In the words of one who has lived it

Posted on February 24, 2012 by

To get a more complete understanding of Iraqi refugees, I turned to a more personal story of an Iraqi who was forced to leave her home. Written by the a young Iraqi woman from 2003-2007, the blog “Baghdad Burning” provides a first hand account of life in Iraq during the chaotic aftermath of the invasion and the journey of an Iraqi family to become refugees in Syria. “Baghdad Burning” is a beautifully written, valuable insight into the struggles faced by many Iraqis, including the struggle of not wanting to leave your home, but finding it unbearable to stay.

We are choosing to leave because the other option is simply a continuation of what has been one long nightmare- stay and wait and try to survive.

On the one hand, I know that leaving the country and starting a new life somewhere else- as yet unknown- is such a huge thing that it should dwarf every trivial concern. The funny thing is that it’s the trivial that seems to occupy our lives. We discuss whether to take photo albums or leave them behind. Can I bring along a stuffed animal I’ve had since the age of four? Is there room for E.’s guitar? What clothes do we take? Summer clothes? The winter clothes too? What about my books? What about the CDs, the baby pictures?

The problem is that we don’t even know if we’ll ever see this stuff again. We don’t know if whatever we leave, including the house, will be available when and if we come back. There are moments when the injustice of having to leave your country… is overwhelming.

Riverbend, as she calls herself, was not the victim of targeted violence. She comes from a mixed Sunni/Shia family and, although her English is impeccable, she resents the US occupation and avoids the soldiers. She struggles with the occupation and her vulnerability in her country.

Females can no longer leave their homes alone. Each time I go out, E. and either a father, uncle or cousin has to accompany me. It feels like we’ve gone back 50 years ever since the beginning of the occupation. A woman, or girl, out alone, risks anything from insults to abduction. An outing has to be arranged at least an hour beforehand. I state that I need to buy something or have to visit someone. Two males have to be procured (preferably large) and ‘safety arrangements’ must be made in this total state of lawlessness. And always the question: “But do you have to go out and buy it? Can’t I get it for you?” No you can’t, because the kilo of eggplant I absolutely have to select with my own hands is just an excuse to see the light of day and walk down a street.

Riverbend’s voice evolves with every passing year. At the beginning of the blog, every trial of life in an occupied country brought a fresh sense of heartbreak. By the end of the blog, every offense and injustice renews her outrage. She loves her country, but every post is thick with hatred for Iraq’s new status quo.

Here we come to the end of 2006 and I am sad. Not simply sad for the state of the country, but for the state of our humanity, as Iraqis. We’ve all lost some of the compassion and civility that I felt made us special four years ago. I take myself as an example. Nearly four years ago, I cringed every time I heard about the death of an American soldier. They were occupiers, but they were humans also and the knowledge that they were being killed in my country gave me sleepless nights… I actually felt for them… Today, they simply represent numbers.

The author only wrote one post about her new life in Syria, published on Monday, October 22, 2007. In it, she describes the unfamiliar mountain that towers over her new life, the surprise of finding so many Iraqis in Damascus, and the cultural shock of regaining a long-lost sense of security.

The first weeks here were something of a cultural shock. It has taken me these last three months to work away certain habits I’d acquired in Iraq after the war. It’s funny how you learn to act a certain way and don’t even know you’re doing strange things- like avoiding people’s eyes in the street or crazily murmuring prayers to yourself when stuck in traffic. It took me at least three weeks to teach myself to walk properly again- with head lifted, not constantly looking behind me.

As a refugee, Riverbend’s new life comes with both pros and cons. Yes, she is safe, but she lacks legal status. Legally barred from working, her family lives off of their savings and is constantly threatened with expulsion from Syria, back to Iraq.

Grasping my passport in my hand like my life depended on it, with two extra months in Syria stamped inside, it hit me how wrong I was. We were all refugees. I was suddenly a number. No matter how wealthy or educated or comfortable, a refugee is a refugee. A refugee is someone who isn’t really welcome in any country- including their own… especially their own.

