The art of
listening and dignity
for
campus, city, Middle East desert
Sunday, 21 March 2010
"This is the
true joy in life the being used for a purpose
recognized by
yourself as a mighty one;
the being a force
of nature
instead of a
feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances
complaining that
the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the
opinion that my life belongs to the whole community,
and as long as I
live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can."
-- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
Worldwide, increasing numbers of traditional "adversaries" are
crossing old lines and borders to meet face to face.
We are becoming forces for nature -- the unity of
all life, the interconnectedness of people and all creation.
Citizens insist on engaging and refusing to be
"enemies" any longer.
They are moved by the soul's oldest memory --
union.
And the soul's deepest longing -- reunion.
The truth of our unity can be best understood
and illustrated in the art of children everywhere on our planet.
- - - - - - - - - -
EXTRAORDINARY ART
of international youth
everywhere on Earth
Lions
International Peace Poster Contest: 2008-2009
4-minute video
http://mypeace.tv/video/lions-international-peace?xg_source=msg_mes_network
Each year, around the world the Lions International Peace Poster Contest
invites local schools and youth groups to encourage young people to
artistically express their visions of a world beyond war.
Children ages 11-13 use charcoal, crayon, pencil
and paint to express themselves, including own life experiences and cultures.
Twenty-four international finalists are selected each
year, from the work of more than 350,000 young participants worldwide.
Posters are shared globally via the Internet,
the media and exhibits around the world."
SEE the inspiring grand prize winners of past
years:
Peace
Poster Contest
Grand
Prize Winners (1988-2010)
LEARN MORE about the contest at http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/youth-programs/peace-poster-contest/
THE ART OF LISTENING
of youth and adults
in a city
on a campus
in the Negev Desert
= = 1 = =
In Fresno, California, eighty diverse youth and adults engaged in
authentic Dialogue with a new quality of listening to learn -- http://traubman.igc.org/fresnonight.htm
Face to face, they experienced that "an enemy is
one whose story we have not heard."
This successful, civil public evening can be
replicated anywhere on Earth, as a first step to building true community.
The Facilitator's Guide is at http://traubman.igc.org/vidschoolguide.pdf
VIEW the new video:
CROSSING
LINES IN FRESNO
29-minute March 2010 how-to,
documentary film
= = 2 = =
At the University of California, Berkeley, Wednesday, 17 March 2010, very diverse students,
teachers, and staff set a new standard for campus communication -- http://traubman.igc.org/calnight.htm
Similar to the Fresno, Calif. meeting, they
engaged at the beautiful International House auditorium in face-to-face
Dialogue to create a communication model to transcend campus polarity.
CROSSING CULTURAL LINES showed how a new quality of
listening to diverse personal narratives can transform relationships from
disdain to dignity, blame to empathy, confrontation to cooperation, and
give new meaning to "a circle of life" where "an enemy is one
whose story we have not hear."
SEE PHOTOS:
CROSSING
CULTURAL LINES
University of
California, Berkeley
52 photos - 17 March 2010
http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=1bd0ae2e1be47eea&sid=8AbtmbJq0aMlEoM
= = 3 = =
In the Holy Land's Negev~Naqab Dessert beginning Wednesday, 17 March
2010 was the URI-Sulhita Youth Leadership Seminar for young
adults -- http://www.sulha.com/
Forty-four Palestinians, Israelis, Jews, Arabs,
Muslims, one Jordanian, and two Americans gathered in Mizpe Ramon deep in the
desert.
Their longing for union overcame (1) increased
Jerusalem tension, (2) West Bank closures, and (3) last-minute cancellation by
some participants due to media reports of violence.
The first day they wrote: "After a very long
journey, our bus full of courageous young leaders arrived here yesterday
evening full of energy and ready to build meaningful relationships and explore
our collective power to transform this conflict and build a brighter future for
all."
"Our first day focused on self-leadership, with
powerful listening circles, team-building activities, and creative workshops
opening us up to each other's unique personalities, talents, opinions and
experiences."
The following days helped them master group leadership
and communal responsibility.
These young Jews and Arabs have said loud and clear
that they want to build a culture of respect, mutual understanding, justice,
and love for all.
SEE PHOTOS from the first day, with more to
follow:
U.R.I.
SULHITA YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Negev~Naqab Desert,
Israel
Photos - 17 March 2010
http://traubman.igc.org/sulhita2010.pdf
This program is the fruit of cooperation between 8 organizations -- Jordanian,
Israeli and Palestinian.
It is sponsored by the United Religions Initiative
(URI) -- http://www.uri.org/ -- and led by
the Sulhita team.
Three similar gatherings are planned for the the
coming year including in Jordan and Palestine.
READ participant responses:
Palestinian boy, 19 ,West
Bank
"I haven't been in
Israel for 9 years and was afraid that the bus would leave without me because
of the check point at my village's exit. I was scared about the political
situation and at the same time I was scared I wouldn't manage to get to
you. I was very surprised when finally I made it to the bus and saw that
the Jewish people were waiting for me there. I feel that even though the
situation is so tense these days, there is a place for my point of view in this
circle."
Arab girl, 22, Yaffo
"I love that we speak in both languages. I know
Hebrew, but the fact that I can speak Arabic here gives me the freedom to be
what I am and the feeling of being respected."
Jewish Israeli girl, 19, Kiryat
Ono
The Sulha is like home for
me; it doesn't matter where it is, I immediately feel at home. I come to listen
and to learn more about other people. I connect with people, to know them
well, to enjoy, and to make music.
Arab boy, 19, Sakhnin
"I never met teenagers from Palestine before. Now that
I did and listened to them, it gave me a very good feeling and a lot of things
I thought have changed. I can now start to tell to all the people I know
that there are some people who are trying to make things better and did not
forget. The smile of the soul, everything from the heart, no business or
monetary things, we see in their eyes the will. Their desire for
"Sulha," reconciliation, surprised me and it is the most amazing
thing."
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These and hundreds of other success stories are preserved at http://traubman.igc.org/messages.htm