Blessed are the organisers as they get us Organised – Revisiting the Berlin Convening!

 

In the past few days, I spent some quality time with organisers, activists, social thinkers, trainers and global change agents gathered from across the world in Berlin for the Porticus Move Gathering and Winter Academy.

As participants arrived in Berlin, they all came with their expectations and hopes. Anything they could learn? Anything they could share? Opportunity to engage? Build relationships and have some safe spaces?

It all started with a dinner reception at the heart of Berlin and sharing a mouth-watering food and laughter. Great choice of a restaurant that was so accommodative of preferences and life styles of folks.

As soon as the convening kicked off, there was a lot on the table and lots of food for thought and to process. Packed agenda. Lots to navigate through. It showed how much the team at the European Alternatives had done to deliver and excel. Braver Space and the due attention given to safeguarding is worth mentioning and commending. As someone who has been at many conferences, workshops, convenings, to see this level of attention for safety and care is encouraging. It is vital to step back and reflect on self-care and self-love as we navigate through this testing time.

As the conversations continued and sessions run, all I could see was participants’ hunger for change. For me, it was all about how we could channel our Anger to Hope and consequently to Action. It is all about our actions, not our words. Hence to see actions in place at the move gathering was gratifying. To practise what one preaches; to go beyond great words, and Walk the Talk is more than important; and that was what we saw in practice in Berlin.

This reminds me of a session I led on Organising Lived Experience and the reactions from Rikko Voorberg, from the World of Neighbours, on why he is doing what he is doing? As Rikko was sharing stories, I could see where he was coming from; where his convictions come from, why actions are important to him. That reminded me of James 2:14-16 in the bible:-

Faith and Deeds

 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

European Alternatives and through them Porticus have done a magnificent job in bringing folks together; and also sharing with one another. What we need now is to keep working on the learning and delivering on our purposes both as organisations and individuals. My organisation, Asylum Reform Initiative/Together with Refugees is working to deliver on its purpose and collaborate with allies.

If you want to see change, be the change you want to be and bring others on board through the process. Change is possible!

 

Community Organising as the work of Head, Heart and Hands!

Community Organising is needed today more than ever. Lots of pressing issues to work on in an organised and consistent way.  We need to do strategic analysis; have the right motivation and take actions. We need to have the heart to listen to the stories and connect; we need to have the head to do the analysis and have intellectual engagement; we need to have the hands to do the practical work, roll sleeves and get stuck.

Today, more than ever, people up and down our globe face difficult issues on a daily basis. They hear stories that are very concerning and demanding. Issues that need collective responses. Hence it is vital to do more and more Community Organising with concentration on distributed organising focusing on those mostly affected by the issues. Making sure those with lived experience of the issues we want to work on and address have meaningful and active participation in the decision making process.

Most recently I was able to join Marshall Ganz in central London along with colleagues from The Centre for Progressive Change. I found the engagement with Marshall very rewarding and fulfilling

Marshall is one of the leading voices and scholars of Community Organising with more than 6 decades of experience. What was interesting during our session was Marshall’s humility; his willingness to listen, engage and get us focused. Despite the hours we spent together, we didn’t want the session to end as there was always something new and engaging. He left us wanting more of his time. Marshall is now actively investing in the next generation and the generation after in Community Organising as the work of Head, Heart and Hands.  Marshall refers to the 3 core questions organisers ask.  

1.  Who are my people? 
2.  What is the change we need? 
3.  How can we turn our resources into the power we need to achieve that change? 

As we engage in Community Organising, we need to keep asking the above three questions. The people; the change needed and the power needed to effect the change. After all blessed are the organised!

Stories matter; Actions matter most!

We often hear stories of those who are fleeing their homes searching for protection and safety. Stories about those who often go through treacherous journeys. Stories of those often exploited and suffer from all forms of atrocities.

We also hear stories of those who are keen to roll their sleeves up, get organised and do what it takes to welcome and support. Stories of those who are keen to speak to their elected representatives in an organised way and find solutions.