With ever worsening conflict in Syria, it makes you wonder what might have become of Riverbend and her family in Damascus. Like many Iraqi refugees, they may be caught in a dilemma: remain in Syria and be caught up in a conflict like the one they escaped from, or return home to a still-unstable Iraq. As Riverbend herself mentions, if they were to return, there is no guarantee that her house would still be available.

Riverbend is unfailingly proud, hopeful, and independent: she never gives up on herself, Iraq, or her fellow Iraqis. Riverbend’s blog takes you on a journey through the life of one who has lived through, in her own words, a nightmare. Despite all the loss, fear, and injustice that she has experienced, her journey ends on a note of hope. I’d like to tell you about it here, but if I did I would be depriving you of the experience of Riverbend’s blog. So if you want to know what it is, you’ll just have to read it yourself.

In my next post, I will discuss the refugee admissions process for those who wish to relocate to the United States, problems, and some of the proposed solution set forth by some of our partners.

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The Forgotten Ones: the plight of displaced and vulnerable Iraqis

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

A few weeks ago I attended “Mission Not Accomplished: The Plight of At Risk Iraqis,” an eye-opening briefing on Capitol Hill about an ongoing crisis affecting millions of Iraqis. Featuring representatives from the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, The List Project, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the panel primarily focused attention on the dangers facing Iraqis who had aided or worked for the US government. For some of those Iraqis, their affiliation with the US has made them and their families a target of violence.

All of the panelists had personal experience helping at risk Iraqis relocate to the US to escape persecution. It was impossible not to be moved by their stories. They were angry, frustrated, and heartbroken with the inadequacies of the current application system. Through friendships with Iraqis, they intimately know the dangers and costs of being affiliated with the US at the wrong place and at the wrong time. Can you imagine the sorrow and trauma of losing a loved one or being forced to flee your homeland?

That is what inspires me to write this series of posts. In my search for information on displaced Iraqis, I found that resources are scattered all over the web. There is no single place in which to find a comprehensive explanation of the struggle of displaced peoples from start to finish. Furthermore, a lot of the information is out of date.

It’s been almost 6 years since EPIC first called attention to the Iraqi displacement crisis, and 4 years since Iraq Action Days, a joint initiative of EPIC, the International Rescue Committee, and dozens of other national organizations. Those efforts helped generate public awareness about the crisis, and in turn, support for stronger U.S. humanitarian action, including passage of the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s “Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act.” Among the many concerned Americans speaking out in support of vulnerable Iraqis, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt visited Iraqi refugees in Syria in 2009.

So is the crisis now over?  Hardly.

According to the International Organization for Migration, as of July 2010, an estimated 3.9 million Iraqis remained displaced (that included about 1.9 million Iraqis who were internally displaced and another 2 million who fled to neighboring states). That’s more people than the entire populations of Los Angeles!

Most of Iraq’s displacement followed the explosion of the sectarian violence in 2006, and by 2008, one in five Iraqis were displaced. Many fled to neighboring countries, mainly Jordan and Syria, where they have no legal status and are unable to work or enroll their children in school. If they wish to relocate to the United States, they often cannot have their applications for visas or refugee status processed. Those who remain displaced endure threats to their safety, poor living conditions, and often have minimal legal status.

Once a person becomes displaced they fit into one of three legal categories: an internally displaced person, a refugee, or an asylum seeker. Anyone who remains in their country of origin but has been forced to leave their home is classified as an internally displaced person, or IDP. Refugees, on the other hand, are displaced people who have crossed a border into another country, and are unable or unwilling to return to their home countries for threat of serious harm. Generally, asylum seekers are refugees who are requesting political refuge and protection by a country they have entered through an official port of entry, such as an airport. According to USCIS, refugee or asylum status can be granted to anyone who has experienced persecution or faces a threat of persecution on the basis of their race, religion, nationality, and or membership to a particular social group or political opinion. Unfortunately, due to a recent change in US policy, Iraqis must now request asylum while still in Iraq. For more information you can refer to the US Department of State’s fact sheet on Iraqi Refugee Resettlement.

