Hirondelle; Media for Peace and Human Dignity

Hirondelle is the word for a swallow in French.

It is also the name of a Swiss-based NGO that works with journalists and citizens to bring Independent media to post-conflict zones in various nations throughout Africa. Presently Foundation Hirondelle operates or supports six radio stations. The mission of Hirondelle is to provide credible media, through rigorous and factual reportage - to the people, for the people. Hirondelle supports the people's right to a credible news source in their National language.

Photo by Jean Claude Capt, for Hirondelle

In 2008 Hirondelle became a 501c(3) in the USA. Based in New York and with a growing board of directors, the USA looks to support the work of Hirondelle and to cultivate partnerships with media and human rights non-profits while participating in relevant policy conversations.

It is a critical time for Independent local media, especially in the face of supposed democratic change. In Sudan, for example, in the wake of the referendum and with the impending separation of the South from the North - the people must have access to a credible and just local news source. The six stations, which can be streamed online are in Tanzania, Liberia, Sudan, the Central African Republic, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone. You can go to their respective sites by clicking on the links below or by visiting the Hirondelle website, or Hirondelle USA. There are currently more than 30 million listeners who tune in each day. Access to independent news should be a right. I support the vision of Hirondelle wholeheartedly; to see that more people have access to the credible news they need, and the opportunity to engage in dialogue in order to build a more peaceful civil society.

Meditation in Schools

A the Ross School in the Hamptons each day begins with breakfast all together and then some kind of meditative practice; tai chi, yoga or meditation. I have long been an advocate of creating the space for some kind of quiet time, like the compulsory naps of preschool. What makes schools think that students don't need to take 20 as they get older? Au contraire, I think with the pressures of schoolwork, peers and adolescence it becomes more important for students to cultivate a quiet practice.

There is a great deal of research out there proving the benefits of transcendental meditation (TM) in reducing stress, trauma, increasing concentration, fostering healthy communication and ameliorating test scores and anxiety. The renowned Director Producer David Lynch has been practicing TM for over 30 years and in 2005 founded the The David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace. It's mission is:

To fund the implementation of scientifically proven stress-reducing modalities including Transcendental Meditation, for at-risk populations such as underserved inner-city students; veterans with PTSD and their families; American Indians suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high suicide rates; homeless men participating in reentry programs striving to overcome addictions; and incarcerated juveniles and adults.

David Lynch calls the 20 minutes of TM practice, 'Quiet Time.' From more privileged students at the Ross School in the Hamptons to the youth hailing from agitated school zones - Every child, teacher and principal, All of us, could benefit from some kind of meditative practice. I can't say that I am a practitioner myself, but I know that I am negatively affected by the intensity of the world we live in today. I know that I will benefit greatly from giving myself 20 minutes twice a day. As an NYU Alumni I am also aware of the frighteningly high rates of suicide that take place within the institution each year; the pressures of school and parents, the high costs of city living, the over-bombardment of information and technology - We need more ways to check in with ourselves, to access the breadth and calm that lies below. Change, Lynch echoes, begins within.

مطلب التغيير - A Call for Change -

Symbols and Social media illustrate the contrastive movements of revolution in the 21st century.

North Africa is bustling with change at the moment. It is a fascinating lesson in understanding modern day Independence movements. The final results of south Sudan's recent referendum to split the North from the South will be announced at the end of the month. The vote, which remained reasonably peaceful is an enormous stride for a country devastated by civil war again and again since Independence. Sudan has one of the lowest literacy rates, at about 20-27% of the population. Thus, the voting was done using symbols to represent 'separation' and 'unity'.

Sudanese voters choose their vote by marking on of the circles with their fingerprint.

A bit further northwest Tunisian citizens are also stirring change in the 'Jasmine Revolution,' which was sparked in December when a 26 year old man lit fire to himself in protest after police tried to seize his unlicensed vegetable stand. He was a well-educated, unemployed young man trying to make a livable wage. Tunisians have been under the seemingly untouchable police state of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali for 23 years. But this month all that changed. The people of Tunisia are taking to the streets without fear and demanding democracy. They have successfully ousted Ben Ali, freezing his bank accounts and removing close cabinet members from power. And the means they have been using to do so? Discontentment, and social media, including telephones, twitter, messaging and online forums. Harnessing these tools are the way forward in 21st century revolutiona, granting more freedom to the people. As we witnessed last year in Iran, for the first time people are able to use the internet and cell phone cameras in order to speak out and expose beyond the boundaries of tyranny.

The Washington Post points out other leaders in the region who are increasingly out of touch with the next generation of youth;

All around him is a depressingly familiar pattern. Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi (68 years old) has been in power since 1969; Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh (64) has ruled since 1978 and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (82) since 1981. Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika (73) is a relative newcomer, having been in power only since 1999.

May these elderly autocrats take heed of the changing times as people in the Arab world and North Africa are becoming increasingly fed up with decades of marginalization and are using all their resources to call for change.

Tunisian woman stands up in a recent revolt, Tunis.

If you'd like to read more about the Jasmine Revolution I tend to recommend Al Jazeera for Arab news because it is covering it much more widely than the NY Times.

Martin Luther King Jr. on Mutuality

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives in the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere in this country."

Martin Luther King Jr's emphasis on inclusiveness holds lasting pertinence today, especially in relation to the integration of minorities throughout the world. As globalization accelerates, the movement of people, both involuntary and freely is increasing like never before - we must continue to undo the separatism of the past, and understand how to flourish together. America, a Nation committed to its tagged 'unity' is ever-divided.

King's wording of "outside agitator" prompts my feelings of the recent immigration debate.
In America one recent proposed federal legislation, that was not successfully voted in is The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, known as the DREAM Act.

This bill would provide certain illegal and deportable alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. illegally as minors, and have been in the country continuously and illegally for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency they complete two years in the military or two years at a four year institution of higher learning.

On December 18th 2010 the DREAM Act failed to pass its reintroduction to the House of representatives, which, in my opinion is a glaring disavowal for this Nation's people and state of affairs. Taking away opportunities from youth who have been schooled in America is a disservice to the country's future and our economy. We should all be allowed to Dream big.

Afghan Women's Writing Project

I just discovered this amazing online magazine forum; The Afghan Women's Writing Project, an entirely volunteer run collective that 'empowers Afghani women to have a voice in the world despite a deteriorating security situation.'

I want to write, I want to write about
my dreams which never come true,
my power that has always been ignored,
my voice which is never heard by this deaf universe,
my rights which have never been counted,
my life decisions which are always made by others.
Oh my destiny, give me the answer, what am I for in this universe?
What does it mean to be an Afghan woman?
Hmm, I know you can’t provide me with an elegant answer so
Just give me the pen, the hidden pen
So that I can write, that is all I am asking for!...

Excerpt of poem written by Emaan.

The AWWP believes that the right to tell one's story is a human right. Increasing the freedom of women strengthens their capabilities and is an undeniable way towards human and societal development. Every woman has a story to tell. This online magazine and mentorship program between women writers throughout the world is giving voice to those too often hushed. There is nothing like the pen as a tool, as remedy, as revolution. Do take a gander at the site and support these women by commenting, letting them know that they are being heard.