Nov

19

Reflections from Liberia

November 19, 2009 | 1 Comment

bernsjessica_liberiapost2_003John Moore and Jessica Berns traveled to Monrovia recently to co-host a workshop aimed at strengthening the coexistence capacities of participants so that their day-to-day work has a better chance at improving social inclusion in the country.  John Moore joined Coexistence International as program manager in 2008.  He also contributes to the development of CI’s publications and workshop programs. Moore holds a M.A. in Dispute Resolution from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a B.A. in Economics from Boston College.

Together, the two of them work together with a team to strengthen the field of policymakers, practitioners, researchers, advocates, organizations and networks promoting coexistence at local, national and international levels.

Time is strange. How is it that the 10-days that John and I were in Monrovia flew by, yet when the time came to depart, we felt as if we had been there a very long time?

Our visit to Liberia is marked by encounters with Liberians of integrity doing critical, challenging work; new insights into the coexistence concerns facing the country; an intense sense of the many, pressing needs facing the Liberian people and the nation; and the reality that the country is at a vulnerable place. The future is uncertain, and the challenges are many, but our colleagues there, Liberian and international alike, see no other way forward but to persevere.

The day before our workshop started I drove around Monrovia with our facilitator, William Saa, to follow-up in person with people we had invited to our workshop.  Some people had received the invitation and were planning to attend, but hadn’t RSVPed. Others seemed to have never received the invitation in the first place, but were eager to join us. And others, inevitably, couldn’t make it. Driving around with Bill confirmed for me that we had chosen the right facilitator: Bill made connections with all the participants, was open, and was responsive to their needs. John’s and my basic rule for driving around in Monrovia is that the car must have seat belts, and fortunately Bill’s car met this basic requirement. By the way, the car that took us from the airport into the city (about an hour’s drive) also had seat belts, but we weren’t sure how it ended up with Colorado license plates!

Participants in the workshop "Moving Social Inclusion Forward: Strengthening Coexistence in Liberia" training held November 4-6th in Thinker's Village, Monrovia, Liberia. This event was convened by CI in collaboration with the International Center for Transitional Justice - Liberia, and the Transitional Justice Working Group of Liberia.Participants in the workshop “Moving Social Inclusion Forward: Strengthening Coexistence in Liberia” training held November 4-6th in Thinker’s Village, Monrovia, Liberia. This event was convened by CI in collaboration with the International Center for Transitional Justice – Liberia, and the Transitional Justice Working Group of Liberia.

The workshop took place a little outside of the city center, at a beachfront hotel/conference center. It might sound idyllic, and for the future livelihood of the owners, I hope one day it will be a beautiful beachfront destination, but for now, there are still some areas for improvement. The water supply was inconsistent. We didn’t shower every day despite the 80+ degree, humid weather, and when we had it, it was cold. We knew the generator would be turned off every evening for a couple of hours, but each day there was a few other unplanned blackouts. And the chemicals that were meant to rid our rooms of mosquitoes didn’t really do the trick! Lest you think these are just the observations of two, privileged Brandeis staff, I can tell you that many of our Liberian participants were equally frustrated.

The Liberian owners returned from the Boston area where they had spent much of the war to reclaim this family property, but presently don’t have the financial resources or management expertise to run the place in line with the expectations of their guests, Liberian and international. And of course, there is just not enough electricity to go around Liberia at the moment.

The food at the conference venue was plentiful, but after 10-days of white rice, plantains, sauces made with palm oil (a staple protein of the Liberian diet), and cans of Coke, I am ready for some fresh fruit and vegetables!