Separate from refugee applications are Special Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, which are available strictly to Iraqis and Afghanis who have been employed by, or on behalf of, the US government after 2003 for a period of at least one year. While refugees have to initially apply with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), complete an interview, and then be referred to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), SIVs have the benefit of being processed directly by USCIS, saving them in-country processing time. SIVs are theoretically prioritized because the Iraqis who have worked for us are deemed ‘at risk.’ That is to say, their work for the US puts them in great danger of violence from insurgents and other Iraqis who consider them traitors.

However, Iraqis can be put at risk for a variety of reasons, including religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, or sexual orientation. Following the withdrawal of US troops there has been an increase in incendiary rhetoric by Sadrists and others, putting Iraqis who have had past affiliation with the US in greater danger. Attacks have also been aimed at religious minorities, such as Christians and Yazidis. Many who are concerned for these Iraqis criticize the Obama administration for its failure to create a comprehensive plan for the protection of minorities, calling this situation “preventable.”

All Iraqis seeking refuge in the US face delays of two years because of a cumbersome security process and a bottleneck of applications. Not all Iraqis are at risk of violence or persecution, but if the applicant happens to be at risk, those two years can be fatal. Without the intervention of a congress person or strong advocacy from a refugee organization, plus clear evidence of an immediate threat, there is no way to expedite the process for an at risk individual. 

In my next post, I’ll relay the experience of a young Iraqi woman who lived through the Iraq War and its turbulent aftermath, and found herself a refugee in Syria.

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The spirit of Salam Shabab in DC

Posted on February 3, 2012 by

On Wednesday, January 25th, EPIC Director Erik Gustafson and I attended an extraordinary program at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) exploring what brings young people together in Iraq and the region, and the role youth are playing in creating social change. Titled Next Generation of Peacebuilding and Social Change in the Arab World, the program featured a special screening of Salam Shabab; a groundbreaking reality TV series about young Iraqi peacebuilders, followed by a fascinating panel discussion with the show’s creators and producers who shared a behind-the-scenes look at what went into developing the show’s concept and creating the series, highlights of their experience working with young Iraqi contestants from different parts of Iraq, and the series’ impact on contestants and studio audiences. The event concluded with an inspiring panel of celebrated social and political activists from across the Middle East and a live performance by the Iraqi pop band UTN1.

As a fan of the show, I was particularly interested in the Production Q&A. The speakers not only shared their experiences working with the youth but also their dreams and goals for the show. It was inspirational to hear the show’s producer, Hussam Hadi, elaborate on their goal of showcasing real kids with whom the audience can identify that speak their feelings honestly in a way the audience can learn from.

The show’s creators describe Salam Shabab as an experiment. They wanted to research the impact of team building exercises on Iraqi children’s sense of self esteem, self awareness, and self expression. They also wanted to develop the children’s personal responsibility and decision making, self efficacy, and an understanding of their common humanity. They exhaustively researched how the participants grew, testing them both before and after their participation in the project. As a result of all their hard work, the youths not only developed those skills, they also enjoyed themselves.

The audience seemed particularly interested in how the boys and girls interacted with one another, if there was tension or an unwillingness to work together between boys and girls. Mr. Hadi assured us that, once they got away from their parents, the kids on the show were absolutely normal 15 year-olds. They interacted well and made friends with each other without consideration of ethnicity, sect, or gender. In fact, the winners from last year who became the Ambassadors of Peace to the Iraqi Parliament were a mixed gender team and included a Sunni, a Shi’ite, and a Christian.

