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People Choosing Peace: Daniel (Nigeria)

By
Peace News Staff
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Source: Peacemaker360 /Maija Jespersen.

At 17, Daniel Nwaeze was no stranger to riots, ethnic fighting, and street shoot-outs in his area of Nigeria, but when someone fired a gun right next to Daniel’s head he decided it was time to do something. He developed the idea of turning people’s real stories of resilience and activism into media content to challenge Boko Haram’s narrative and recruitment campaigns.

Daniel started Diplomacy Opportunities, setting up a community of young people interested in peacebuilding, media literacy, and youth development. Now, the project connects members to internships, conferences, fellowships, and other opportunities.

“More recently, we started Development Ambassadors, a section where we profile young people in our community, and #ShapeNarratives to tell and rewrite the narratives involved in building peace and preventing and countering violent extremism,” Daniel said.

Daniel’s organization now has over 17k followers on FaceBook and he recently joined the Afrika Youth Movement as chair of media and communications, bringing out young people’s voices in places like Cameroon, Uganda, Gabon, and the DRC.

“We try to tell the youth narratives of Africans in Africa by Africans from the youth lens about their resilience and activities towards peaceful coexistence and development” Daniel said.

“Our most popular campaign, #AfricaSmile, connects youth on the continent to stand for peace and build friendship,” he said.

“… ISIS/Daesh and Boko Haram are effectively using the media space to recruit young people, incite violence, and promote propaganda. The fact that there is more to be done to shrink the space for violent groups and build sustainable peace keeps me up and ever-passionate.”

Is Middle East News Biased?

By
Peace News Staff
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Media coverage of the Middle East has been accused of simplifying conflicts, and relying on stereotypes to explain complex wars.

“This has been a long-standing problem, not just in the Middle East but when powerful states and their academics or their researchers or their journalists or their politicians for that matter don’t have actual, or really much direct, contact with the various countries or peoples around the world that their policies are effecting,” said Nick Noe, founder of MidEast Wire.

“It’s a particular problem in the Middle East because the Middle East has arguably seen a disproportionate amount of armed conflicts,” Mr Noe said.

“It’s clear that – one – there is a lot of intellectual production that’s being generated by think tanks and academics and others about the Middle East and much of that is not informed by people who have spent a substantial amount of time in the countries for which they are writing,” he said.

“[There’s a] focus on conflict in particular, and the exaggeration of tribal politics when it comes to dynamics,” said Mark Daou, from the American University of Beirut.

Many countries in the Middle East, such as Turkey, Egypt, and Iran, have also cracked down on press freedom and the flow of information.

“It’s always been a problem, but it’s become more and more true as we see more and more authoritarianism creep back into the Middle East and North Africa,” Mr Noe said.

“So you end up seeing the same exact reports being done which mainly enforce established thoughts or ideas or political lines by those in power,” Mr Daou said.

“The deeper dimensions – those related to the economy, those related to culture, or even to religious debates are always kept out of the sphere of analysis in those reports, because of the difficulty of getting proper information and vetting it.”

What could help better reporting in the region?

1. Covering more than one side of the conflict

“Too often we’ve seen one side portrayed in a story without having ‘the other side’ or even a third side given voice,” Mr Noe said.

Mr Noe runs exchanges on conflicts in Lebanon, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, where journalists and academics can learn from local groups and leaders. Participants hear from all sides of a conflict, even from rebel groups.

“I think it helps to better inform, at the very least, better inform the debate and discussion from abroad about what’s happening here in Lebanon, and the Middle East and North Africa in general,” Mr Noe said.

“And really more opportunity to listen to, and then question, the political interlocutors that people are writing about in DC, or in London, or in Paris, or in Montreal or wherever it may be,” he said.

2. Financial support for independent media

“This kind of commitment of financial resources, diplomatic and security support for people that are trying to right freely about some of the problems of their own countries is crucial,” Mr Noe said.

3. Hiring local journalists

“There needs to be – especially from Western media outlets – a greater emphasis on recruiting, training, and developing talented people from within these societies themselves,” Mr Noe said.