At the workshop, our participants articulated many of the issues still dividing the country. Some of these John and I were aware from our ongoing work (for instance, the divide between rural and urban communities), and some were concerns we hadn’t heard before, such as inter-generational tensions, and discriminatory laws related to citizenship. We were heartened to learn that the programs that many of our workshop participants are engaged with, are working to bridge these divides, and seek to create shared spaces in society. We were fortunate to count on the participation of some colleagues from outside of Liberia (specifically, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and neighboring Sierra Leone), and the Liberian participants valued their perspectives and insights.

bernsjessica_liberiapost2_002Members of the Coexistence Leadership Group of West Africa held a day long strategic meeting in Monrovia and also contributed to a three-day training workshop convened by CI. From left to right: Lindora Howard (WIPNET – Liberia), Augustine Some (United Nations – Burkina Faso), Victor Brobbey (Center for Democracy and Development – Ghana), Jessica Berns (Coexistence International – USA), Valnora Edwin (Campaign for Good Governance – Sierra Leone), Kanio Gbala (Civic Action – Liberia), and John Lewis Moore (Coexistence International – USA)

As John and I listened to the conversations at the workshop, and talked to new and old colleagues in separate meetings, we were reminded that every Liberian lived and experienced the years of conflict in different ways. Some left to study outside the country at the start of the conflict, and returned only recently in order to assume positions in government or rebuild family businesses.  Some left family, sometimes children, in the US or in Europe.  Some survived the war by moving from village to village.  Some stayed put in Monrovia but founds ways for their spouses and children to escape safely.  Some lived for a number of years in neighboring countries, either on the run or in refugee camps, and their families had no idea if they were safe or not.  And the stories continue.

What’s also true is that only by coming together now can the Liberian people rebuild, and construct a new Liberia. If the divisions that brought about the war in the first place are not addressed, if different notions of justice and accountability are not considered, if Liberians do not feel they are part of the Liberia of today, and if jobs are not created for the 80% jobless, then it will be impossible to create a society shared by all.

Coexistence International’s work in Liberia will continue on many levels, but it was still difficult to say goodbye to some of our colleagues and new friends in Liberia. We recognize that the road ahead is difficult, and CI will support the efforts of our partners in the ways that our mission allows us.  We are encouraged by the focus and resilience of our colleagues.

John returned back to the states last week.  Jessica continued on to Israel before traveling home this past Tuesday. Coexistence International (CI) is a program based at Brandeis University’s International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life. Dedicated to strengthening the coexistence field, CI engages with practitioners who are positioned to build positive coexistence in their own settings – across different areas of work and different regions. For news, events, contact information, and updates, please refer to the Coexistence International web site.

Nov

16

One world in pursuit of peace

November 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment

chaudharymary001Myra Chaudhary ‘10 is studying International Global Studies and Economics.  She is also in the dual BA/MA ‘11 program in International Economics and Policy Making.  Myra is an author for the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC), which is a nationwide, membership based, non-profit lobbying organization registered with the United States Federal Government. PAKPAC’s focus includes an active environment to foster greater political and civic engagement amongst the Pakistani Americans.

“Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.”
(Quran 5:32)

“Seek peace, and pursue it.”
(Bible Psalms 34:14)

“Do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain.”
(Hindu Mahabharata 5.1517)

“I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.”
(Five Mindfulness Trainings of Buddhism)

You shall not murder.
(God’s Revelation in the Jewish Old Testament)

13 people killed, 29 wounded at Fort Hood Texas. Who could have expected that? How sad and heartbreaking.

Terrorism is such a global issue — victims everywhere and from every religion. No religion teaches what the terrorists are doing. Terrorists could not and do not have a religion. If we really want to defeat these terrorists it is very important to understand and remember that they represent no religion at all. It is the terrorists who want us to believe otherwise, because that is what really helps them in their own motives and agendas. Once we understand and grasp this important fact, we will realize how outnumbered these terrorists actually are.

It is not the time for pointing fingers and causing divisions to help the terrorists. The solution to this problem could not be without a fully collaborated global effort from peace loving people of all religions and nations. This is the time to come together and eradicate this menace. Together we can do it.

Can we afford not to? Can we, can you afford to just sit on the side? Can we afford to stay silent? What do you say?

Let us not be silent, let us make the world a better place! Your opinion matters immensely. Make your voice heard.

To learn more about Myra and her involvement and dedication to raising hope and understanding differences between people all over the world, visit the PAKPAC blog.  As a reminder, the views and opinions expressed in student and faculty guest posts are solely those of the contributors and are not necessarily representative of the Office of Global Affairs or of Brandeis University.

