Nonviolence International

Reclaiming the Power of Nonviolence: Successes, Obstacles and Sustainability of Nonviolent Movements in the Arab Spring

On March 29^th and 30^th, American University hosted a symposium on nonviolent movements in the Arab Spring. The event was sponsored by the International Peace and Conflict Resolution department, the Center for Peacebuilding and Development, the Mohammad Said Farsi Chair of Islamic Peace, the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict and Nonviolence International. The two-day conference featured various activists, professors, journalists, politicians, and private organization officials from the Middle East and Washington, DC.

The goal of the conference was to create a space to discuss the efforts of nonviolence in the Arab Spring throughout the last year, in particular paying attention to marginalized groups, and determine how nonviolence could be applied in the future within the region to promote peace, growth and stability. The discussions were divided into panels focusing on particular issues or regions.

On Thursday, March 29^th the panelists discussed nonviolent movements in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, the struggles of nonviolent resistance in Syria and Libya, and the role of nonviolence in nations experiencing a governmental transition, particularly Egypt, Yemen and Jordan.  Some of the significant questions raised during the first day of the conference included the ability of nonviolent movements to remain nonviolent in the face of violence and the role of the access of information on nonviolent strategies.

The keynote speaker of the conference was Jawdat Said, a Syrian scholar and nonviolent activist. Mr. Said emphasized the traditions of nonviolence within the Quran and stated that justice and equality sustain the rule of law and is applicable to all people, not just Muslims. His speech utilized examples from religious texts, history and philosophy to support his advocacy of nonviolence.

On the second day, March 30^th, the panels focused more specifically on marginalized groups, such as women, ethnic minorities and religious minorities, and looked at the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq as a case study. Important questions addressed in these panels included the role of the international community in the Arab Spring, when and how minorities should join the nonviolent protests and the difficulties in comparing various Middle Eastern countries and their national revolutions. The day concluded with a wrap-up panel that examined the general conclusions of the conference and discussed the future of nonviolent movements in Middle Eastern countries still undergoing revolution or experiencing transition.

The Iran Pledge of Resistance is a grassroots campaign started in February 2012 as a preemptive response to a US led war with Iran. This campaign is modeled after the Central American Pledge of Resistance that successfully prevented a U.S. invasion in Nicaragua. The goal of the Resistance is to rapidly create a strong anti-war base with both online

activism and local, on the ground activism to prevent a violent action against Iran.

Join the Cause!

You can sign the Iran Pledge of Resistance by clicking here.

Library on Wheels for Nonviolence and Peace Association (LOWNP) was created by Nonviolence International’s founder, Mubarak Awad, in 1986. LOWNP is a nonprofit organization located in Jerusalem and Hebron. LOWNP promotes the use of nonviolence as a means of social empowerment. It particularly focuses on peace education for Palestinian children and serves as an active library.

Watch video clip describing the project here.

American University is hosting a two-day symposium bringing together practitioners and academics of past and present nonviolent movements in the Middle East. The goal of the symposium is to discuss lessons learned from the recent movements of the Arab Spring. The speakers include Jawdat Said, Falah Bakir, Amer bin Amer and Maryam Al-Khawaja.

More information can be found here.

  Tawakkul Karman, a Yemeni rights activist and journalist, was the first Arab woman to win   the Nobel Peace Prize, doing so in 2011.  Ms. Karman recently spoke at George Mason University about the revolution in Yemen.

To view Ms. Karman’s speech, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com /watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mfAP-h9frKw

Nonviolence International’s Director, Michael Beer, gave the keynote speech for the Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County on March 4, 2012.

PART 1: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=198449280261191

PART 2: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=198588683580584

PART 3: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=199970926775693

Nonviolence International’s founder Mubarak Awad traveled to Bethlehem, Palestine to participate in the “Christ at the Checkpoint” Conference held on March 5-9, 2012. Below is the press release from the Conference:

Christ at the Checkpoint: Hope in the Midst of Conflict

A major breakthrough in the evangelical world took place in Bethlehem through a gathering of over 600 international and local Christians, including renowned evangelical leaders. Organized by Bethlehem Bible College, the conference, under the banner “Christ at the Checkpoint,” addressed the issue of how to find hope in the midst of conflict. The conference exceeded all expectations.

For the first time, a broad spectrum of evangelical believers met literally at the “checkpoint,” and engaged biblically on issues that have historically divided them. Subjects included, Christian Zionism, Islamism, justice, nonviolence, and reconciliation. These themes were intended to create an ongoing forum for Christian peacemaking within the context of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. These issues were discussed in the form of inspirational messages, Bible study, interactive workshops, panels and site visits.

