”Att existera är att göra motstånd” är ett uttryck jag hört flera personer säga sedan jag kom hit. Att ens blotta existens skulle vara detsamma som motstånd förstod jag inte alls i början, men det har blivit mer och mer uppenbart att palestiniernas rätt till existens är det viktigaste att uppmuntra och tro på, inte minst för dem själva. Väldigt många drömmer om ett liv någon annanstans. De längtar efter att kunna röra sig fritt, kunna tjäna pengar och få användning för sin utbildning. Vissa kanske känner att de själva klarar att stanna, men att de inte klarar att se sina barn lida. Föräldrarna önskar ge sina barn den framtid barnen önskar. Många förstår inte heller att de har rätt till sitt land, rätt till att leva och existera på precis den platsen där de är. De vet inte hur de kan kämpa emot när bosättare plötsligt sätter upp baracker på deras mark, eller när militären berättar att deras olivlund eller vindruvsodling numer är militärt område. Sällan driver de ärenden till domstol och de behöver stöd och hjälp att förstå sina rättigheter, och för att orka.

Wall of prayer; To exist is to resist. Nunnor som varje vecka demonstrerar genom att vandra längs med muren och be

En plats där detta motstånd är oerhört viktigt att stötta är i Al Jab’a. Det är lätt att missa den lilla byn när man åker på de slingriga vägarna genom den gröna bosättningen Gush Etzion. Byn ligger inklämd mellan muren och tre bosättningar. Det är en strategiskt viktig by för både palestinier och israeler eftersom byns existens gör det väldigt svårt att bygga ihop de tre israeliska bosättningarna.

Byn ligger väster om Betlehem och har i dagsläget endast cirka 1000 invånare. Mannen som tar emot oss är Naser El-din, en man som bott i USA, New York, i 11 år. Han är en varm man med glimten i ögat som öppnar upp sitt hem för oss. Naser berättar för oss att han valde att komma tillbaka trots det fria och bekymmersfria liv han skapat sig i USA. Detta då han hörde hur hans familj hade det, och att nästan alla satt fängslade vid ett tillfälle.

Byn Al Jab’a ligger både i område B och C vilket innebär att Israel har olika mycket kontroll över olika delar av byn. Bygglov är i stort sett omöjligt att få i den delen av byn som ligger i område C. Några klassrum på den skola som byggdes för några år sedan, med hjälp från internationella organisationer, har fått en demoleringsorder eftersom de är inom område C. När vi står framför skolan är det svårt att förstå var gränserna går och varför. Även skylten vid entrén till byn där det står ”välkommen till Al Jab’a” har fått en demoleringsorder. Naser berättar att efter att israeliska bosättare för många år sedan konstaterade att de kände sig illa till mods när de tvingades dela väg med bybor från Al Jab’a och boende, förbjöds mellan 2002-2007 användandet av huvudvägen samtidigt som en vägbom restes för den andra vägen. Det fanns inget annat sätt att komma in och ut från byn med bil. När Naser berättar det har jag svårt att tro honom, jag tänker att han måste överdriva. Jag frågar honom varifrån de fick mat, hur barnen kom till skolan och hur de överlevde. Han säger att människor i byn tog sig in och ut till fots och med åsnor, genom bergen. I dagsläget kan de använda en av vägarna igen men vägspärren finns kvar, vilket innebär att de inte kan ta sig till den närmaste byn Surif på annat sätt än till fots. Omvägen det innebär att inte kunna använda huvudvägen gör att det både tar längre tid, och att kostnaden för att åka till och från Betlehem nästan femdubblats. Byn har 421 studenter varav 112 går på universitetet. 125 elever tvingas gå till fots till skolan eftersom de inte har råd med buss.

