, along wth an overview of mechanisms for their implementation.

In addition to this, Salman Khairallah explained of the work of the ISF: its objectives and its masar (paths), its past activities, as well as its future project of building peaceful coexistence in Mesopotamia. He went over the proposed activities and preparations for the fourth season of the ISF, which is scheduled  to begin at the end of November. The environmental researcher, Ahmed Saleh Nemaa, also participated in the training, speaking on the issue of the preservation of the Iraqi heritage, the importance of including the marshes in the World Heritage list, and ways to re-establish cohesion within the local community.

At the end of the training, the teams involved agreed to work within the “Maysan Social Forum”, which was formed two months ago. Participants also proposed to create and implement a campaign aimed to preserve Maysan’s incredibly rich cultural and natural heritage — this is especially important now given the instability in the country as a whole. In the coming days, the group will write a full plan on how it intends to build the campaign. After the training, the team visited some of the city’s ancient landmarks which represent its flourishing and glorious past.

Maysan Social Forum

This training was part of an integrated project, which works in two areas: the first includes the cities of the Tigris River, Baghdad, Tikrit, Diwaniyah, Kut and Amarah, and the second, the  cities of Ramadi, Hit, Babylon, Najaf, Nasiriyah.

The broad plan of the project is to consolidate and strengthen the concept of peaceful coexistence, to develop tools which allow communities and individuals to use nonviolence as an alternative means of conflict resolution, to raise awareness within the community about civil society and citizenship, and to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Iraq. The project includes a number of training workshops, festivals and various activities in the cities mentioned.

The training was conducted with support from the FAI Foundation, in cooperation with the Information Center for Research and Development, the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, and Un Ponte Per.


From Hit to Nasiriyah: Messages of Peace on the Occasion of World Peace Day

0
0

Iraqi Social Forum (ISF) & Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI)

On Tuesday, 19 September 2017, to celebrate the International Day of Peace, and in solidarity with the city of Nasiriyah, civil society volunteer teams in the city of Hit organized a special event —  a first in the city. Attended by about 35 children and interested youth, along with volunteers from youth teams and various groups in the city, the event was held at the new Shakoufyan Cultural Center. Both the center and this recent celebration are part of the Shakoufyan Initiative, which has been active in Hit city since April 2016. The initiative is coordinated and run by volunteer team members and works actively for social peace.

The event included a short speech by Ahmed Salam, one of the volunteers from the Shakoufyan Initiative. He addressed the importance of this day, and the values ​​represented by the celebration. These values, he said, extend beyond Hit, and its residents have created a special opportunity to send messages calling for peace in all cities of Iraq, The event helps to demonstrate the idea that another Iraq is possible. To illustrate this, a group of youth stood together, their bodies forming the sign for peace, and launched balloons into the sky, each one carrying a message to a different Iraqi city. At the conclusion of the event, participants wrote still more messages on a panel entitled “Messages from Hit to Nasiriyah”. Their words were full of love and solidarity for the city, and the hope is that the panel will be displayed there.

A number of volunteer teams working in the city attended, one of the most important of which was the “Echo of Life” team, which works to raise awareness within the Hit community. Also present were volunteers from the “Basair” team, and the “Hope” team which are active in cinema, and in the production of short films. The “Afkar’ association, which provides humanitarian assistance in the city, also participated.

During the event, Mahmoud al-Hiti from the Shakoufyan Initiative explained the two primary reasons they chose the city of Nasiriyah as their partner in the event: first, they wanted to send clear messages of solidarity with the families of the victims of the recent terrorist attacks; and second, because the city of Hit is intimately linked to the city of Nasiriyah. The two cities share historical, cultural and humanitarian bonds. The location of the city of Hit, on the banks of the Euphrates, was a commercial route across the river to the city of Nasiriyah, and Hit is one of the ancient cities of Iraq which acted as an extension of those civilizations, like Nasiriyah, which thrived along the river in southern Iraq.

At the end, participants and organizers agreed to plan an annual peace event each 19 September in the city of Hit.

First Local Social Forum Activities held in Najaf

0
0

From this year forward, the Iraqi Social Forum (ISF) intends to spread the social forum model from Baghdad to other cities in Iraq. The ISF will act as facilitator of local fora, which will join the national initiative. The methodology used will be the same of the World Social Forum, based on the voluntary work of independent civil society , the strong leadership of women and young people, groups of self-organization and celebration of their diversity, in a platform of common principles for an ideal shared mission. An example of a newly-founded local social forum is to be found in Najaf. They held one of their first activities last moth.

Two consecutive trainings in non-violence were organized from 8 – 15 September 2017 in the city of Najaf in collaboration with thte ISF. Members of the Najaf Social Forum will organize similar trainings in the coming weeks as a way to raise awareness, establishing the principles of nonviolence within society, and building a youth base that is committed to peace building and tolerance.

Participants learned about the origins of the Najaf Social Forum, as well as its goals and vision. The facilitators of the training presented the concepts of violence and nonviolence, asking attendees to think about differences between the two, in theory and in practice. There was also a presentation of some of the most successful nonviolent campaigns, both at the local and international levels, as well as an explanation of several methods of nonviolent protest and effective persuasion. This training will incorporate participants in the Najaf Social Forum to campaign for non-violence in the city.

The trainings were funded by the Swiss FAI Foundation in cooperation with the Iraqi Social Forum (ISF) / Nonviolence Group, the Information Center for Research and Development (ICRD), Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI) and Un Ponte Per… (UPP).

International Peace Day Celebrated Across Iraq

0
0

Each year on the International Day of Peace, 21 September, the UN invites people across the world to take part in celebrations which bring together civil society and citizens from all over the globe.  This year in Iraq, youth came together across 9 different locations for celebrations organized by the Iraqi Social Forum, its subsidiary local city fora, and associated organizations as part of the project “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia and the Middle East”. Events took place in Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, Hit, Ramadi, Falluja, Najaf, Maysan, Kut and Babylon. People sent letters of peace and solidarity between their cities, fostering a sense of unity and hope among Iraqis throughout the country under the well-known Iraqi Social Forum slogan  ‘Another Iraq is Possible’.

In Baghdad

In Baghdad, the City of Peace, youth from the Iraqi Social Forum celebrated International Peace Day by sending letters to other Iraqi provinces and cities. They worked hard to coordinate all the other celebrations in different Iraqi cities, spreading visions of peace and the rejection of violence to all the people of Iraq.

Baghdad

In Hit

In the city of Hit, a group of local volunteer groups organized an event at the Shakoufyan Cultural Center, organized by the Shakoufyan Initiative. Many young volunteers participated in this event, including many children. The event included a short speech by Ahmed Salam, one of the volunteers from the Shakoufyan Initiative. He reflected on the importance of this day, and the values ​​represented by the celebration. These values, he said, extend beyond Hit and its residents, and have created a special opportunity to send messages calling for peace within all cities of Iraq. The activity focused on solidarity with the city of Nasiriyah, and the victims of the recent terrorist attacks there. At the conclusion of the event, participants wrote still more messages on a panel entitled “Messages from Hit to Nasiriyah”. Their words were full of love for and solidarity with the city, and the hope is that the panel will be displayed there.

