Fall 2005

Dear Friend,
The planet is unquestionably in crisis. Hurricane Katrina caused appalling destruction, and the response was hugely inadequate. Violence continues in Iraq. Darfur remains genocidal. Millions have died in Congo. Indeed, the list of intractable problems seems to grow longer by the day. To us here at Search for Common Ground, it is clear that the earth is running out of space, resources, and recuperative capacity to keep dealing with disasters and conflict in an adversarial manner. Humanity simply must find better ways to resolve problems - whether environmental, ethnic, or economic. We believe that a basic shift is needed - from a you-or-me world to a you-and-me one. And, despite considerable evidence to the contrary, we are confident that such a shift is coming.

Every few hundred years in Western history there occurs a sharp transformation. Within a few short decades, society - its worldview, its basic values, its social and political structures, its art, its key institutions - rearranges itself. We are currently living through such a time. -author Peter Drucker

MESSAGE FROM IRAN. Since 1996, we have worked to improve relations between the US and Iran. One of our Iranian colleagues, the head of a scientific institute in Tehran, has been following Hurricane Katrina on CNN. The images reminded him of the deadly earthquake that struck Bam in 2003. This is a letter he recently sent us:

Our mind went out to the US citizen groups who came to help, the civil societies of America, and even US government agencies, which rose above political differences to join in a humanitarian task to save lives and bring relief and support to the people of Bam. It was all so touching, so humane. We were all one family, helping those in their hour of need. … We would like to keep alive the spirit of solidarity during times of tragedy…. If there is a fund to which we can contribute, let us know. More important, if there is a way of communicating our feelings, let us know. Help us show that love breeds love. And love and mutual assistance are the best way of creating people-to-people solidarity, collaboration, and showing the way forward.

MIDDLE EAST. On four Saturday nights in July, we accomplished something that had never been done before. Israeli and Palestinian TV, as well as an Arab satellite network aired simultaneously a documentary series that we produced. Our broadcasters were Israel's Channel 8, the independent Palestinian Ma'an Network, the official Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, and Abu Dhabi satellite TV.

This series examines the fears and aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians in an even-handed way. It shows how a negotiated agreement could address those fears and aspirations and do so without threatening the national existence of either side. Israel and Egypt were able to accomplish this task at Camp David more than 25 years ago and this series supports the belief that Israelis and Palestinians can do the same.
- Former US President Jimmy Carter

Groundbreaking
- Steve Weizman, Associated Press

Follow-up. Having pulled off this unprecedented simulcast, we keep pushing to expand the impact of the series - to give concrete form to the idea that peace agreements really are possible. Here are some of our ongoing activities:

- Our broadcasters are already re-running the series, which is also being aired by Australian, German, and Japanese networks - and, we hope, by many others.

- A Palestinian NGO, the Center for Applied Research in Education, has written a teacher's guide and trained 150 teachers in classroom use of the films.

- One Voice, an NGO working in Israel (and Palestine), has prepared a Hebrew viewer's guide and is sponsoring film showings and discussions across Israel.

- We are distributing the series through Arab-American and Jewish-American groups. A grant from the Foundation for Middle East Peace enabled us to send a DVD and a viewer's guide to every conservative rabbi in the United States.

- Our tri-lingual website, www.theshapeofthefuture.tv, offers DVDs, videotapes, background information, and a downloadable music video of the series theme, sung by pop stars David Broza, an Israeli, and Wisam Murad, a Palestinian.

Funders. Money to make the series came from the European Union; the Canadian, Dutch, Finnish, German, and Swedish governments; and the Sagner Family Fund, Tracey McCabe, Gordon McCormick, John Whitehead, Alan Slifka, Wally Marks, and Ravinder Singh.

NIGERIAN TV. Nigeria is a country with an enormous amount of ethnic and religious strife. With a Nigerian partner, Academic Associates/Peace Works, we are producing a 26-part, TV drama series and a 13-week reality series that stress tolerance, pluralism, and conflict resolution. The reality series, called The Academy, will have its première this fall. Just as American Idol searched for talent across the US, The Academy looks for Nigerians who will star in the dramatic series. To date, we have received 50,000 applications. There will be 20 finalists, who will be filmed as they audition and rehearse. Viewers will vote for their favorites. The reality series will build an audience for the subsequent dramatic series, The Station, which portrays a multi-ethnic, multi-religious TV news team, which investigates Nigeria's most urgent problems - such as corruption, intolerance, and the failings of democracy. And these themes are mixed with plenty of love, intrigue, and suspense. In other words, we are making Soaps for Social Responsibility.