Moderated by professor of Arab media Adel Iskandar of Georgetown University, the second panel discussion focused on “Youth and the Arab Spring”, featuring celebrated activist and blogger Rami Nakhla, the head of foreign relations office for the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Twitter VIP with over 45,000 followers (@MARYAMALKHAWAJA) Maryam Alkhawaja, and former lead singer for UTN1 Hassam al-Faluji. These dynamic panelists discussed the aspirations of young people in their homelands, the role of youth and social media in creating social change, and the importance of continued youth involvement in creating a more inclusive political culture both during and after revolutionary change. The panelists pointed out that the youth across the Middle East are too often perceived as a burden – rather than an asset – by their governments. The governing mentality is to control, limit and even bar young people’s involvement in politics and community affairs. Here are some other insights that these remarkable activists shared.

On Social Media and the Government:

The world is getting smaller because of social media. People are also becoming more informed. Music and art is becoming more accessible, both of which are big motivators for action and inspire change. (Hassan al Faluji)

In Bahrain, the youth are dependent on social media because they are largely ignored by the larger media. The youth always reach for the impossible, no offense to the older people… The worst mistake the government made was turning half of their citizens into activists and the other half into reporters. (Maryam Alkhawaja)

In Syria, people used the media to meet, the uprising was leaderless in beginning. Social media made it possible to coordinate. Regions formed committees that continue to this day. Seen as link between social media and the people, because the government’s control was crushing other outlets. (Rami Nakhla)

On the revolutions in Egypt, one year later:

Revolutions started out of dignity. We hated the fear, we couldn’t live with it anymore. Politics was a forbidden topic. We knew something was wrong but we didn’t know what. The uprisings gave the Syrian people hope, as did the overthrow of the Tunisian president. The Syrian people are deeply wounded today, we can never go back to the way things used to be. We have a responsibility to them. (Rami Nakhla)

For me, it’s all about dignity. That’s why [the uprising] has continued despite the crackdowns. There was a mind shift: they were too afraid to speak about politics but not anymore. Once the fear barrier was broken, there was no going back. Now, it’s like, if they think it, they write it down and hold to up. (Maryam Alkhawaja)

Fighting for a dream gives your life meaning. Keep fighting no matter what. Social media keeps the dream alive, unfortunately occassionaly the media has a double standard. (Hassan al Faluji)

On Sectarianism:

Leaders brainwashed their people to make their enemies traitors. Many Syrians take bad words and turn them into jokes. (Rami Nakhla)

Joke about it. I have been called an Israeli spy, a CIA spy, and an Iranian spy, so I joke about it by saying that there are a lot of governments out there that owe me money. (Maryam Alkhawaja)

Art and music can help overcome: music echos the revolution and gives more power to the people. (Hassan al Faluji)

A final message to all Arab youth:

“Do not believe anyone but Google. Six years ago when the Syrian leader died I cried my eyes out. Several years after that I learned from Google that he had tortured and murdered thousands of people. Never believe anything until you check it yourself.” (Rami Nakhla)

One word: unity. The governments are very good at uniting and standing against their people, therefore we cannot allow ourselves to be divided. (Maryam Alkhawaja)

We all deserve the same chances, everything is possible in this world. (Hassan al Faluji)

 

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Soundtrack of Peacebuilding

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

Unknown To No One a.k.a. UTN1

Unkown To No One, or, as they are more commonly called, UTN1, is considered the pioneer pop band of Iraq. Having begun in 1999 during the reign of Saddam Hussein they dared to form a pop band at a time when Iraq was dominated by traditional music. UTN1 began as the creative project of band members Art (Artin) and Shant, who later recruited three more members – Hassan, Akhlad, and Nadeem (who left the group in 2009). Completely self funded, they scraped together the money to record their first album in 2000. The band can still recall a time when they had only one instrument – a keyboard, which they used to compose songs together out of their Volkswagen Passat, which doubled as their original practice space.