Hit

In Kut

The celebration in Kut involved a tour of the city’s neighborhoods led by young people carrying letters and slogans of peace sent from the people of the city to all cities of Iraq. Residents of the city joined in, welcoming the youth and encouraging them to spread peace throughout the country.

Kut

In Falluja

The city of Falluja celebrated World Peace Day in two stages. In the first, a group of young residents began to paint a big slogan for peace on one of the main streets of the city, expressing the love of peace felt by the people there. The next day, the youth organized a big festival, entitled “Falluja Peace Lights” in which multiple peace messages were sent to different cities in Iraq.

Falluja

In Babylon

Here, the “Ishtar Read” team launched balloons representing love and peace into the sky carrying the messages from the people of Babylon to other Iraqi provinces, with hopes that feelings of unity and brotherhood would prevail among all the Iraqi people. Throughout their celebration, they emphasized the role of the youth, who seek out such activities to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence and the rejection of violence. Youth volunteers see these campaigns as playing a key role in raising a new generation of ‘flower children’ embracing the value of love and refusing hatred and intolerance.

The participants in the celebration expressed their joy and gratitude for what the youth of Babylon are doing, and voiced their hope that the country would continue to implement similar initiatives in which the love of all the Iraqi people might be made manifest, along with a wish for security and safety for all people in the country.

Babylon

In Najaf

The youth of Najaf opened a special stand on one of the main streets of the city, which attracted a large number of Najafian people. At the stand, people were able to send messages of peace to others in Iraq, and to explore several publications calling for peace.

Najaf

In Ramadi

Ramadi witnessed the organization of “Bazaar Noon”, which was dedicated to supporting groups of people affected by terrorist attacks. Like many other celebrations in the country, the event in Ramadi also launched messages from citizens expressing peace for all. The youth lit candles and then stood together to form the peace sign, expressing their love for their city and their desire for peace in all Iraqi cities.

Ramadi

In Amarah

In the city of Amarah, activists toured the city, carrying slogans of peace meant for the cities of Mosul, Anbar and Tikrit, expressing their solidarity with the towns liberated  from Daesh, and their concerted efforts to see all Iraqis to live in peace and brotherhood.

Amarah

In Sulaymaniyah

Sulaymayniyah youth also had their share of solidarity activities planned on this important day — activists sent a group of solidarity messages sent from Sulaymayniyah Kurdistan to the rest of Iraq’s beloved cities, which carried slogans of brotherhood among the different nationalities of Iraq.

These events are activities supported by the Iraqi Social Forum (ISF), the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI), Un ponte per… (UPP) and Fondation Assistance Internationale (FAI).

Sulaymaniyah event

 

Youth of Syria Launch “We Love Qamishlo” Initiative

0
0


The Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiate (ICSSI)

Qamishli (or Qamishlo), a fertile city located in northeastern Syria on the border with Turkey, is a place characterized by its diverse population, inhabited by a mixture of Arabs, Kurds, Syriac, Assyrians and Armenians. From this unique location, the youth initiative, “We Love Qamishlo”, was organized by Doz, a non-profit youth, migrant, and diaspora-led organization, working for sustainable social and economic development for local communities in home and host countries. The initiative was launched with help from a group of young Syrians as a way to overcome the social and cultural problems resulting from the war.

As part of Doz’s endeavor to provide development initiatives to Syrian youth, the Qamishlo team of volunteers, along with other young people from the city, have worked together over the past months to plan a variety of different activities promoting peace and nonviolence. To publicize their current initiative, volunteers organized visits to a number of civil society organizations, associations and radio stations, where they introduced their objectives and proposed activities. They distributed promotional brochures about the initiative in hopes of drawing support from other organizations and volunteer groups which might want to collaborate in the endeavor to offer trainings and workshops targeting the city’s youth on a range of different topics.

Today, these young people are planning to launch campaigns which promote peaceful coexistence within the city. They recently completed  a cleaning campaign to revitalize one of the public parks in the city, where groups of families gathered and lived after they were forced to flee during the war. The cleaning included the entire garden, taking care of trees and watering plants, providing games for children, and more generally, encouraging the people living in the neighborhood to participate with campaign volunteers. Participation cultivated a sense of belonging and ownership, empowering both young and displaced people, and hopefully leading them to continue in these collective actions.

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace (21 September 2017), the youth of the Qamishlo Initiative toured around different areas of the city and celebrated its heritage, with hopes that peace and harmony will soon prevail throughout Syria, As part of a joint initiative with youth from the Iraqi Social Forum and their partners in the Iraqi cities of Baghdad, Hit, Kut, Babylon, Najaf, Amara, Fallujah, Ramadi and Sulaymaniyah, they sent letters to the entire world declaring their rejection of war and violence, and their belief in a nonviolent alternative to conflict. They also expressed their solidarity with all those cities currently struggling with conflict throughout the world, calling for the consolidation of the principles of peaceful coexistence between all parts of society.

The team brought communities and members of different religions together in order to highlight the archaeological monuments in Qamishlo which they all share, clarifying their city’s historical importance, and introducing the youth and newer residents to the city’s many treasures. The team, along with 40 young residents of Qamishlo and others who had recently arrived, took a particularly moving trip to the ST. Febronia Monastery of the Syrian Orthodox Church in the Hemo neighborhood. Here, the Rev. Fr. Malki Isho, introduced the monastery to the volunteers and recounted the story of Saint Vebronia, drawing attention to the religious significance of the place as well as the history of its building.

The team hopes to carry out more activities of this kind which aim at introducing the youth to their city, its landmarks, its history and its incredible diversity. To that end, they are planning a festival in December that will include a series of activities and exhibitions which will promote the city and its distinctive culture.

All this comes within the framework of an integrated program entitled “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia”, supported by the Swiss FAI Foundation. This program seeks to promote peaceful coexistence in the cities along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq, Syria and Turkey, and grows out of a vision that conceives of these cities as intimately connected to each other through the arteries of the rivers.

The project hopes to reinforce concepts of peace and nonviolent alternatives to conflict resolution, to raise awareness within civil society, and to build a sense of active and tolerant citizenship, where differences are celebrated. The program includes a number of trainings workshops, festivals and activities in all the cities involved.

