The Common Ground Blog is an initiative of (Search for Common Ground), an international non-governmental organization (NGO), headquartered in Washington and Brussels, whose mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict - away from adversarial confrontation towards cooperative solutions. (more info)
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a ray of hope
As we remember the horrific events of the Holocaust, we regret that this historical event still falls victim to denial and accusations that Jews have distorted facts to advance their own interests in the Middle East. But a tide seems to have turned, at least in one country in the Middle East.
The Holocaust has been the subject of numerous movies, including Claude Lanzmann’s “Shoah.” “Shoah” is the Hebrew word for Holocaust; the movie is composed of first-hand accounts of concentration camp survivors and employees. First released in 1985, the first part has just aired on public state television for the first time in a majority-Muslim country, Turkey.
“It is a historical event,” Lanzmann told the Associated Press. “The Turks are engaged in a pioneering work and I am sure [the showing] will be followed by other Muslim countries.”
SFCG shares Lanzmann’s hopes, especially as Turkey also took the initiative to release its own movie last year, “The Turkish Passport”, which commemorates the heroic actions of Turkish diplomats during the Holocaust who issued Jews Turkish passports, saving thousands of lives.
Life presents us with many opportunities to be courageous, to start a dialogue about painful things, and to make unpopular decisions in order to do the right thing. At SFCG, we will go into the weekend reflecting on the actions of leaders and everyday citizens alike that are taking steps to ensure a more peaceful future throughout the world.
Peacebuilding reality show, Salam Shabab, gives Iraqi youth a voice and promotes inclusion
In the midst of massive change in the Middle East and North Africa, youth have often been left voiceless, unsure of their roles in the social shifts and revolutions surrounding them. A new television program focusing on real life peacebuilding has given Iraqi youth the opportunity Read more…
Can America Find its Common Ground?
Gabrielle Giffords' Goodbye via Youtube
Representative Gabrielle Giffords urges the American political system to do more by working together
“I know on the issues we fought for, we can change things for the better. Jobs. Border security. Veterans. We can do so much more by working together.” ~ Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in her farewell speech
This Sunday, January 22nd, Representative Gabrielle Giffords took to Youtube to announce her resignation in order to best serve her community. A year after her nearly fatal shooting, she still has much to do to recover. She has been much lauded by her fellow Representatives for her courage and determination, but here at SFCG, we find ourselves struck by her final message.
“We can do so much more by working together.”
Laurie Roberts, in her column at The Arizona Republic, asks ‘Can we?’ Read more…
THE GLOBAL JOURNAL just published the first ever TOP 100 NGOs list
The Global Journal‘s ‘Top 100 Best NGOs’ list is the first international ranking of its kind and provides an exclusive in-depth look at 100 of the world’s best NGOs.
The report ranks SFCG #52 among all NGOs in the world and #1 among conflict resolution NGOs. The article highlights, in particular, SFCG’s diverse methods for resolving conflicts and our long-term commitment to the countries in which we work.
To see the profile of SFCG in this special issue of The Global Journal click here.
To see the full list click here.
SFCG’s Future in Pakistan
SFCG Pakistan Team with Executive Vice President Sandra Melone (second row, far left)
- The SFCG Pakistan Team
Our team in Pakistan met in early January, joined by Executive Vice President Sandra Melone, to plan their course of action for the new year and to envision what our work in Pakistan will be in the future. We began our work there amidst crises and political instability. Floods ravaged much of the country and members of our staff were not immune. One of the earliest things our team did was to bring together a majority of the FM radio stations throughout the country to enter into an agreement to produce solution oriented common ground radio programs that seek to enlighten the dialogue and not to inflame it. This was the first of its kind and that work continues.
Members of the staff took the time from their busy activities to quietly reflect on what bringing peace to Pakistan would mean.
Here, in their own words, are some of their thoughts and reflections:
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined SFCG's Côte D'Ivoire Country Director, Quentin Kanyatsi (right) and the Director General of CERAP, Reverend Hyacinthe Loua (left) at SFCG's Youth & Community Leader Roundtable on Reconciliation in Abidjan.
“Everyone has a role to play in deciding whether the future will be peaceful or not.”
~Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton
Secretary Clinton shared this thought during her visit to a Search for Common Ground youth project in Côte d’Ivoire on Tuesday January 17th.
Youth perform a play for Secretary Clinton about the recent elections in Côte D'Ivoire
During her time in Côte d’Ivoire, Secretary Clinton met with President Ouattara and then proceeded to a gathering with SFCG’s Côte d’Ivoire country staff and the Ivoirian youth we have been working with there. These young people are committed to healing the deep divisions in their country that became all too clear during the 2010 election and the crisis that followed it.
Secretary Clinton had the opportunity to watch a dramatic presentation by these young people as they shared how they had learned to use theater to help transform their emotional and social wounds into commitments to coexistence, non-violence, and reconciliation.
“Whether you are a president of a country, a minister or imam, a young man or a young woman, each person can decide whether to go on hating, or to begin living together and working together,” said Clinton.
Read more about Secretary Clinton’s visit and our work in Côte d’Ivoire here.
