United For Peace & Justice and member organization September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows have created an important opportunity for the U.S. peace community to stand in solidarity with Iraqi peace and nonviolence activists.
Founded in 2006, LaOnf (which means “No Violence” in Arabic) has grown to a network of over 100 Iraqi organizations that are committed to using nonviolence to end the occupation, sectarian fighting, and corruption that are destroying Iraq. LaOnf members are men and women from Iraq’s many ethnic and religious groups, Sunni, Shiite, Kurdish, Turkmen and Christian, in all of Iraq’s 18 governorates (states).
From October 10 to 20, LaOnf members will hold their 3rd annual campaign, the Iraqi Week of Nonviolence, in which they will advocate through nonviolent action for measures to ensure the freedom and security of Iraqis who will exercise their right to vote during Iraq’s upcoming governorate elections.
During this Week of Nonviolence, the Iraqi members of LaOnf hope that you will each consider bringing their message and work into your communities. In the US, LaOnf is working in partnership with UFPJ and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows to facilitate the following actions:
1. Sign an Open Letter of support for LaOnf’s mission to promote nonviolence in rebuilding Iraq.
2. Post a photo and a message of support on the LaOnf Campaign website.
3. Host a home or community screenings of LaOnf’s documentary film “Mesalla: Activists in Iraq”
4. Organize your own solidarity action to promote and demonstrate support for the Week of Nonviolence.
5. Get local press for LaOnf.
6. Let your elected representatives know about LaOnf
For more information on LaOnf, volunteering to screen the documentary in your community or your home, and joining the campaign to support nonviolence activists in Iraq go to www.peacefultomorrows.org or simply email Peaceful Tomorrows at laonf@peacefultomorrows.org. Information on LaOnf is available on their website in Arabic, Kurdish and English: http://www.laonf.net/. The button for English translation is in the upper right hand corner of the site.
View a short video about LaOnf at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y83MnF0uQEg
WHY LAONF NOW?This is an extraordinary opportunity for U.S. peace activists to demonstrate their solidarity with Iraqi civilians and to say to the world that we believe that peace in Iraq depends upon ending the occupation and empowering members of Iraqi civil society to reclaim control of their institutions and resources. Standing in solidarity with the activists of LaOnf shows that we believe Iraqis themselves can end sectarian strife and undertake the reconciliation necessary to rebuild their country.
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