For more information, visit the Facebook page of “We Love Qamishlo” Initiative here:

https://www.facebook.com/weloveqamislo

Or have a look on Doz Organization website here: https://www.doz.international/

 

A Training in Nonviolence in Hit, the First Since its Liberation from Daesh

0
0

Nonviolence training in Hit

On Thursday, 5 October 2017 at the Shakoufyan Cultural Center, the Peace Forum in Hit organized a workshop on nonviolence. The training focused on building the skills needed to carry out nonviolent campaigns aimed at peaceful coexistence as an alternative to sectarian violence in Mesopotamia. This is the first workshop in Hit since its liberation from Daesh, and is an early step in the “You are Our Other Half” campaign, which works to foster good relations between residents of the city and those living in the surrounding areas. Relations were strained by the horrors of living under Daesh, and continue to be fragile since its departure. By recruiting fighters from all sides of old conflicts, Daesh reignited strife in the city based on differentials of power and influence. This deliberate aggravation of hostility between residents of Hit broke down social ties, and deepened the divide between groups living in different areas of the city. With participation from 30 residents from different voluntary organizations and civil society groups from all over the city, the workshop became an important means for rebuilding trust.

Working groups discussions

The coordinator of the Shakoufyan Initiative, Mahmoud Al-Heeti, said that the workshop hoped to increase an understanding of the principles of nonviolence, its tools and its strategies. This knowledge in turn will help to realize the aims of the masar (path) of peaceful coexistence within the Iraqi Social Forum, which receives further support from the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative and the Swiss FAI Foundation.

The coordinator of the Sada Al-hayat team, Mohammed al-Bakr, explained that “The community of Hit is divided into two parts: the first is dominated by the civil character within the old city, and the second has the tribal character present in those areas outside the city center. There are many conflicts between the two communities, and the campaign “You are Our Other Half” represents a new vision in which channels of dialogue are open, thus uniting the two groups into a single community of Hit, overcoming racist beliefs with nonviolent tools.”

The media director of the Peace Forum, Ahmed Salam, said, “Since Hit’s liberation from Daesh, conflicts have emerged in society which have caused fears among citizens about the possibility of the return of terrorist organizations. At the Peace Forum, we realized the importance of ensuring that there are open channels of dialogue between all people of Hit. This will help to build the sense that conflicts can be resolved nonviolently and that peaceful coexistence is possible. We have relied on young people because they have the greatest influence in this kind of endeavor, and this workshop was organized to empower them, showing them how the tools of nonviolence can build bridges of confidence and mutual respect. The campaign will work specifically on rehabilitating a number of schools in three areas of Hit: Albu Nimr, Tal Aswad and Bakr, with the primary goal of conveying a message that conflicts cannot break the common bonds that bind us.”

Iraqi Cities of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Gather under the Slogan “We Love Iraq”!

0
0

The Iraqi Social Forum (ISF) and the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Imitative (ICSSI)

Baghdad  – October 2017

Forty-eight activists representing nine local youth groups from different Iraqi cities met in Baghdad for three days to discuss ways forward for living together along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers within the program of “Coexistence trails in Mesopotamia and the Middle East”. The meeting offered a unique opportunity to foster civil society across these cities after the threat posed by Daesh has been dealt with.

Under the slogan, WE LOVE IRAQ, the Iraqi Social Forum organized the first national meeting of its kind to bring together leading representatives from several activist organizations, including: I Love Dhi Qar Forum, Peace Forum in Anbar, the Najaf Social Forum, Peace Forum in Hit, and Maysan Social Forum. The meeting was also attended by activists from Tikrit, Kut, Babylon, and Diwaniyah who are working towards founding similar forums in their respective cities.

On the agenda was a series of intensive discussions about the nature of civil society work in participating cities and the capacity of local organizations to bring about desired social change and reconstruction. During discussion, the highest priorities and issues facing each city were identified. Despite the particular nature of the challenges facing each city, participants in the discussions prepared a bulletin of the highest priorities for civil society in most.

After a comprehensive overview of each city’s plans, talks turned to a general review and evaluation of each city’s activity plans and the capacities that their working groups seek to establish. The extent of challenges facing civil activism were also assessed alongside the mechanisms for dealing with them in each city. Discussion went from how to form working groups in each city on to building coordinating strategies between cities along the Tigris and cities along the Euphrates. These coordinating strategies will put principles of mutual support and solidarity into practice along the river cities, building momentum for extending the influence of civil society action.

During their stay in Baghdad, the activists convened meetings and numerous talks on the edges of the conference, and participated in activities organized in parallel to the WE LOVE IRAQ meeting. Among the most important activities were the Special Conference for the Future of Social Securities in Iraq, organized by the Social and Economical Rights path (masar) of the ISF, and the “Success Stories Talk Show” put together by the Nonviolence Group and Sports Against Violence Iraq. Meeting participants sent messages of peace and coexistence to Iraqi Kurdistan and the cities of Qamishli and Diyarbakir (in the framework of cities living on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers). Representatives also exchanged messages of mutual support and coexistence in written form and using social media between the upper Tigris and Euphrates cities, cities in the rivers’ middle reaches, and cities on the lower reaches.

For his part, Ali Saheb, the coordinator for the Iraqi Social Forum, clarified that the conference “comes as the crowning achievement in a series of efforts undertaken by the Iraqi Social Forum at the start of this year to found local branches in eight Iraqi cities: Sulaimaniyah, Tikrit, Kut, Maysan, Hit, Ramadi, Najaf, and Nasiriya, and to which Babel and Diwaniyah were joined later.” He added, “With these local branches, we are trying to build capacities aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence, bringing about societal cohesion, and preserving our natural and cultural heritage, in order to realize the slogan, “Another Iraq is Possible.” Saheb also said, “These connections between the Tigris and Euphrates cities are stronger than the ethnic and religious divisions that are so often alleged by some to keep these cities apart.”

Naseer Baqir, the coordinator for the “I Love Dhi Qar Forum” in Nasiriya said of his group’s participation in the meeting, “We have been working for a long time in partnership with the Iraqi Social Forum, and we have organized a number of activities and events jointly, but this meeting presents an ideal opportunity for us to open up to other Iraqi cities and widen the scope of our work and the range of our activities.” He added, “I think that we are entering into a new stage of civil and societal work, which depends on cooperation and coordination, not competition. This is what must be brought to the attention of civil society activists.”

The meeting, held from October 19th to October 21st, was organized by volunteers of the Iraqi Social Forum and members of its secretariat, in keeping with the principles and values of civil society that the Iraqi Social Forum works to promote among youth groups. The “WE LOVE IRAQ” meeting counts among the initiatives to find ways forward for peaceful coexistence in the country between two rivers. It was carried out by the Iraqi Social Forum in cooperation with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, the Italian NGO, Un Ponte Per…, and the Information Center for Research and Development, and with support from the Swiss FAI Foundation.

The Swiss FAI Foundation has supported the program of Coexistence trails in Mesopotamia and the Middle East for three years, as part of its commitment to supporting youth-centered initiatives to strengthen social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and shared cultural heritage in the Mesopotamian region, especially in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

 

“I Love Dhi Qar” a civil space in Nasiriya

0
0

To end the year of 2017, Dhi Qar Forum organized its main event of the year: the annual festival of I Love Dhi Qar in the city of Nasiriyah, Southern Iraq, from 28-30 December 2017, consisting of several activities aimed at bringing together local civil society, youth and communities. Dhi Qar Forum represents a civil space for joint action, consisting of a number of volunteer teams and community organizations who are active in the city of Nasiriyah. The forum operates in accordance with the charter and principles of the Iraqi Social Forum.