Although they garnered a strong local following, they lacked professional support for the first few years. In 2002, as a result, in part, of the increasing international focus on Iraq, they were offered contracts by British producers. Unfortunately, politics and international events would prevent them from traveling to the United Kingdom for several more years. It wasn’t until 2004 that they were able to sign with a record label that could really open doors for them.

The band has now released three albums, several music videos (like the one below), and successfully toured in multiple countries. UTN1 recently completed a tour of the US that took them all over the country, including California, Arizona, New York, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Although UTN1 refers to themselves as a pop band, the prominent use of the piano–once the only instrument they had access to–gives this band a slightly more classical sound. Their repertoire also includes the occasional heavy guitar riff, lending a more alternative/rock sound (I’m thinking specifically of “Tet-thakkarine,” from their 2010 album of the same name).

Part of the impetus for the band’s creative force is the idea that music can bridge cultures, that is why they continue to perform in both English and Arabic (including multiple dialects). Their music inevitably has been inspired by the state of Iraq during the war. Their song “While We Can,” sung in English, was written after their return to Iraqi in 2007, at which point they were shocked to discover the extent of the damage that the war had brought on. “While We Can” describes the never ending fear of living in the midst of violence, but at the same time the hope of a better life and a brighter future for Iraq.

On January 25th, UTN1 will be performing at an event hosted by the US Institute of Peace: Next Generation of Peace Building and Social Change in the Arab World. The event will include three young cultural activists who will speak on social change in the Arab world and will feature an exclusive screening of the first episode of the new season of Salam Shabab, Iraq’s first peacebuilding reality television show, sharing the stories of Iraq’s youth.

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Another Texan meets Iraq

Posted on January 18, 2012 by

The mountains of Kurdistan


I grew up in a wonderful community in Amarillo, Texas, home of the 72 ounce steak, cowboys in chaps and spurs, and plains as far as the eye can see. This idyllic backdrop provided the perfect stage for me to use my imagination by playing ‘pretend’ and dreaming of distant lands and peoples. From trekking the impenetrable jungles of Papua New Guinea while dodging headhunters, or climbing Mount Everest with the Sherpas, to kayaking the Amazon and befriending shamans, my mind led me on adventure after adventure. I would spin the globe, pick a spot, and imagine myself there.

Strangely though, the Middle East was never a place I thought much about then.  All I really knew of the entire region was what I had heard and seen on the news about the Gulf War. As a child, the newscasters and foreign correspondents didn’t make much sense to me, but the videos I saw made an impression. Images of violence, pain, suffering, inhospitable climates, and people who seemingly were nothing like me, resulted in a less than positive perception of Iraq.

Stopping for a picture with two local Kurdish men

At that time, I didn’t know about the rich culture of the people there and how their music, art, innovation, and cuisine have made an impact on the outside world. I didn’t recognize the historical importance of the region and that it was the “Cradle of Civilization” where events took place that changed the course of history. In fact, even the world’s first writing system was established in Iraq, enabling history, law, and information to be recorded. I didn’t understand the regime that was controlling the country and its people, and I certainly didn’t know any Iraqis or their stories. I had never stepped foot in their homes, their markets or mosques, or witnessed the things that caused them joy or worry.

As I got older, however, I developed a deep interest in international travel and actually experiencing cultures. I began reading more purposefully and listening to news more critically. Around that time, I also became a serious athlete. As time progressed and my involvement in sport grew, my attention shifted to sport for development. Using sport as a vehicle to impact people and change lives, not just as a game with an end unto itself, was incredibly appealing. In the summer of 2010 I was invited by Global Sports Partners to participate in a project in Iraq, both in Baghdad and further north in Kurdistan.