Naser berättar att inte ens i situationer som när hans fru skulle föda och de behövde komma igenom vägspärren så släpptes de igenom. Hans fru tvingades föda hemma. Tillsammans med sin granne och goda vän Noman Hamed, som kallas Abu Assi, åker vi till Abus mark som ligger precis bredvid den militära vägspärren och på gränsen till Israel. Abu har precis innan visat oss dokument som juridiskt styrker att de äger marken. Någonstans mitt igenom hans mark kommer muren att byggas men var vet han inte; ”det vet de nog inte ens själva, eftersom de inte följer någon bok utan skapar reglerna allt eftersom” säger han. Abu Assi visar oss platsen där hans träd förstörts åtskilliga gånger; ”det är bara en tidsfråga innan militären kommer” säger Abu. Mycket riktigt så tar det inte mer än fem minuter innan två stora militärfordon kommer och stannar till tio meter bort. Vi vinkar och låtsas oberörda. ”Det är min mark, så jag har rätt att vara här” säger Abu. Efter att militären vandrat runt sina bilar lite, tutar de och åker iväg. Jag får, liksom ofta, en känsla av att de bara önskar påminna om sin existens, att de ser och hör allt. Vi fortsätter bort till platsen där Abu planterat nya små träd; ”de är som små bebisar” säger han och ler. ”Träden är som ens barn och när man vårdar dem år ut och år in så går någonting sönder i en när de huggs ner. Något av det mest fantastiska jag upplevt var när de förstörde över 400 stycken träd som jag planterat på 80-talet, men gjorde det på fel sätt så att träden lyckades återhämta sig. Det är fantastiskt att de fortfarande lever!”

Abu Assi visar oss sin mark och sina nyplanterade träd

När människor har det som de i Al Jab’a fascineras jag över att de orkar, och än mer över att de återvänder när de haft ett liv i överflöd i andra länder. Många organisationer arbetar dock för just detta; att människor här ska orka existera. Deras mål är att hjälpa människor stanna genom att till exempel möjliggöra ekologiskt jordbruk vilket ses som hållbart och konkurrenskraftigt. Förhoppningen är att detta ska stärka deras självförtroende och att de ska bli självförsörjande och undvika bidragsberoende, genom att i högre grad kunna sälja och exportera sina varor. Genom att arbeta med sin mark skapas ofta starka band till landet. Daoud Nassar från Tent of Nations sa idag ”när bosättarna gav mig en blank check för att köpa min mark så sa jag till dem; ni ber mig sälja något som inte kan köpas för pengar; jag skulle ju inte sälja min mamma eller hur? Jag lever här och jag kommer att dö här.” Denna typ av motstånd är det vackraste och absolut mest avgörande för palestiniernas framtida existens och överlevnad.

Linda Lindberg, Betlehem

The workshop started where everything really starts – our rights and freedoms as human beings, but from a slightly different perspective. I had of course imagined that the world would be a better place if I was allowed to rule it as a dictator, but when asked to list the measures you’d take to restrict those human rights and freedoms I quickly realise what an bad idea that would be.

The underlying purpose of the workshop though was not to imagine ourselves as dictators, but rather to discover and discuss the line between courage and recklessness. When is an act of protest courageous and when is it reckless? How big chances can you take with your fellow activists and protesters, without damaging the cause you’re all fighting for?

The easy answer is of course that there is no answer, as it is too dependent on the context. That’s why the most important thing when working is mapping the environment you’re acting within. And that’s why LSU and YETT together have published a handbook for exactly this purpose. Courage not Recklessness LÄNK gives you tools to make adequate research on how to act in order not to put yourself, your coworkers and your organisation in danger.

Back to politics, and I discover that Zimbabwe is a relatively young country. It was only liberated from british colonial rule in 1979, as one of the last countries in Africa. Though history took a sharp turn then the liberation struggle is still used to score political points. The young generation is referred to as “born free” generation, and Zimbabwe’s military leader recently stated that he would not accept any president that did not take part in the fight against the british.

The remarks seems to be aimed directly at Morgan Tvsangirai, the leader of the biggest opposition party. In the last elections in 2008 the opposition would’ve won the president seat had not the military intervened. The first round of elections were calm then, but went to a runoff between Tvsangirai and Mugabe and as it was obvious that Mugabe would loose, the military stepped in. Because of violent arrest, intimidating voters and other means Tvsangirai party finally had to withdraw their participation. Although the situation seems somewhat better now, it gives you a chilling reminder of how quickly things can run out of hands. But when military officers increasingly sign up to be nominated as political candidates, the future looks grim.

But not all is without hope. SADC (The South Africa Development Commission), a regional body consisting of stepped in after the elections in 2008 and forced the parties to form a unity government, which actually has been able to rule since. Some things have been accomplished, especially the economy has recovered at least somewhat – inflation is battled and Zimbabwe’s infamous currency have been abandoned.

Not everything have been achieved though, and the biggest battle ahead is obviously the upcoming elections. According to the constitution, the elections should be held no later than 29^th of June when the last parliament is dissolved. But the electoral body responsible for managing the practical details of holding an election simply won’t be able to make it. Instead, the opposition aims for elections in October. The balance between new elections and keeping the military and Mugabe away is hard, a longer wait means more preparations for free and fair elections but also increasing power for the President as the parliament steps down. As of now, everyone is waiting for the results of the upcoming SADC meeting on the 9^th of June – their political pressure is as important now as it was in 2008.