“Our Marshlands are World Heritage” conference

The first day the Forum was launched with the conference “Our marshlands are world heritage”, in the town of Chibayish, east of Nasiriyah, near Al-Hammar and the Central Marshes. It was attended by 30 people representing local governments in the cities of Chibayish, Al-Hammar and Al-Islah, as well as tribes of those cities, and members of the Dhi Qar Provincial Council, and a representative of the Office of the province and Ministries. The conference was also the start of a youth camp organized for volunteers and representatives of the Association in the marshes of the cities of Hit, Najaf, Diwaniyah and Nasiriyah, which lasted for three days.

Naseer Baqer, representative of I Love Dhi Qar Forum, in the opening speech urged the participants to cooperate together to keep the Marshes in the World Heritage List, and to improve the living standards of the marshland inhabitants. The gathering then focused on three important issues: financial allocations for the Marshlands in the federal budget for 2017, water quotas for the Marshlands and the need for equitable distribution of water, and microenterprise loans for the local population.

I Love Dhi Qar

Iraqi Heritage … Risks and Challenges

The next day as part of “I Love Dhi Qar” 14 Iraqi youth took part in the “Iraqi Heritage..Risks and Challenges” In the Museum of Nasiriyah. The workshop discussed the importance of preserving Iraq’s national heritage. Neglect is one of the most important threats to Iraqi cultural heritage. Youth agreed the need to campaign for the protection of the civilization heritage of Iraq.

On the second day, a discussion session was held entitled “Voluntary work… horizons and challenges” in Mashufna Cultural Center with 18 Nasiriya volunteers. The session reflected on perspectives and examples of volunteering in the country. To the most important challenges facing voluntary work in Iraq, the most important of which is the Voluntary Work Law, which is to be passed in the House of Representatives.

I lLve Dhi Qar Festival

“I Love Dhi Qar” Second Festival

The Forum concluded with the second I Love Dhi Qar Festival, It was held in the park of the city of Nasiriyah and attended by more than 1200 people. Different activities were organized in the open space during the festival. These include art galleries, handicraft and photograph exhibitions. Naseer Baqer (Mashufna Cultural Center) and Ali Saheb (Iraqi Social Forum) in their opening speeches stressed the importance of creating spaces for volunteering and to discuss social alternatives. A Sumerian art group presented a theater scene which highlighted the lack of commitment from politicians to provide proper services to citizens. A group of volunteers from the forum presented a play entitled “Abu Hantoush”on the phenomenon of resorting to magic and witchcraft to treat diseases. This phenomenon is widespread in different parts of Central and Southern Iraq. The Shabaad musical band presented various musical pieces that were well received by the audience.

Dhi Qar Forum is supported by Swiss FAI Foundation, in cooperation with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, the Information Center for Research and Development, and Un Ponte Per… (UPP)


Maysan Celebrates Local Creativity in the “I Love Maysan” Carnival

0
0

Maysan Social Forum / Iraqi Social Forum

With more than 1000 people attending, the first season of the “I Love Maysan” carnival was an enormous success. It was organized jointly by the Maysan Social Forum and the Iraqi Social Forum, and its activities  focused on youth creativity in the province, recognizing the accomplishments of the many remarkable young creators in the region.

The carnival was held on 31 December 2017 in a city park.The open, outdoor space allowed for many different activities, including photo exhibitions of Maysan landmarks, paintings by young artists and a handicraft bazaar — all organized by volunteer teams from the province. The carnival also included a display of small electronic robots and remote control planes made by a talented young man from Amara. These exhibits were accompanied by a range of other activities put on by civil society groups participating in the carnival.

The carnival opened with the Iraqi national anthem, followed by opening comments from Asaad Alkinani, who spoke on behalf of the Maysan Social Forum, thanking the attendees and the organizing teams, and inviting everyone to join in the various activities offered.

Salman Khairallah spoke next, representing the Iraqi Social Forum, and thanked the volunteers and organizers for their efforts to ensure the success of the event. The carnival aimed at building and strengthening civil society as an entity that values human rights and promotes social justice. He added that current problems in Iraq require that members of civil society make extraordinary efforts to solve them.

Honors were given to the young activist, Haneen Alaa, for her efforts to break down the barriers created by restrictive and limiting cultural traditions. The carnival also celebrated the young inventor, Abu al-Fadl Diab, who created a waste incinerator which helps to preserve the environment. Finally, the Iraqi Paralympic Team was honored for their winning of two gold medals in the 2017 Brazil Paralympic Games — and coincidentally, the entire team is from the city of Amara!

The young artist, Mukhalad Sultan, presented a silent play which tried to address some of the social problems now facing Iraqis, and a group of young actors from Nasiriyah performed a play based on traditional folk tales depicting relations between the countryside and the city — their humorous portrayals caused the audience to erupt in laughter. The singer, Ahmed Al-Muzaffar, ended the performances with a song.

The Maysan Social Forum is a civil space for joint action, consisting of a number of voluntary teams and civil society organizations in Maysan province. Its events and work more generally align with the principles of the Iraqi Social Forum. It is supported by the Swiss international aid organization FAI, in cooperation with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, the Information Center for Research and Development, and Un Ponte Per…

A Festival in Anbar Celebrating Peace and Volunteer Work

0
0

The Peace Forum of Anbar and The Iraqi Social Forum

In the city of Ramadi, on 13 January 2018, Al-Ma’arif College hosted a Peace Forum, called “Anbar Al-Salam” (Anbar of Peace), in which 400 people took part. The festival was dedicated to teams of volunteers and organizations that are active in Ramadi and Falluja, many of which worked on the reconstruction of the city after the return of people who had been displaced by Deash’s occupation. The festival was open to the public, and included various activities, displayed handicrafts made by working women of the province, drawings and photographs by a group of talented young painters and artists, and booths which introduced attendees to the work of the volunteer teams.

Performers took to the stage and opened the festival with the Iraqi national anthem. After that, Zaid Al Mayouf, a member of the Anbar Forum, gave a short speech on behalf of the festival’s organizing committee saying, “Today we are launching the first steps of establishing the Peace Forum which will be an arena for cooperation and collaboration among groups, activists, organizations, volunteers and unions. We will work to coordinate their efforts to rebuild our cities and activate a strong role for civil society to build the Anbar that we are dreaming of: Anbar of peace safety and love”.

Ahmed Alaa from the Secretariat of the Iraqi Social Forum expressed his own happiness and that of his colleagues in the Iraqi Social Forum for this festival, which represented the launch of the Peace Forum. “The space that you and your colleagues are creating in the city will be fertile ground for gathering all the forces behind a positive social movement in order to build another Iraq,” Ahmed said.

Poetry played a big part in the festival: the poets Adnan Al-Fahad and Razak Al-Batah presented emotional work which praised peace and patriotism, while the Alshiraa artistic team put on a play  highlighting the importance of volunteer work, specifically the way in which volunteers have helped the displaced people and rebuilding the city after liberation from Daesh.