People Choosing Peace: Karima (Afghanistan)

By
Peace News Staff
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Karima, 45, lost her father-in-law and her home during war in Afghanistan, but she hasn’t let conflict diminish her resilience. A mother of four, Karima and her family had to seek refuge in Pakistan when violence broke out in her village. There they lived in poverty with little access to necessities, such as clean drinking water.

“During the war everything turned upside down,” Karima said.

She returned to Afghanistan, she learned about the NGO Women for Women International through a community leader, and joined one of their year-long training program in Kabul. At the training, Karima learned tailoring and business management skills.

“The lessons I learned here I put into practice in my daily life,” Karima said.

Inspired by what she was learning, Karima decided to begin her own business. She bought two second-hand sewing machines and fabric and start a tailoring business. Now, Karima not only supports her own family but also employs five other women in her neighborhood.

“I have found many good friends: especially one woman, who has become like my sister. She is very kind and I want to be in touch with her forever,” she said.

Now, Karima is not only earning enough to pay for every-day needs, but is also saving money in hopes of expanding her business someday.

“For the last four months the bazaar was good but now I’m looking for new market and new customers,” Karima said.

Photo and story provided by WfWI.

Does Inequality Cause War?

By
admin
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Newsreader: Brandon Richardson

The top 1% of the world’s richest people own nearly 50% of the planet’s wealth, while many of the world’s poorest nations are experiencing war.

Last year, 31 of the world’s 38 wars occurred in developing countries. Could strengthening economic equality help build peace?

“Economic development is directly related to the prospects for peaceful outcomes and the reduction of armed conflict,” said Dr David Cortright, from the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

“There’s really overwhelming data showing that – depending on how you measure economic development – the most common indicator is per capita income: As per capita income rises, the risk of armed conflict decline,” Dr Cortright said.

However, recently researchers have argued that inequality doesn’t just mean a difference in income levels, but often relates to social inequality, and a sense if unfairness.

“This whole question about violence and inequalities has been studied intensely, but over the last few years there’s been much more attention to this social dimension, to this horizontal dimension,” Dr Cortright said.

“And there’s now a great deal of data to confirm that the differences in access to power, and to resources and to economic opportunity, among social groups among a particular social-economic framework can lead to grievances that can lead to armed conflict,” he said.

Researchers suggest that political equality isn’t just about having representation in government, but about how a population relates to people in power, and how they feel about their right to oppose policies.

“The data shows that when communities are denied human rights, and civil rights, the risk of oppression and violent conflict, is greater,” Dr Cortright said.

Peacebuilders are working to address the inequality issues on the ground in conflict zones, but they warn that there’s no band-aid solution.

“We really work to address the kind of underlying factors, drivers, that contribute to violence and instability, in different parts of the world, and some of those drivers include things like a lack of opportunity, education, a climate of impunity, an inability to uphold and protect the rights of children and women especially, and young girls,” said Dr Samantha Nutt, founder of War Child.

“Whether it’s the conflict in Syria, or Eastern Congo, or even in South Sudan, it’s really important that we move beyond that emergency strategy where it’s constantly about short-term relief, interventions that tend to promote a cycle of dependency,” Dr Nutt said.

“And [more on] the longer term strategies that are needed to ensure that we’re addressing the underlying drivers of those conflicts, and what families need to – basically – provide for themselves.”

We asked the experts if there are examples of equality reducing conflict.

Dr Cortright pointed to Colombia, where inequalities, especially in the rural areas – in terms of access to land, access to resources, ownership, and wealth – led to the world’s longest running conflict. The civil war there ended with a historic peace agreement last year.

“The peace agreement, that’s been signed and is starting the implementation process now, has within it a whole range of measures that are designed to try to address those inequalities – to provide more economic development, that’s targeted to the poorest regions, where political institutions of government have either been non-existent, or have been denied opportunities for participation, where now the goal is to try to create more participation, and create more opportunities for economic empowerment and political empowerment,” Dr Cortright said.

Observers also point other Latin American nations, like Brazil and Peru, where attempts have been made to address inequalities – especially with marginalized groups – and despite some set-backs, has been largely successful, with Colombia’s peace accord marking the end of armed conflicts on the continent.