So once again, much of the future development rests with the regional organisations and bodies – a development consistent throughout the world. Whether it’s growing organisations like ASEAN, political discussion forums like the Arctic Council, peace forces from the AU, human rights courts like the ECtHR or the most developed regional organisation of them all – the EU – regional bodies are now playing a greater role in international politics, and their importance is bound to increase more in the future.

In the case of Zimbabwe, we can only hope that the SADC puts enough pressure so that real change can be achieved. But much of the vote lies with the young, born-free generation, as they make up a large portion of the population. However, political apathy is wide spread. That’s why, when change finally comes, it will be a product of the work that organisations like YETT does. They’re doing what all civil society organisation should do – the difficult, dangerous and painstakingly slow work of raising awareness, educating the voters and being a thorn relentlessly demanding attention.  

/Simon Rose

President, UF Stockholm

Zimbabwe is in the middle of a sensitive political transition period and intensive preparations for the upcomning elections are being made, to make sure it will be a free and fair process. Saturday the 1th June Tayson Mudarikiri and Rosewita Katsande, from the organisation YETT (Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust) in Zimbabwe will give their veiw of the political situation, the upcoming elections, the work of youth organizations and the possibilities for young people to influence the process. Here’s more information about YETT (www.yett.org)

After the presentation and lunch there will be a workshop about the booklet ”Courage not Recklessness” that YETT and LSU (swedish national youth organization) have developed together in order to highlight brave leadership in dangerius contexts. Read more about it and download it here (http://lsu.se/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Manual-Courages-Not-Recklessness.pdf)

10.30 – 12.00: Conversation about the political situation in Zimbabwe

12.00 – 13.00: Paus for lunch. All participants bring their own lunch. There are some alternatives for those who wish to buy lunch, and it’s possible to heat your own food if you wish.

13.00 – 15.00: Workshop about brave leadership.

The event is organized in cooperation with LSU and YETT, and will be in english.

Welcome!

Every year PeaceWorks sends out volunteers to partners around the world through a SIDA-financed internship project. Wednesday the 29th, PeaceWork interns stationed in Malawi, Palestine and Moldavia visits UF Stockholm to talk about their experiences and different policy topics. This speakers pub will be held in Swedish.

Welcome!

How we’ll turn research into reality – a conversation about sustainability and higher education
The rules of our modern society is changing. Our way of life will have to change fundamentally. We must transform our society to meet the challenges that we have created ourselves. It will be about lifestyle and consumption, but also about the way we manufacture our products.

To face the future, we need to believe in our own ability to cope with the challenges that we face together. The efforts and the necessary changes has to begin at an early stage – but what are the specific challanges we face? How can universities and higher education contribute to solving our future problems?

Gustav Fridolin, spokesperson for the Swedish Green Party, visits Stockholm Earth Week 2013 and the Stockholm Association of International Affairs for a conversation based on the book Machines and People. The lecture will be in swedish.

Welcome!

During one week the campus will be filled with a lots of activities, seminars, lectures, workshops, yoga, movie screenings and much more! Stockholms Earth Week is arranged by students and was started four years ago to create and encourage debate and awareness about sustainability and the environment.

Among other things Gustav Fridolin and Charles Eisenstein will visit us for lectures, you’ll learn how to smell food instead of throwing it away, swap day with clothes, free repairs for your bike, a nuclear debate, seminars about social entrepreneurs and sustainable investment, nature walks, movie screenings and much more!

So take a look on the website and the schedule or the Facebook page.

Welcome!

Maria Eriksson Baaz (researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute with a geographical focus on the DRC and Rwanda) introduced us to a background on the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. Both DRC and CAR are countries with fragile states and whose regimes are contested with low legitimacy; an effect of fraudulent elections.

Johan Mast (Secretary-General at Médecins Sans Frontières Sweden) has worked in several countries during his time in MSF such as Sierra Leone, Sudan and DRC. DRC is by far the largest operation for MSF, ever. The notion of failed states has become the new model of explanation and this is something the DRC is especially known for. The problems are huge, not only security-wise; corruption is rampant, logistics are constrained and bureaucracy is tricky. Being approved to work in conflict areas in DRC is constantly a challenge for MSF since they have to explain over and over that they are not fighting, which peace-keeping forces actually do. Belligerents are having a hard time making out who’s who saying ”You’re all white, you all drive white land cruisers.” The fact that MSF does not use armed guards very much distinguishes them from other aid organizations. Mast also said ”Humanitarian aid is peaceful but not pacifist, that means that one side has to win. We on the other hand just ask ourselves WHO needs help, not who’s right.”