Musical performances also graced the stage of Anbar Al-Salam, where the musician Ayham Muhsin played music on the Oud, followed by the performance of the HHU rap band from Hit. The festival concluded with 21 volunteer teams from the city being honored for their continuous work and efforts in helping the IDPs and restoring the cities of Anbar. Memorial photos and audience laughter were the finale of this festival.

The Peace Forum is a civil space for joint action, and consists of a number of volunteer teams and community organizations active in Ramadi and Falluja. It operates in accordance with the charter and principles of the Iraqi Social Forum. The Forum has already organized various events supported by the Swiss FAI Foundation, in cooperation with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, the Information Center for Research and Development, and the Italian Organization, Un Ponte Per…

The First Season of the Peace Forum in Hit

0
0

ICSSI Secretariat – December 2017

The activities of the first season of the Peace Forum in Hit, which culminated in the coordination of a number of voluntary organizations, began on 22 December 2017. Together these teams of volunteers established a joint space — “Hit of Peace and Coexistence” — to unify their visions and exchange ideas about ways to realize shared aims of cultivating an atmosphere peaceful coexistence and flourishing .

6 expert trainers and lecturers kicked off the activities with a series of seminars and workshops. On the second day, the Hit Peace Marathon brought more than 250 runners of different ages together to express their belief in the important role of sports in building peace and promoting social cohesion in the city. The marathon started from the Al-Jamayia neighborhood and ended in Corniche Street, which had great significance as it was there that more than three terrorist attacks claimed the lives of innocent citizens.

Many Hit residents watched the marathon, handing out sweets and juice to runners as they passed by, that ran 6 km from the starting point to the end point . Security forces were involved in ensuring that the marathon route was clear and safe and that no participant was prevented from joining in.
The activities of the Forum’s first season ended with a festival in the gardens of Zuhor Park, and was attended by families, security authorities and a large number of city dignitaries and citizens. The activities of the garden festival varied between the religious songs of moderation, poetry readings and artistic music .
Mahmoud Al-Hiti, Secretary of the Forum, expressed his happiness with the great achievement of the Forum’s first season and called for building on this success with still more activities aiming to build peace, strengthen social cohesion, and develop an interest in the rich heritage of the city:
“We have succeeded during these events to emphasize the importance of peace to residents of our cities, and this is mainly due to the gathering of voluntary organizations and teams who came together to construct this Forum. Also, all of this would not have been possible without the support of our colleagues in the Iraqi Social Forum and international donor organizations that have worked to guide and advise us as to how best to build these successful activities.”

Mr. Yacoub Abboud Shafi, Chairman of the Sports Committee of Hit Peace Marathon, echoed these ideas saying,” Personally, I consider these events to be successful and new to our city. Now, it is important to pay attention to them, especially in the coming stage as they adopt community issues that emphasize the basic and important issues in the lives of everyone in the city. This is what young people have achieved at the Peace Forum in Hit and we are proud to share these achievements . ” said
The Peace Forum in Hit is a civil society network concerned with a range of social issues. The Forum was established by team of volunteers and organizations in November 2017, and works in coordination with the Iraqi Social Forum. Its activities get funding from the Swiss FAI Foundation which aims to build a civil society that promotes democracy and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East and Mesopotamia.

The Syrian City of Qamishlo Celebrates Peaceful Coexistence

0
0

Syria – Qamishlo

There is virtually no disagreement about the need to ensure certain fundamental rights ​​to all people, such as the right to life, human dignity, basic freedoms, equality and justice. While respect for these rights is essential, exactly how they are realized must take into account the different cultures and peoples who practice them. Qamishlo, a Syrian city known for its diverse population, recently held a festival to promote and recognize universal human rights by celebrating the free expression of some of the many rich cultural traditions that coexist in the city. Similar festivals and campaigns are being organized in several Iraqi cities by the Iraqi Social Forum, which coordinates with civil society in Qamishlo to foster actions for social cohesion across the borders of Mesopotamia.

As a way to express love for the city of Qamishlo, the We Love Qamishlo Initiative and the Doz Civil Society team (a non-profit youth, migrant, and diaspora-led organization) organized a festival entitled “We Love Qamishlo” at the Palace of the Nobles Hall in the city of Qamishlo on 16 December 2017. There was widespread participation in the event, including cooperation from local organizations and associations such as the Jumard Charitable Society, Arab National Organization, Sara Organization, Shawishka Association, Baladna Organization, Dost Association, Kurds without Boarders, the Common Ground Organization, and the Human Rights Organization in the Aljazeera district. Given the extensive attendance from residents throughout the city — notably some prominent cultural and religious figures — the festival received wide media coverage.

It began with a minute of silence for those who have died in recent eruptions of violence. This was followed by welcoming words from the festival organizers, who expressed their aim of strengthening social integration among the different sectors of society. In order to achieve this integration, the festival included singing and poetry, along with a brief presentation from the We Love Qamishlo Initiative celebrating the city and the prominent figures who came from there.

During the ceremony, the Jumard Organization presented Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian songs, the Sara Organization presented a poetry for young people in both Kurdish and Arabic and the Shawishka Society performed a musical ensemble using a variety of different instruments. Doz presented the theatrical artist, Abdul Majeed Mohammed Khalaf, who performed his show which simulates the reality for Syrians living in the shadow of the ongoing war. His play calls for community solidarity and the renunciation of violence.

The festival also included a show of popular costumes from the region worn by girls from Doz, the Arab National and Baladna organizations. At the end of the festival, Doz, Dost and Baladna organizations explained some of the rituals and practices that went into traditional wedding preparations in the  region in the past.

Attendees to the festival could explore an exhibition of books and several booths which displayed various aspects of the region’s heritage, highlighting its folklore and paintings, its manuscripts, photographs of its most important monuments, as well as some of its traditional handicrafts and art.

Members of civil society organizations and civilians who attended appreciated the efforts of the festival’s organizers and expressed a wish to continue similar activities aimed at supporting a rapprochement between the various sectors of Qamishlo’s population. The festival concluded with attendees participating in the local dancing, called ”Dabkah”. Final words thanked all those who contributed to the festival’s success and reiterated the goal of making the diverse city of Qamishlo a symbol of love, coexistence and peace.

Organization of the Qamishlo festival comes within the framework of an integrated program entitled “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia”, supported by the Swiss FAI Foundation. This program seeks to promote peaceful coexistence in the cities along the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq, Syria and Turkey, and grows out of a vision that conceives of these cities as intimately connected to each other through the arteries of these rivers. The project hopes to reinforce concepts of peace and nonviolent alternatives to conflict resolution, to raise awareness within civil society, and to build a sense of active and tolerant citizenship, where differences and unity are celebrated simultaneously. The program includes a number of trainings workshops, festivals and activities in all the cities involved.

