Reconciliation in Rwanda and "Peace Baskets"

Nonviolence can overturn dictators, but the hardest challenge is always what happens next. CNN recently had a story of forgiveness and moving forward between Hutu and Tutsis. The headline, "Woman opens heart to man who slaughtered her family" doesn't impart a sense of how reconciliation was accomplished, but the article reviews the horrific history through text and video. It is the third video of President Paul Kagame which summarizes how Rwanda moved beyond the 1994 genocide.

For these families, the gacaca process of public confession and asking for forgiveness, coupled with a basket business bringing people together, is helping to heal. The "peace baskets" are sold by Macy's.

Ladies in White: What to do Next?

Listen to a recent NPR piece about the Ladies in White, who for five years have been protesting their dissident husbands' detention. The Ladies gather to pray, then silently march carrying gladiola's, and have done so weekly for five years. In 2005, they were awarded the Sakhavrov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The question is now whether or not the Ladies should escalate and how. What is the most effective way to move a dictator in this cultural context?

Photo by Mihai Romanciuc

The power of people: Thanks New Media

I could not share the video, so here is a link
I chose to share this jumbled video that portrays police repelling protestors because it demonstrates the power of people to spread news (and images) of their causes worldwide. The protestors are reacting to the rising cost of fuel in the face of the declining Icelandic krona. High fuel prices coupled with a poor economy equals truck drivers blockading off access to major roads with their trucks. I think this is a pretty effective protest because it makes a big statement without costing too much to those that wish to make it or causing damage. Its effectiveness is reflected in the fact that the Icelandic police have responded with an unprecedented show of force. However, in a country where half of the price of filling up at the pump is composed of government taxes a protest of this magnitude seems justified and necessary. The problem with the government’s response is that the public is not used to police handling protesters in this fashion. The man that recorded the video, Halldor Sigurgson, said, “This is the first time in a long time we have seen in Iceland violence against protestors…we are not used to violence against groups of people at all.”
This is why the video component is so important- it allows for coverage to be spread quickly and effectively worldwide building support for protestors. One no longer has to be on a news crew or working for a news agency to shape the news. I found this video on cnn.com through their iReporter feature where literally anyone can be a reporter. This is something I feel nonviolent protestors need to be cognizant of and use to their advantage as these Icelandic protestors did.