3rd annual Iraqi Week of Nonviolence begins tomorrow.
Guest post by Jennifer Kuiper of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. FOR is partnering nationally and locally with Peaceful Tomorrows to support La'Onf.
Today in Iraq, there is a growing
movement of citizens pursuing an end to violence, occupation and corruption
through nonviolent means. La’Onf is a network of men and women and
over 100 Iraqi organizations, from across the country and across religious
and ethnic groups, who have joined together to promote nonviolence as
the most effective way to struggle for an independent, democratic, and
peaceful Iraq. Starting TOMORROW October 11, La’Onf members will hold their 3rd annual campaign, the Iraqi Week of Nonviolence, in which they will advocate through nonviolent action for measures to ensure the freedom and security of Iraqis who will exercise their right to vote during Iraq’s upcoming provincial elections.
To communicate your support for their efforts to our partners in Iraq, you can post a photographic message on a public Flickr Photo Gallery by sending a digital photograph to laonfsolidarity@yahoo.com, along with a brief description of your photo and location. You will be able to see photos from others including Iraqi activists at http://www.flickr.com/photos/laonfsolidarity/.
You can also sign an International Letter of Support expressing your support for the La’Onf Week of Nonviolence and pass it along to others.
For more information on supporting La’Onf in the United States, go to Peaceful Tomorrows website or simply email Peaceful Tomorrows at laonf@peacefultomorrows.org.
More information on La’Onf is available on their website in Arabic, Kurdish and English: www.laonf.net. Or see a presentation on YouTube.
In the words of Ismaeel Dawood, Founding Member of La’Onf:
“Please, spread the message: there is not only violence in Iraq, there is something more; people are building peace and seeking real change. . . Today La’Onf exists within the polarized and dangerous political environment of Iraq where if you speak about resistance you are accused of supporting terrorists and advocating violence; but if you speak about nonviolence you are accused of supporting the occupation. La’Onf seeks to create a third way with its message that nonviolence is a tool to resist occupation, terrorism and corruption.”