“There’s been an end to armed conflicts, political violence, generally, is down,” Dr Cortright said.

“That doesn’t mean the societies are completely peaceful, in all respects, but the trends have been positive.”

Op-Ed: Hope for El Salvador

By
Jessica Berns
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Op-ed: Jessica Berns is a Consultant for Non-Governmental Organizations, University-based programs, and philanthropists. Stacey L. Connaughton is an Associate Professor in the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University, USA. She is the Director of the Purdue Peace Project.

Some months ago, we read a blog analyzing U.S. and Mexican policy towards refugees from the Northern Triangle countries of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras). The blog concludes: “As inequality and poverty continue to devastate communities, war continues to escalate, and climate change threatens to displace millions, the number of people forced to leave their countries will not subside.” And this is where we pick up, with a focus on El Salvador.

People do not leave home, on a perilous and costly journey, facing an uncertain, challenging future unless there is no alternative. They do not send their children to travel from El Salvador to the United States unaccompanied, unless they are desperate. Why are people fleeing at increasing numbers? Why are 40% of all Central American immigrants in the U.S. from El Salvador, a small country with a population larger than Los Angeles but less than New York City’s 5 boroughs? Its infamy as the world’s most violent country, its capital, San Salvador, the world’s most murderous city, and the lack of economic opportunity are all factors.

When we travel to El Salvador, as we have done multiple times a year for the last three years, we remark on the ease of our travel. A short, three-hour flight from Atlanta, our transit point, and we arrive in San Salvador. Despite the geographic proximity, the fact that many Salvadorans make their way to the U.S., and U.S. involvement in the country’s dirty civil war of the 1980s, most people in the U.S. know very little about El Salvador.

There are established historical, cultural, and political links and a regular flow of people and money between the two countries. So why isn’t there more interest in the root causes of migration to the U.S.? And is the situation all bleak, as the numbers would seem to indicate? The short answer is that yes, things are very bad. Violence abounds. The country continues to lack a fully accountable or transparent system of governance. Political polarization means it’s hard to get anything done. The marginalization between the elite and the rest of the country, and a lack of inclusive policies, remains. Unemployment is high.

However, based on our familiarity with the country through the Purdue Peace Project, there are a number of examples of citizen engagement that inspire and provide hope. We observe courage, dedication, and resilience. Amongst those we interact with we witness a desire to make the country safer and more inclusive. We observe a commitment to resist gang violence, engage with young people, and seek dialogue across difference. Here are two examples of on the ground efforts across El Salvador, carried out at great personal risk to those involved. These kinds of actions have a role to play in stemming the displacement cited above.

In the remote area of Cabañas, two hours from the capitol, we met a man in his 50s. Originally from this rural community, the man had attended university in San Salvador where he then built an engineering career. He recently returned to Cabañas and bought land with the desire to create economic opportunities for the youth there, beyond migrating to the U.S. or joining gangs (two of the most popular options). He recruited a group of young people to join him in fish farming, cultivating tilapia and shrimp that they hope can one day get to markets, beyond those in their local community. This man made one of the most moving statements we have heard over the course of two decades of peace, governance and social inclusion work: “The world is rescueable.” (“El mundo es rescatable”)

Nearby, in San Isidro, the Comisión Interinstitucional (Inter-Institutional Commission) was created by local citizens to address environmental degradation and water scarcity that has led to violence and deep tensions in the community. Remarkable for its inclusive and participatory nature, the Comisión is comprised of individuals from different political parties, members of the private sector, and grassroots activists. To date, the Comisión has broadened its membership by including representatives of the national government, led a national-tree planting day, and created new opportunities for peaceful, constructive dialogue. When we asked one of the conveners of the Comisión what motivates him, he replied: “If the rivers die, the communities die.”

For El Salvador to become a more peaceful, stable place where its citizens feel included in political processes, much needs to change. U.S. governmental policy, humanitarian efforts, international NGO efforts, and Salvadoran governmental policy all have roles to play. But we believe that interest in, and support for, national and local citizen efforts can positively impact the future and help Salvadorans transform their country.

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