The trip was fruitful. It gave me first-hand experiences with people that I previously had only known through books, newspapers, articles, and ethnographies. After my time in Iraq was over, I wrote in my journal:

I’m on the plane going to trek in the Kackar Mountains right now, and they’re stuck behind living in a situation they can’t entirely control. If I leave this place and leave my experiences in this book, my trip will be in vain; their stories need to be told…

So here I stand many months later, with a serendipitous opportunity to work with an organization that is striving to make a positive difference in Iraq. The Iraq War has undoubtedly effected countless people at home and abroad, resulting in certain impressions about Iraq and its people, just as the Gulf War initially did for me. I hope throughout the course of this blog, however, that I can provide a more personal insight into the Iraqi people and their country. I want to share what I learned from them, how they impacted me, and how we as Americans have the opportunity to make a positive difference for them. I look forward to it.

Until next time,

Leah

Until next time...

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Making New Opportunities for Iraqi Women

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

2012 is the year set by the Iraqi government to begin implementing new hiring quotas regarding government workers. The new system would require that 50% of hires in the Ministries of Health and Education be female, as well as 30% of hires in all other government ministries. This echoes Iraq’s already existing quota of 25% female elected officials in parliament and has been impatiently awaited by the highly educated, ambitious women of Iraq.

Iraqi women have historically been represented well in the work force. Women began entering prestigious career paths as early as the 1920′s. During times of war they were often called upon to fill gaps in the workforce. Laws that protect their rights in the work place have been on the books since 1969. They are legally protected from discrimination and sexual harassment, as well as guaranteed maternity leave, time off to care for sick children, and equal pay and benefits.

Although women currently hold jobs in all areas of Iraqi society including universities, hospitals, the army, and the police, the government is, by far, the largest employer in all of Iraqi society. The required quotas are an important step for the entire country because women now outnumber men, and women are solely providing for their families at greater rates than ever before. Imposing a quota on all of the government ministries would open the door for qualified female candidates to enter the public sector and might even give preference to widows with children over men.

Widows, or female heads of households, account for almost 10% of the women in Iraq. Imagine if 10% of the women you know were widows. In a country where men are usually the main breadwinner, widows sometimes struggle to make ends meet. Furthermore, when women enter the work force, they sometimes face difficulty obtaining a position, discriminatory practices from their employers, or hitting a glass ceiling.

Critics of the quota argue that the plan does not explain how it will enforce these quotas, however, many are hopeful that Iraq will once again have the success of its own not-so-distant past. From the 1950s to the 1980′s, Iraq’s system of universal, free education was the envy of the Arab world. Iraq was also the first Arab country to have a female cabinet minister and was known for its high number of female teachers, professors, doctors, and civil servants. Iraqi women had successfully campaigned for the right to vote, the right not to wear the veil, and the right to travel abroad without a male relative (revoked under Saddam Hussein).

Many  professional women lost their positions or left the country during the recent decades of sanctions and conflict. But the new quota system is an opportunity to fight discrimination and give smart, educated women a chance at the meaningful employment that has been promised to them and could set the stage for the next generation of working women.

We at EPIC believe in the potential of Iraqi women and girls. By partnering with Iraqis and Iraqi community organizations, together we can create opportunities for young women to mature into the strong, confident professionals and leaders that Iraq needs.

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Make the Impossible Possible

Posted on January 2, 2012 by

“Make the impossible possible” was the slogan of the recent TEDx Conference in Baghdad. TEDxBaghdad hosted the National Youth Orchestra, environmentalists, activists, and educators from all over Iraq. For many, it was a dream come true to have their hopes for Iraq’s future displayed publicly and with like-minded individuals.

Unfortunately, that kind of opportunity is enjoyed all too rarely by Iraq’s youth who have few outlets like TEDxBaghdad in which to participate. Even with a growing youth population, the supply of outlets for creative and civic expression haven’t risen with demand.

Activist Muhammed Asaad continues to protest his government's lack of accountability despite threats to his safety

Regardless, young voices are still speaking. Washington Post writer, Dan Zak, recently profiled several youth who have been striving to make a difference in Iraqi political and social life. These individuals included a protester, an elected official, a musician, bloggers, and a social activist. You can read about them and their efforts here. These youth share the goal of a peaceful, prosperous Iraq, after a lifetime of turbulence.