For more information, visit the Facebook page of “We Love Qamishlo” Initiative here:

https://www.facebook.com/weloveqamislo

Or have a look on Doz Organization website here: https://www.doz.international/

A Festival of Love and Peace in the City of Diwaniyah

0
0

The Iraqi Social Forum (ISF) and the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI)

On 14 February 2018, the Diwaniyah Environment and Peace Forum held its first annual festival at Al-Hurriyah Family Park in downtown Diwaniyah. The approximately 750-1000 men, women and children from Diwaniyah who attended were able to enjoy artistic events, a bazaar of handicrafts and food, and a book fair. The festival’s varied activities embodied an integrated mosaic of diversity and beauty which represents the city itself. The festival opened with speeches by the organizers, one of whom, Laith al-Obeidi, is an activist from the Diwaniyah Forum for Environment and Peace. Al Obeidi explained that ‘this forum emerged from the efforts of civil society groups, volunteers, organizations and unions, all working collaboratively from their different perspectives to address the issues now facing Diwaniyah”. The festival marks an attempt to present “a new vision of Diwaniyah, one of beauty, love and peace”.

A performance by the musician Karim al-Majidi was accompanied by Ahmed Saqr, a painter who drew in front of the audience, inspired by the melodies playing. This was followed by readings from a number of poets from Diwaniyah — Ali Al-Salhi, Ahmed Murad, Abbas Kazem, Mohammed Hashim, Walaa Al-Rikabi and Abo Zaid Al-Naeli — who sang of love for their city and country. The performances concluded with a play entitled “Gifts for Free”, put on by young actors from the city.

The festival also included a bazaar which sold handicrafts and food, along with booths explaining the campaigns of various civil society organizations. The sounds, sights and smells of the bazaar, created a beautiful picture of the city of Diwaniyah, enchanting anyone moving between stalls who stopped to look at art or taste a local delicacy. The themes of the festival: love, peace and the environment, were always present, for adults and children alike.

The Diwaniyah Forum for the Environment and Peace is just one of several groups with which the Iraqi Social Forum is working to create spaces for joint action between civil society and social movements promoting the idea that “Another Iraq is Possible”. This is possible due to support from the Norwegian Karibu Foundation, international and local partners like The Information Centre for Research and Development, The Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, and the Italian Organization, Un Ponte Per… (UPP).

First Najaf Social Forum Festival for a Peaceful Iraq

0
0

ICSSI Secretariat – March 2018

Under the slogan “Love, Coexistence, Peace”, the Najaf Social Forum held its first festival on 9 February 2018. The festival, which was held on the Palace of Culture, was attended by youth and families, and portrayed the city as one of diversity, harmonious coexistence and peace through its various activities. The Najaf Social Forum is just one of many local forums modeled on the Iraqi Social Forum, that has recently emerged as a space for collaboration among groups and individuals within civil society to work to create a new, unified and peaceful Iraq.

The festival began with a performance of the Iraqi national anthem, followed by a speech by Ali Al-Khatib, who welcomed the audience and explained the steps taken to establish the Najaf Social Forum. He expressed a desire felt by him and his colleagues to establish a forum where social movements, voluntary teams, civil society organizations and trade unions could come together, “a field for coordination and joint action where together we can realize the Najaf we dream of”. The secretariat of the Iraqi Social Forum, represented by Salman Khairallah, stressed “Solidarity as a supreme value in which we coordinate our activities with the Iraqi Social Forum and the Najaf Social Forum thus reinforcing the solidarity between them.”


Poems referring to coexistence and peace were then performed on stage, followed by a wonderful solo artist on the Oud. The audience was moved. The festival then moved on to a stand-up comedy routine by Ahmed al-Kanani whose biting humor about the current political situation and its repercussions on Iraq’s social reality brought laughter to everyone. For the closing ceremony, all the attendees and members of the Najaf Social Forum team stood up to remember their wonderful young friend Noor Najah, a member of the Najaf Social Forum, who passed away before the festival. A short film was shown showing the many activities he participated in to make a better Iraq. On the sidelines of the festival were cultural and photo exhibits along with a bazaar, all organized by volunteer groups and local organizations promoting the rich diversity of the city of Najaf.

The Najaf Social Forum was held in coordination with the Iraqi Social Forum, the Information Center for Research and Development, the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative and Un Ponte Per…

Activists Bring to Life the Spirit of al-Mutanabbi Street in their Own Cities: Mutanabbi Starts Here

0
0

    Youth from cities all over Iraq came together in solidarity to commemorate what was lost in the terrible bombings of al-Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad 11 years ago. In many cities throughout the country, young people organized events on this tragic anniversary as a way to celebrate and preserve the spirit of Baghdad’s famous cultural street, known as a vibrant artistic, musical and literary center.

In 2007, extremists targeted Mutanabbi Street with a car bomb that killed many civilians. The bomb was an attack on the artery of culture and civic life in Baghdad. After 11 years, young people in Hit, Ramadi, Fallujah and Tikrit in western Iraq, in Babylon, Baghdad, Diwaniyah and Najaf in northern Iraq, and in Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, all expressed their solidarity by declaring their cities and cultural spaces extensions of Mutanabbi Street.

Youth from the Hit Forum for Peace organized a gathering at the cultural café in the Shaqofiyan Center. People lit candles and sang poetry in memory of the painful event. The youth held banners expressing solidarity between Hit and Baghdad, and in doing so, displayed the strong ties between the Iraqi people which transcend sectarianism, discrimination and acts of terrorism. Many of the poems spoke of those who gave their lives defending Iraq against extremism and violence, and sang of the future they aspire to build together.

In Ramadi, youth from the Ramadi Peace Forum walked through the alleys of their city and in the corridors of their universities, talking to people about this terrorist incident. They too held signs, some reading “We all join together to spread the values of peace and the need to stand strong against violence and terrorism.”

The Fallujah Peace Forum took part in a similar activity in which youth wandered through the streets of the city, with signs raised, declaring “From Fallujah to Mutanabbi … we are one Iraqi family” and other slogans. The message of each was clear: we stand with Mutanabbi and against bombing, violence and terrorism.

In Tikrit, in cooperation with the Sawtna Foundation and the Cultural and Arts Palace, volunteer teams organized a cultural evening to remember the bombing and to honor those who died. This included the screening of a documentary film, and several performances of poetry and storytelling. Also involved were volunteers from the group “Let’s Make Joy”, the Tikrit Youth Council, a team called Support Women, and another called We Are Peace Volunteers.

In Babylon, youth from the Babylon Social Forum gathered together near the Ishtar Gate to recall the incident and show solidarity by playing music for the lives lost. A number of young people held banners showing al-Mutanabbi Street and its visitors meandering and enjoying themselves amidst its culture and books.

The youth of the Diwaniyah Environment and Peace Forum toured the streets of their city to speak to the people about the horrible event and their memories of it; they carried signs of solidarity which supported culture as a way to combat violence and counter extremist ideas.