Caroline Holmqvist-Jonsäter (lecturer at the National Defense College – Institution of Strategy and International Law) has a research focus on intervention, state building and issues of war. Holmqvist told us about the dual agenda of conflicts. Peace-keeping and promoting development is problematic since they both need each other, so where do we start? There is undoubtedly a central paradox, since intervention typically means more militarism. Weapons and military are used to break things, not build them. We’re supposed to do the opposite: enable humanitarian aid and establish rule of law. Create, not break!

Discussions on conflict resolutions are a matter of heart and mind. Robert Egnell, researcher at the National Defense College consider the concept of hearts and minds brain a pipe dream. This is a memorable parable when interventions and conflicts are on the agenda. Johan Mast stated that today, arms trade is less regulated than the banana trade, even though new arms treaties try to obligate states to prevent weapons from ending up in areas where humanitarian crimes are committed. There is a description of military means as a means of security and the frame of armed persons to create security which can be seen as a displacement. The name of the seminar was Central African Pandemonium, maybe it should have been called Central African Paradox since the discussions this late afternoon reflected how humanitarian work is incompatible with military action.

 Many thanks to UF alumni Dennis Halvordsson for moderating the event! Next up is a seminar on the Israel-Palestine conflict 3 may. Be there!

Caroline Wrangsten

Blog Editor, UF Stockholm

Seminar on the current situation in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, in which Per Jönsson and Amil Sarsour will highlight the conflict from different perspectives.
This Seminar will be held in Swedish.

Welcome!

When reading this, you’re probably holding a bit of Congo in your hand. Sounds weird? 80 % of all minerals……in cellphones and elctronics…..



It’s called conlict minerals. The minerals are to be found in almost every electronic device in our every day life. 80 % of theese minerals are obtained from the mines, in the middle of the ongoing conflicts in DRC. Resources as ”curses” instead of ”assets” are exemplified in DRC, being the most resource rich country in the world and at the same time the worlds dealiest conflict zone since the World War II.

To understand the complexity of the conflicts witihin DRC and with it’s neighboring countries, a local perspective is needed. In this case, a local prespective is more difficult than usual to recieve. With different rebellions gardening every corner, a local visit is perilous in several aspects. Regardless, Suroosh Alvi, the founder of Vice Media Inc (http://www.vice.com/en_se) went To DRC and made a documentary called ”Guide to Congo, the heart of bleakness”. Watch it here:

Here’s a shorter film on Congos history of conflicts, called ”This is Congo, bloody resource wars”:

However, questions of internvention remain. What is the best course of action, and who should be the main actor? On thursday we will discuss military power, interventions and its limits using Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic as examples. Read more about the seminar here.

Caroline Wrangsten

Blog editor, UF Stockholm

Military power, interventions, and its limits

Located in the middle of Africa, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo both serve as stages for ongoing tragedies. The two countries that emerged out of colonial rule in 1960 are haunted by conflict and constant rebellion, being rich in resources and riddled with opportunistic militias. Despite UN resolutions and peace-keeping missions, the DRC has been the arena for one of the world’s deadliest conflicts for the last fifty years.
In the CAR, rebels recently wrested control of the country out of the hands of its president since ten years, François Bozizé. Without stable institutions and an enforced rule of law, citizens are subject to constant insecurity and instability, with human displacement and violence as terrible consequences.

Using these two countries as a backdrop, our panel will discuss limits to military power and intervention as well as humanitarian aid and alternative security. What are the underlying problems?
How can the international community help? What is the best course of action, and who should be the main actor? These are all questions to be covered during the seminar.

Participants:

Johan Mast: Secretary-General at Médecins Sans Frontières Sweden. Johan has worked in several countries during his time in MSF among them Sierra Leone, Sudan and DRC;

Maria Eriksson Baaz: Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute with a geographical focus on the DRC and Rwanda;

Tove Ivergard: International and local coordinator at Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (IKFF);

Caroline Holmqvist-Jonsäter: Lecturer at the National Defense College – Institution of Strategy and International Law with a research focus on intervention, state building and issues of war.

UF alumni Dennis Halvordsson, MFA intern, will moderate the event.

We will open the doors at 16.30! Entry fee is 20: – and free for UF Stockholm members
only, membership (1 year) can be arranged at the door for 50: -

Welcome!