Nov

11

Helping hands in Liberia

November 11, 2009 | 1 Comment

bernsjessica_modified001As program director for Coexistence International, Jessica Berns provides programmatic leadership to the initiative. She is responsible for the conceptualization and design of CI’s programs, including identifying and developing strategic partnerships, and outreach to new issue areas and regions.

As a member of the staff of the Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence and the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, Berns participates in the strategy and implementation of cross-disciplinary events, on issues such as gender, human rights, and democracy.

Berns holds a master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

John Moore and I arrived in Monrovia, Liberia (West Africa) late last Sunday night, after essentially traveling for 36 hours. Our itinerary took us from Boston to Chicago (don’t ask why we needed to fly east to fly west!), to Brussels, to Monrovia, via Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire. The trip was less grueling than we expected, although we were relieved to finally arrive in Monrovia, and to see that our bags arrived as well.

We are in Monrovia to co-host a workshop aimed at strengthening the coexistence capacities of participants so that their day-to-day work has a better chance at improving social inclusion in the country. After 14 years of war, and now 6 years of fragile peace, questions of coexistence are paramount to the future of the country. Workshop participants represent different Liberian NGOS from the fields of development, gender equity, human rights, and transitional justice. There will also be several local government representatives and some practitioners from other West African countries. The Club of Madrid, an international organization whose motto is “democracy the delivers” has also sent someone to join the workshop.

The flight from Brussels to Monrovia was full of people representing the spectrum of people we will encounter in Liberia: members of the Liberian Diaspora returning for a visit or for good, foreign entrepreneurs eager to build up business in Liberia, and international NGO or UN folks.

The passengers on the plane over shared stories and perspectives about Liberia: the Liberian woman traveling back to visit family after years in Europe, loaded down with gifts from the West; the flight attendant who praises the beautiful beaches of WA and sees the possibility of economic development in the region via tourism from the European market; the American business man who promises to build hospitals and schools along with the agriculture venture he plans to start up; the consultant for the US government who will get paid $95,000 for 4 months work training local government officials.

As we engage in the final preparations for our workshop, our anticipation is high. We are full of questions, ranging from the mundane (Where can we buy the toothpaste we forgot? Where can we eat without getting sick? Will our cell phone work?) to the significant (Will we have a good turnout at our workshop? Will participants expectations of our workshop be met? Will the workshop make a difference?)

This is our second trip to Liberia and we have learned a lot in the interim and continue to learn. As we arrive in Monrovia we ask ourselves what progress we will observe on this visit. Will more roads be paved? Will the Senatorial race taking place in the Monrovia-area be free and fair? Have any new foreign companies invested in Liberia? Will there finally be a working ATM in the city?

We arrived in Monrovia with a suitcase full of toys to deliver to the young daughter of a Liberian friend who lives in the US while her daughter stays in Monrovia with family. My own 6 year old oohed and awed over the Barbie dolls and Connect Four that I packed away in my suitcase, and then asked me why I was bringing all these gifts over. Didn’t they have dolls, games, and art supplies in Liberia? I explained that many bad things had happened in the country for many years, and that now its people needed help so that they could help themselves to make things beter. My daughter then asked me, “Is that why you are going there mama?” “Yes,” I replied, that is the idea.

Coexistence International is an initiative committed to strengthening the field of policymakers, practitioners, researchers, advocates, organizations and networks promoting coexistence at local, national and international levels. CI promotes a complementary approach to coexistence work through facilitating connections, learning, reflection, and strategic thinking between those in the coexistence field and those in related areas.

Brandeis offers many opportunities within coexistence, including a minor for undergraduates in Peace, Conflict, and Coexistence Studies for students who wish to understand the reasons for war and ways to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence.  Furthermore, there is also a Master’s program in Coexistence and Conflict, which is a graduate program for mid-career professionals who wish to develop greater professional expertise and creative leadership to meet the challenges posed by intercommunal conflicts.

To learn more about Jessica, please refer to her University profile.  The International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life also provides more details and resources specifically pertaining to Coexistence.


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