Youth from the Najaf Social Forum organized a moment of mourning for the victims in one of the city’s cafes where candles were lit and people could remember the painful incident.

Youth from ‘I love Dhi Qar’ organized activities in their city aimed to inspire cultural and literary activity, thus revealing the resilience and continued vitality of Iraqi artists and writers, even in the face of tragedy.

The youth organized the individual events in coordination with the Iraqi Social Forum, the Voice of Iraq and the nonviolent community, as well as in cooperation with a number of local and foreign institutions. Together they expressed their solidarity with the families of the victims and street ‘regluars’ who lost their lives 11 years ago. Al Mutanabbi Street is still a vital cultural center in Baghdad and the support from other Iraqi cities shows the strength of the Iraqi people and the power of their culture to build a better tomorrow.


Youth from Kut Create a New Local Forum: “We Are Wasit”

0
0

 

By the Secretariat of Iraqi Civil Society Initiative – 19 May 2018

As a part of the project “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia and Middle East”, local forums made up of civil society groups, volunteers and activists have emerged in several Iraqi cities overlooking on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These forums are united by the founding principles of the Iraqi Social Forum and a common conviction that another Iraq is possible, one that is peaceful, just and united. On 27-28 April 2018, Salman Khairallah a coordinator from the Iraqi Social Forum, went to Wasit to offer a training to young men and women in the city of Kut. This training, the first of its kind in the province of Wasit, attracted volunteers from voluntary teams, organizations and unions in the city. And from it emerged a new forum, “We Are Wasit”, open to all those who want to work for peace. Like the other forums in the project, “We Are Wasit” believes in the importance of teamwork and inclusion.

Volunteer teams participating the training came from several organizations, including: We Have a Fingerprint, We Can!, the Association for Culture and Media, the Friends of the Environment Association, some trade unions, and groups supporting women and children.

The training covered key information about developing, planning and managing campaigns, as well as a small presentation highlighting the objectives and activities of the Iraqi Social Forum and some of their experiences and successes. Volunteers learned how local forums can carry out joint work connecting all the cities involved in the project with the Iraqi Social Forum in Baghdad through different activities in their respective cities (relating to for instance, protection of the environment and cultural heritage). The training then moved on to a discussion about the major challenges and social problems faced by the Wasit community, and which of these civil society might be best able to address. The 3 central issues identified during the training which will shape the immediate future of the work of the We Are Wasit forum are:
1.) managing water resources in the governorate and those areas in the city that lie along the river (Wasit is facing a serious water crisis and is unable to meet local needs).
2.) preserving the cultural heritage and archaeological sites in Wasit (the area is home to many neglected cultural landmarks and archeological sites, including the historic Wasit Gate).
3.) raising awareness about labor laws (workers in the province are vulnerable to exploitation due to the fact that families from villages on the outskirts of the Wasit governorate often move to industrial cities to work in the brick factories there; most often, these workers are unaware of their rights as workers).

By the end of the training, it was agreed that most important campaign at this time would be the one aimed at raising awareness about labor laws, and its actives would be done with the cooperation of trade unions in the city. In addition to this focus, there would be two other campaigns, the first aimed to preserve and protect the heritage sites, specifically Wasit Gate; and the second, to educate farmers to ration their water consumption and to seek to use modern methods to irrigate crops.

The Iraqi Social Forum has now spread its model to many Iraqi cities. This has been the result of the project mentioned above: “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia and Middle East”, implemented by the Iraqi Social Forum in cooperation with the Information Center for Research and Development, Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative and the Italian organization Un Ponte Per… with the support of the Swiss Foundation FAI.

The ISF Offers a Campaign Development Training to Youth in Falluja and Ramadi

0
0

The Iraqi Social Forum (ISF) and the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI)

As part of the effort to develop capacities in youth from cities participating in the “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia” project, the Iraqi Social Forum held a training for the peace forums in Falluja and Ramadi on 5 May 2018. 5 young men and 5 young women from the two cities participated and acquired new strategies for planning and implementing their upcoming campaigns.

The training included a number of tools necessary for intelligent campaign planning and methods for results-based management. In this, it built the capacities of the young people involved in the project, ensuring that they will have the knowledge they need to carry out activities which aim to build peace and promote social cohesion (for instance, by forming community dialogue councils within their cities). The training will also serve these young activists as they devise innovative campaigns to protect the cultural and natural heritage around them, with special attention directed at preserving the health of the Euphrates River, a source of life for all the cities involved in the project.

“Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia” and its slogan “We Love Iraq” is a project that helps urban youth, their organizations and volunteer teams who are working together to build another Iraq. The project is implemented by the Iraqi Social Forum and the Information Center for Research and Development, in cooperation with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative and the Italian organization, Un Ponte Per… with additional support from the Swiss FAI Foundation.

A Campaign to Save the Natural and Cultural Heritage of Maysan Province

0
0

The Iraqi Social Forum (ISF) and the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity initiative (ICSSI)

Al Amara, Maysan

On 1 May 2018, as a part of “Our Heritage Campaign” activities, the Maysan Social Forum held a special training about the risks that face the natural and cultural heritage in Maysan province. Salman Khairallah and Ahmad Salih Ni’ma, environmental activists, led the training and gave informative lectures on the issues involved. The training helped to build the capacities of young activists involved in the Maysan Social Forum, giving them the tools needed to create and implement effective campaigns.

Participants discussed the drought and the threat it represents to the middle marshes. Because there is not enough water coming to these marshes, they are drying out and expected to disappear forever if direct action is not taken soon. The middle marshes are located in Nasiriyah, Al-Islah territory, and Ammara, Al-Salam territory, in a border area between the two provinces called Al-Qata’ territory. 93% of the area suffers from significant dehydration, thus a mere 7% of these precious marshes have the water they need.

The Ministry of Water Resources is currently trying to provide enough water for the areas that lack it, both in Basra and more generally in the areas that Euphrates River goes through, by re-channeling water from the Tigris River. This has an immediate and dire impact on the water levels in the marshes and threatens their long term existence. Despite these high stakes, the local government in Maysan has taken almost no role in solving the problem — rather they have neglected their responsibilities and tried to push them off on the central government in Baghdad. The Tigris River is threatened still more by the Ilisu Dam, now being finished by the Turkish government. This big dam will dramatically impact Iraq’s access to resources from Tigris River, as it will control the water supply for the first time in history. It is expected that Turkey will start filling the Ilisu Dam soon, perhaps as soon as next June.

Part of this training was dedicated to the preservation of the cultural heritage of Maysan Province. For instance, the city of Ammara has an enormous cultural and historical heritage, with nearly 460 archeological sites that have not yet been explored. Scientists and archaeologists suspect that there may be ruins from different civilizations, including: Elamite, Sumerian, Sasanian, and Parthian. Citizens of the city are trying to protect these sites, ensuring that they are explored in a systematic and professional way that will guarantee their safety. The province is also home to old professions that run the risk of disappearing if not deliberately protected and maintained, such as boat-building and textile-making for clothes and furniture. The young people who are working on the “Our Heritage Campaign” are trying to resurrect and protect these important aspects of the region’s heritage.