Defying the temptation to despair, Palestinian Christians demonstrated renewed hope to continue to stand against the injustice of occupation nonviolently and forms of Christian Zionism that marginalize them. They also acknowledged the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure borders.

Speakers included John Ortberg, Bishara Awad, Chris Wright, Doug Birdsall, David Kim, Tony Campolo, Lynne Hybels, Munther Isaac, Shane Claiborne, Joel Hunter, Ron Sider, Salim Munayer and Colin Chapman. Participants from 20 nations and a sizeable delegation of university students including Wheaton College and Eastern University, were moved by the testimony of Palestinian men and women who shared the pain and suffering they experience on a daily basis caused primarily by the continuing occupation.

A unique aspect of the conference was the presence and presentations by members of the Messianic community including Richard Harvey, Evan Thomas and Wayne Hilsden, who provided an integral contribution to the dialogue.

Conference organizers challenged the evangelical community to cease looking at the Middle East through the lens of “end times” prophecy and instead rallied them to join in following Jesus in the prophetic pursuance of justice, peace and reconciliation.

Memorial Service for Scott Kennedy, January 8th, 2012

4pm-6pm

Ibrahim El-Hibri Building
1420 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Our dear friend Scott Kennedy died Saturday, November 19, 2011, of an apparent heart attack, while he was sleeping beside his wife Kris. We love Scott. He is one of us. He collaborated with many of you in active nonviolent struggle for freedom and justice. And he shared deep friendships with so many.

Scott Kennedy and Nonviolence International had a special and close relationship for many decades. Scott Kennedy was an early supporter of Mubarak Awad’s activities to promote nonviolence in Palestine. Scott served on a number of boards of organizations that Dr. Awad founded including the National Youth Advocate Program and the California Youth Advocate Program.

For now we share this message from Mubarak Awad,

Scott Kennedy’s death is a loss to me, the Nonviolence International family, the people of Santa Cruz, and people’s suffering under wrong-headed US foreign policies. I first met him in the 1980′s when we co-wrote the 1983 book, Nonviolent Struggle in the Middle East. This book helped lay the groundwork for the modern Palestinian resistance movement. Scott has been so supportive of me in my career including my work with disadvantaged children in the United States. I was so proud that he won recognition for outstanding life achievements by receiving the El Hibri Peace Education Prize in 2009.

His Resource Center for Nonviolence is an vibrant organization and helped inspire me to start Nonviolence International. I think what I loved about him the most was his cheerfulness, his can-do attitude and his willingness to sacrifice for people he did not even know. There is much work to be done to achieve a nonviolent world and Scott has helped lead the way. I miss him as much as losing a dear brother.

May Blessings and Peace Be Upon Him,

Mubarak Awad

September 28, 2011 — The El-Hibri Charitable Foundation announced today that internationally acclaimed author and educator Gene Sharp has been selected as the 2011 recipient of the El-Hibri Peace Education Prize. The Prize, which carries a monetary award of $15,000, is given annually by the foundation to honor an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the field of peace education. Sharp’s selection was conducted by Nonviolence International, which included a team of peace education experts led by Dr. Mubarak Awad.

“Gene Sharp has dedicated his life to researching and teaching the strategic uses of nonviolent struggle against the forces of war, oppression and dictatorship,” noted Robert Buchanan, president of the El-Hibri Charitable Foundation. “His intellectual contributions to the field of nonviolent change cannot be overstated. The El-Hibri Charitable Foundation is pleased to recognize Dr. Gene Sharp for his thoughtful scholarship, his practical approach to nonviolence, and his extensive influence around the world.”

With a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford University, Sharp held research appointments at Harvard University’s Center for International Affairs for more than thirty years. Among Sharp’s 14 books, his /The Politics of Nonviolent Action /in 1973 is recognized as the definitive study of nonviolent struggle. In 1983 Sharp founded the Albert Einstein Institution in Boston where he currently serves as senior scholar. His best-known publication /From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation /in 1993 has been published in 34 languages. In 2009 Dr. Sharp was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The 2011 El-Hibri Peace Education Prize will be awarded to Gene Sharp at a ceremony to be held on October 1st at the El-Hibri Charitable Foundation’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

The El-Hibri Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation. The foundation seeks to build a better world by encouraging peace education, interfaith dialogue, social justice and humanitarian aid. The El-Hibri Peace Education Prize was initiated in 2007. Past laureates include Colman McCarthy, columnist, author and founder of the Center for Teaching Peace; Mary E. King, international educator, author and policy advisor; Scott Kennedy, peace activist and co-founder of the Resource Center for Nonviolence; and Abdul Aziz Said, founder of the Center for Global Peace at American University.

For further information, visit or contact Zen Hunter-Ishikawa by email at zhunter@elhibrifoundation.org or by phone at 202-387-9500.