Zak spent seven weeks in Iraq this autumn, interviewing youth from across the country for a series of portraits of young Iraqis as they prepare to inherit a war-scarred nation on the eve of US withdrawal.  Through interviews with Iraqi youth, Zak hoped to capture their feelings about the future of their country, their current political system, and personal security.

What Zak found was a generation frustrated with the inadequacy of their political opportunities. Many of them distrust the legitimacy of the ballot and view their political leadership as a pseudo-regime that deprives them of basic rights. But many of them were also afraid to lose the small, democratic gains they have made. They also worry that their generation will be drawn into the tribal and sectarian conflicts of their elders. They feel angry that the world has forgotten about them and the freedom they were promised 8½ years ago. No Iraqi born since 1979 has known a time without dictatorship, war, or occupation, and they are ready for the light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Zak also answered readers’ questions about his experiences and topics such as theUS withdrawal. His answers further illuminate the difficulties facing Iraqi youth, for example, discovering that your American peers cannot even find Iraq on a map.

These challenges considered, it becomes all the more important to bring youth together and empower them to face Iraq’s challenges. It also reveals how significant it was that we could connect nine young men of differing ethnic backgrounds on our Iraqi Youth Hike and have them make meaningful connections with each other. When Iraqis talk about the next generation, they use expressions like “crossroads” and “tipping point,” which is why it’s important that they be given opportunities to build skills and empower themselves for the fights they will have to face as the future leaders of Iraq.

Youth hikers having fun and getting to know each other while learning

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Time is Running Out

Posted on December 30, 2011 by

The news out of Iraq has been peppered with reports of violence, conflict, and upheaval.

It’s a powerful reminder why now, more than ever, we must recommit ourselves to creating a peaceful and prosperous Iraq.

On EPIC’s Iraqi Youth Hike, a project you helped make happen, young Iraqis of different ethnicities from the diverse but violent city of Kirkuk came together to learn about nature and each other. They ended the hike as environmental conservationists and friends.

When we asked the young Iraqis on the hike about their dreams for the future, responses included things like “be the best computer programmer” and “become a famous journalist”. But most of all, they said that they wanted a normal life: to find a job, get married, and have kids.

Throughout our experience in Iraq, that sentiment has been echoed over and over again by the the Iraqis we meet: they want a more peaceful country in which to raise their kids, they want to finish college and get a job, and they want to be able to go to work every day and come home to their families every night. In a word, they want peace.

The youth of Iraq have a powerful ability to shape their country and create a lasting peace. With that in mind, EPIC recently released our “Plan to Empower Iraqi Youth to Build a Better Future in Iraq.” Looking at 2012 and beyond, the plan highlights EPIC mission and vision for Iraqi youth and their role in securing a lasting peace in their communities, country, and the world.

EPIC’s work is made possible by the contributions of individual donors. Donate today and be part of empowering Iraqi youth to build a better future in Iraq. In order to do more Iraqi Youth Hikes and reach more Tahas and Kastros, we need to raise $20,000 by the end of the year. Supporters like you have put us nearly halfway there raising $9,000 for EPIC and our youth programs. Can you help us reach our goal?

Make a tax-deductible donation before January 1st and support peace in the New Year.

So much is possible in Iraq and, ultimately, its future will be determined by its youth. Show the young people of Iraq that people like you believe in their power to build a peaceful Iraq. Donate to EPIC today.

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Obama to Iraq: You Will Not Stand Alone

Posted on December 12, 2011 by

Earlier today, President Obama and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq held a joint press conference to discuss the future of US-Iraq relations. Both sides took questions and then journeyed to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony to pay respects to Servicemen and women.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Barack Obama

The withdrawal of the United States military signals a change in relations between the two countries, one that President Obama says will be a “normal relationship between sovereign nations.” Obama declared that ours would be a strong and enduring partnership and promised the Iraqi people: “You will not stand alone.”