Behind the Production. Nestlé Nigeria, led by Klaus Wachsmuth, is the presenting sponsor of the series. Additional funding comes from the Canadian, Swedish, and UK governments. Also, in-kind services are being furnished by Protea Hotels, City Mall Cinema, JMG Generators, Kia Motors, Elizade Toyota, Eagle Paint, Moka Foam, Funtopia, Zinox, Virgin Nigeria, Virgin Atlantic, Motorola Dizengoff, Ibalex Tiles, and Standard Construction. As was the case with The Shape of the Future, Allen Scheid is series producer.

MIDDLE EAST CHANGES. Last year when Susan Collin Marks and I returned to Washington after two years in Jerusalem, we were replaced as regional co-directors by Dr. Pamela Pelletreau and former Assistant Secretary of State Robert Pelletreau. Now the Pelletreaus have also gone home after doing wonderful work, and they are succeeded by John Bell, an Arabic-speaking, ex-Canadian diplomat. In addition, former Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering is taking on the role of Convenor of our Holy Sites Initiative, and Samuel Lewis, former US Ambassador to Israel, has become chair of our Middle East Advisory Group.

CHILD SOLDIERS. For the last several years, we have been working in West Africa, Burundi, and Angola to reintegrate child soldiers into peaceful society. We utilize ex-combatants to produce radio programming; to hold interethnic football (soccer) tournaments; to write comic books describing how child soldiers are exploited; and to monitor elections. Recently, Michael Shipler, who heads our children and youth division, and Sandra Melone, our Executive Director, forged an alliance with Roméo Dallaire, the retired Canadian general who saved so many lives in Rwanda (and who is portrayed by Nick Nolte in the film, Hotel Rwanda). In June, in partnership with General Dallaire and USAID, we convened 30 representatives of children's rights, humanitarian, and peace organizations, along with military officers, current and retired. The idea was to put the issue of child soldiers squarely on both the governmental and the NGO security agenda. Participants launched an 18-month process that should produce concrete action steps to prevent use of children as soldiers. The major conclusion is that there is a need for a global dialogue that engages a wide range of stakeholders, including diplomats, military officers, human rights activists, and affected children.

COMMON GROUND FILM FESTIVAL. Since 2001, we have been holding film festivals in Washington and other cities around the world to showcase common ground-type films. This summer, we held a festival at the United Nations with the sponsorship of several UN agencies. One film shown was Kontum Diary, a very personal documentary about a former American GI who returns to Vietnam and reconciles with his one-time enemy. Vietnam's UN Ambassador attended the opening and was so moved that he subsequently arranged for the film to be shown on Vietnamese television. Needless to say, filmmaker Paul Reed is thrilled. He credits Susan Koscis, the guiding force behind the Common Ground Film Festivals, for the "positive message of peace and reconciliation" that the film will impart to millions of Vietnamese viewers.

NOBEL NOMINEES. We are honored that two of our staff members in Burundi¸ Christine Ntahe and Jeannine Nahigombeye, were among 1000 women collectively nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Christine produces radio programming for our Studio Ijambo to promote peace and coexistence between Hutus and Tutsis. Jeannine is director of Radio Isanganiro, a radio station established by the journalists of Studio Ijambo. According to the website of the group that made the nominations (www.1000peacewomen.org): "She uses the media for conflict resolution and as a means to get all warring parties involved in peace negotiations in her country. Despite several government bans, she has continued using the radio as her weapon against conflict. The radio provides its listeners with information that helps them in their daily lives and keeps politicians and the army accountable for their actions."

PUTUMAYO. An international record company, Putumayo, which specializes in world music, has a policy of providing one-percent of sales to a non-profit organization. Now, we are the happy recipient for a new CD, named North African Groove. It features what Putumayo describes as a "funky musical caravan from Morocco to Egypt for a non-stop celebration of North African dance music." You can order a copy of the CD at www.putumayo.com.

THANK YOU. Especially in difficult times, like these, I feel immensely privileged to be able to do what I do. I am more cognizant than ever that nothing would be possible without the generous assistance received from people like you. If our work moves you, please keep supporting us.

With best wishes,

John Marks
President