Citizens harness modern media

network power for Middle East public peace process

Monday, 01 February 2010

     Motive that drives a conflict varies from person to person.
     For some -- not all -- one's faith tradition is determinative.

Religions are based on scripture, which is mostly poetry.

So it only makes sense that religious conflict must be resolved

through poetry, and not through politics, negotiation, or war.

I propose that all religious conflicts be redefined poetically,

so that they can be resolved without bloodshed, winners, or losers.

So let's sharpen our pencils, not our swords; send missives, not missiles;

and apply our minds to metaphor, simile, rhyme, meter, and prosody,

but not pomposity, animosity, ferocity, atrocity, or monstrosity.

-- Hugh Mann, M.D.   (Eagle Rock, Missouri, USA)

Scriptures include recorded symbolism and narratives of human experience and insights for us -- lessons-learned from lives-lived as we keep evolving in wisdom.
     Today we are adding more;.
We are penciling and broadcasting the emerging new story.
     The modern mythology with its symbols and metaphors for this 21st century.
     With its new heros, motives, methods -- lives-lived by real citizens everlastingly learning to engage and heal together. 
Today collective wisdom -- contemporary scripture for our times -- is far more available around Earth.
A citizen has increasing might to harness the amazing power of communication media.


SOCIAL NETWORK MEDIA

"Traditional media no longer dictates our news, we do!" declares Israeli Eyal Raviv (  EyalPeace@gmail.com  ) founder of http://mepeace.org , considered by some "the Facebook peace," surely for the Middle East.
     "Traditional media no longer dictates our news, we do!"
     We discover news that is invisible to traditional then  produce and distribute videos while tweeting what's truly "new" worldwide in seconds.
     "With new media, we are the media," Raviv is sure.

Social networks are empowering us as peacemakers.
By making it possible for Israelis and Palestinians to interact, they let us see and humanise the other.
     In a conflict where Israelis and Palestinians are physically separate, new media allows us to see and hear each other beyond the stereotypes and the physical barriers.

With new media we are the media

by Eyal Raviv

Common Ground News Service - 21 January 2010

http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=27120&lan=en&sid=0&sp=0&isNew=1

FILM MEDIA

MyPeace.tv -- http://MyPeace.tv -- like MEpeace.org, is a powerful example where grassroots citizens can freely upload home-created videos, including new of local activity of significance for moving beyond war.
     This media source about peace-building to inspire other relationship builders worldwide is shepherded by Yaron Fishman ( Mail@mypeace.tv ).

     Arab Canadian Tarik Chelali publishes about Israeli and Palestinian young adults producing together  films about connecting, communicating, changing, and creating in cooperation.
     Those films are now the spotlight of an educational resource for secondary school and post-secondary classes with a focus in history, current affairs, social justice, or film and media studies.
Tarik Chelali writes: "As an educational tool, Peacing it Together, will push your class to see beyond the permeating images of war."
     "It will enable teachers to challenge students to think about peace and how [citizens] can help end conflicts worldwide."
VIEW the 15 youth-produced films at http://www.peaceittogether.ca/youth_films.php
ORDER the teacher's packet -- http://www.peaceittogether.ca/public_education.php

Canadians peacing Israeli and Palestinian youth together

by Tarik Chelali

BC Teachers' Federation - Jan-Feb 1020

http://cms.bctf.ca/publications/NewsmagArticle.aspx?id=20382

AUDIO PODCAST MEDIA

HEAR Reena Lazar (  rlazar@peaceittogether.ca   )  Peace It Together director, describe poignant human experiences of Palestinian and Israeli youth meeting and creating their films at the summer program.

Reena Lazar - audio podcast (5-1/2 min)

University of British Columbia Conference Interviews

http://podcasts.kamdigital.com/sound/reena_l.mp3

STILL. . . TRADITIONAL
NEWSPAPER MEDIA

Today's Ha'aretz proves excellence in investigative journalism remains alive.
     Appreciate the great personal depth about courageous individual Israelis and Palestinians breaking ground not yet considered by most citizens.
READ about exemplary, new integrity and openness, as these Palestinians and Jews cross lines, learn, and grow closer together.

Not all settlers and Palestinians

want each other to disappear

By Linoy Bar-Gefen and Meron Rapoport

Ha'aretz - 01 February 2010

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1144264.html

So let's sharpen our pencils, not our swords; send missives, not missiles;

and apply our minds to metaphor, simile, rhyme, meter, and prosody,

but not pomposity, animosity, ferocity, atrocity, or monstrosity.

-- Hugh Mann, M.D.   (Eagle Rock, Missouri, USA)

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These and hundreds of other success stories are preserved at http://traubman.igc.org/messages.htm