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 of 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.
---Ismaeel Dawood, founding member of La'Onf
I have been wondering about peace-building efforts that must be happening within Iraq. I am sure that there are many Iraqis, working at great personal risk, who are trying to stop the violence and restore some semblance of normalcy to their lives. Many of their stories will never reach us in the West.
One organization that is getting some attention is La'Onf. (I found them through the Peaceful Tomorrows website.) Their Arabic name roughly translates to 'no violence'. It is a coalition of Iraqi civilian organizations working to end the sectarian and political violence between Iraqis in order to create a stable, peaceful and prosperous country, free from US occupation.
In October 2008, La'Onf held its third annual Week of Nonviolence, and locally organized activities took place in all 18 provinces. The focus was on making the provincial elections taking place at the time, safe and truly democratic. Posters illustrated with the white dove of peace carrying a ballot box were hung in many places, including military checkpoints.
La'Onf also has a program in which children can exchange their toy guns for soccer balls. There are instances when children are killed by soldiers who mistake the toy guns for the real thing.
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