Obama promised that the United States would work to strengthen the institutions on which democracy depends: free elections, a vibrant press, strong civil society, professional police, an independent judiciary, and transparent institutions that serve all Iraqis without discrimination.

On the subject of youth development, Obama cited one program in particular: the Fulbright Program, which provides Iraqi students and professionals with funding and resources for undergraduate or graduate study in the United States. It was his hope that friendships and shared experiences between young people of both countries would pave the way for rich exchanges and positive relations for generations to come.

As a new chapter emerges in the relationship between Iraq and the United States, EPIC sees an increasing need for a vibrant and independent civil society and the organizations who have been, and will continue to be, doing the hard work to shape the future of Iraq. Building a lasting peace in Iraq is in the interests of both the United States and Iraq. Getting there will take a community of support.

Donate to EPIC today and contribute to peace in Iraq.

 

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Celebrating the History of a Nation

Posted on December 8, 2011 by

As a self proclaimed art & history nerd, there are few things that make me as ecstatic as the discovery of new objects of historical significance (I was obsessed with the Staffordshire Hoard for weeks and don’t even get me started on Anglo-Saxon decorative arts). Which is why I’m writing this in celebration of my fellow art & history lovers in Iraq and the successes of the National Museum in Baghdad, which recently opened a new exhibition on cuneiform writing.

When the museum reopened permanently in 2009, Iraqis, eager to learn about their history, teach their children, or just enjoy going to a museum flocked to the site. Students of Iraq’s past have a wealth of history at their disposal. Not only was Iraq the birthplace of civilization (Mesopotamia, 3000 BCE) but it was also home to dozens of empires over the millennia. Please see this ridiculously cool video! All of part of what we now understand to be Iraq was at one point controlled by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Sassanids, the Umayyad Caliphate, Seljuks, Mongols, the Ottoman Empire, and finally Imperial Britain.Iraq’s National Museum holds the largest collection of Mesopotamian artifacts anywhere in the world. After the disastrous looting of the museum following the American invasion in 2003, having lost roughly 15,400 artifacts and works of art to looters, the museum experienced a near-miraculous revival. About 8,500 of the looted artifacts have been recovered in an inspiring display of international cooperation involving numerous organizations and individuals.

Man standing next to relief sculpture of winged genie and servants bearing cups

But to the lovers of art, and even the casual appreciators, the National Museum of Iraq is more than a museum; it employs hundreds of people in its day to day operations, provides funding for archaeologists to resume excavating, resources for students, inspires and educates kids, and contributes to the character and grandeour of Baghdad. After all, what would Washington, DC be without the National Gallery, Florence without the Uffizi, or New York City without the Metropolitan Museum of Art? (I’m not picking favorites, those are just the only cities I’ve lived in.)

And since I once wrote a paper on the figural decorations at the palace of Ashurnasirpal II (King of Assyria 883-859 BCE), I’m going to include some pictures.

Lamassu: Neo-Assyrian period, reign of Ashurnasirpal II, Excavated at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Iraq. Alabaster (gypsum), Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

This 13 ft tall sculpture depicts a creature known as a Lamassu. In industry terms we would refer to him as “apotropaic,” intended to ward off evil. Lamassu have alternately the body of a lion or bull, the wings of an eagle, and the head of a man. The stylized beard indicates age and wisdom, while the six-horned headdress indicates a magical or supernatural status. Lamassu have 5 legs: they were meant to be viewed frontally, standing proudly and imposingly, or from the side, from where they would appear to be striding forward. All around the body of this creature are cuneiform inscriptions praising the king’s greatness.

You can see some of this art for yourself with the National Museum’s interactive virtual tour. Although only part of the museum is currently open to visitors, the unceasing efforts of the museum staff have already taken this museum back from the brink of ruin, I expect great things from them in the future and I can’t wait to visit.

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