At the end of the training, it was agreed that in 2018, the “Our Heritage Campaign” would focus on the preservation of the heritage of the Mesopotamian civilization and form a committee of 7 people, including Ahmed Salih Ni’ma, to be in charge of developing an action plan. This plan will target raising awareness about the risks now facing the natural and cultural heritage in Maysan province and ways to overcome them. This will include reaching out to local communities and heads of Maysan tribes to orient public opinion towards the issues the region faces, and pressuring the central government in Baghdad to make some policies that support their goals.

There were twelve participants in the training including two women. They represented voluntary teams and civil society organizations working together within the Maysan Social Forum. Some examples of these teams are: Youth Gathering of Freedom and Peace, the Himam team, the Sumer Humanitarian Organization, Prosperity Gathering, the Light of the Future team, the Friends team and the Misha Organization.

“Our Heritage Campaign” is a civil society campaign launched by Maysan Social Forum in 2017 in cooperation with the Iraqi Social Forum. It aims to orient public opinion in Maysan province towards protecting its natural and cultural heritage. This campaign comes within a wider program for social cohesion under the name of “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia” which covers different Iraqi cities and provinces. This program is operated by the Iraqi Social Forum and the Information Center for Research and Development, in partnership with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative and Un Ponte Per organization, with the support of the Swiss FAI Organization.

Training on ” Management of Civil Campaigns” Takes Action in Nasiriyah

0
0

The Cultural Center of Nasiriyah hosted a training dedicated to developing the capacities of youth activists about campaign planning and analysis, target identification and methods of evaluating campaign results.

Salman Khairallah, from the secretariat of the Iraqi Social Forum, identified  three key areas on which to focus — youth, women and cultural heritage — and for each one participants in the training were asked to analyze related problems and to identify smart targets that could serve as realistic aims for civil campaigns in Nasiriyah. The young activists came away from the training with clear ideas for three new campaigns with the following goals:

  1. Enhancement of the contribution of youth in Nasiriyah in the cultural and knowledge fields. Participants discussed the low reading levels of many young people in Nasiriyah, and the lack of interest they take in cultural and scientific activities in general. In response to this, trainees suggested holding a festival called “Dhi Qar Readers” as well offering public seminars to encourage young people to engage in cultural activities, and to involve themselves in institutions like Dhi Qar University and the Education Directorate in the province.
  2. Enhancement of the freedom of women in Nasiriyah. Participants acknowledged that there is no suitable environment for women to work in Nasiriyah. Some ideas emerged to address this problem, such as holding seminars for women where they might discuss ways to create better working environments for women. They also considered the possibility of launching a campaign on social media (including articles and videos) highlighting the importance of women’s participation in the workplace. Finally participants suggested gathering together employers, companies and investment banks and encouraging them to open their doors to women and providing them what they require to work.
  3. Provide direct support for the existing campaign “Our Marshlands as World Heritage” launched last year. Participants suggested organizing a voluntary initiative to provide media support to the museum by writing about it and its importance, and spreading these posts on social media. They also discussed inviting Iraqi channels and newspapers to visit and write about it. A campaign encouraging schools and universities to visit the museum for their annual educational programs was also considered, as was asking the Iraqi government to allocate financial support to sustain the museum.

The Mashufna Cultural Center will continue to work on these topics with the volunteer teams in the city.

Twelve young people, including two women, representing various volunteer groups working in the “I Love Thi Qar Forum”, participated in the training which lasted for two consecutive days. These teams are: Ambitious Humans, the Dhi Qar Youth Team, 14GK Group, the Dhi Qar Young Ladies and the Mashufna volunteer team.

This training is part of an ongoing cooperation between the I Love Thi Qar Forum in Nasiriyah and the Iraqi Social Forum based in Baghdad, and is part of a broader program aimed at supporting Iraqi youth in a number of Iraqi provinces called “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia and Middle East”, which is funded by the Swiss Foundation (FAI) and implemented in cooperation with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI), the Italian Organization, Un Ponte Per…(UPP) and the Information Center for Research and Development. The campaign aims to promote the values and principles of the Iraqi Social Forum: social cohesion, peace-building and spreading the spirit of peaceful coexistence among the people of Iraq.

The Diwaniyah Environment and Peace Forum Organizes a Training on Campaign Management

0
0

From 29-30 April 2018, 13 young men and women from various organizations and volunteer groups attended a specialized training on campaign management organized by the Diwaniyah Environment and Peace Forum. The training was one of a series of trainings that form part of a larger initiative by the Iraqi Social Forum in which various cities have created forums to support youth movements across Iraq. The local forums build the capacity of activists, giving them the tools they need to implement effective and targeted campaigns with lasting results. This network of local forums has been growing in number since the beginning of last year and all follow in the footsteps of the Iraqi Social Forum.

Some of the organizations and youth teams that participated in the training are already active in Diwaniyah, and include: the Nature Iraq Organization, Humat Dijlah Association, Steps Organization, the Iraqi Association for Sustainable Fisheries, the Green Oasis Association, and the Y-Peer Education Network. But now these existing organizations, along with a number of other volunteer groups and individual activists, have joined together as parts of the Diwaniyah Environment and Peace Forum, allowing them to coordinate their activities and play a role not only in local events but national ones as well. The Diwaniyah Environment and Peace Forum was created last year to promote peace-building and environmental protection and is quickly becoming an effective way to bring together all those residing in Diwaniyah province who are interested in working on these issues.

Following a review of the most important tools needed to plan and manage successful campaigns, the trainees discussed what they saw as the most pressing social problems now facing the province of Diwaniyah with the young trainer, Salman Khairallah, from the secretariat of the Iraqi Social Forum. Together they assessed the impact of these problems and considered the kids of campaigns they might implement to help resolve them.

One of the most prominent issues which arose in the training is that of minorities living in the province. Attendees recognized the need to raise awareness about making space for and accepting all groups in the region so that everyone, no matter what his/her beliefs, ideas and practices can live safely and in peace. The training also discussed the crisis surrounding the scarcity of water in the Badir district of Diwaniyah province; currently, the region is struggling to meet the basic water needs of its inhabitants. The trainees also considered the possibility of opening a cultural street in the province of Diwaniyah, to be a public space for writers, thinkers and activists, and fertile ground for dialogue and the exchange of views and ideas. This street would stand as a kind of extension of the famous al Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad, thus strengthening the ties between cities and celebrating Iraq’s rich literary, intellectual and artistic heritage.

The Iraqi Social Forum has worked hard to spread its experiences to many Iraqi cities, especially those located on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. This training is part of the project: “Paths of Coexistence in Mesopotamia and Middle East” implemented by the Iraqi Social Forum in cooperation with the Information Center for Research and Development and partnership with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative, and the Italian Organization, Un Ponte Per.. with the support of the Swiss Foundation Fai.

Viewing all 45 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images