Yes these stories matter and inspire us; they challenge us on a daily basis; stay with us for a while. What matters most is the choice we take. Action or Inaction? Our actions or Inactions determine the outcomes. Action is what helps us address our anger; our concerns; our frustrations; and the call to do the right thing at the right time.

Campaign Organising Network is a good platform to be part of and do what is right today. As part of the Together with Refugees initiative, the Campaign Organising Network is there to support local organisers, activists, campaigners and all those keen to engage in welcome and show the better side.

Glad to be part of this network and offer training and practical support. So good to see more than 100 people and groups joining the Campaign Organising Network most recently. Some have taken the Practical Organising Tools  and The Practical Campaigning Tools training that take place online. Many others have signed up or are signing up.

The call is as always clear. 'May every community, every neighbourhood, everyone capable to help do so and change the lives of those stuck in the system.'

You can join the Campaign Organising Network and work with amazing organisations including Freedom from Torture Asylum Reform Initiative and many others around the country.

In addition you could benefit from the training and see if Organising is for you. More info on the Campaign Organising Network could be found in the below link.

https://togetherwithrefugees.org.uk/campaign-organising-network/

Low Sick Pay Forces Thousands to Choose Between Health and Bills

 

 

On Friday 7th of February, campaigners called on Members of Parliament to strengthen United Kingdom’s sick pay system as 1.3 million people are at risk of lower Statutory Sick Pay across the country and face impossible choices between paying bills, delaying medical treatment, or risking worsening mental health due to inadequate statutory sick pay. The campaigners working with the Centre for Progressive Change are urging the Government to back crucial amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, which is expected to reach the Report Stage on or around 24th February. 

The proposed amendments would:

● Increase statutory sick pay to at least 80% of the National Living Wage, phased in over five years.

● Remove the Lower Earnings Limit, extending eligibility to ensure that 1.3 million currently excluded employees receive support.

● Establish a higher replacement rate of at least 80% of income for low-paid workers, providing an adequate safety net during illness. 

To raise awareness and build public support, campaigners have called on MPs to back these vital reforms. 

It was great to be in West Midlands, mainly in Birmingham and Smethwick to speak to organisations and individuals who are supportive of the Safe Sick Pay campaign and working together as part of the Day of Action featuring the delivery of ‘Get Well Soon’ cards to MPs; as well as coordinated letter-writing campaigns and social media outreach by local members and organisations. 

At £116.75 per week, the UK’s sick pay rate is among the lowest in industrialised nations. Although set to rise by just £2 in April 2025, analysis by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University highlights the stark reality: a full-time worker, cohabiting with a partner on an average UK salary, would still lose £419 in net income for each week of illness — placing them below the minimum acceptable standard of living.

Campaigners stress that without urgent reform, millions of workers will remain vulnerable to financial hardship when they fall ill. They are urging MPs to act now to ensure that no worker is forced to choose between their health and making ends meet.

Amanda Walters, Director of the Centre for Progressive Change, said: “Far too many workers are forced to push through illness because they can’t afford to take time off to recover. This isn’t sustainable. We’re calling on MPs to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity presented by the Employment Rights Bill to reform our broken sick pay system and provide workers with the support they need.” 

Workers on low sick pay often face devastating choices. Recent research by Citizens Advice found that full-time employees are at the highest risk of being unable to cover essential costs after prolonged illness. 

Clare, a cancer patient, explained: “I had to make a choice — try to survive on a sum that barely covered my council tax, let alone my mortgage and bills, or combine work with an intense treatment schedule. I used up my annual leave and put my recovery at serious risk.”

Roxana Khan-Williams, Head of Campaigns at Organise — “The UK’s statutory sick pay system is failing workers when they need it most. At just £116.75 a week, it falls far short of covering basic living costs, forcing many to choose between their health and income. Workers are going hungry, skipping rent, or returning to work sick because they can’t survive on such a low amount. One warehouse worker told us they pushed through illness, risking their health and their colleagues, just to keep the lights on. A care worker shared how they had to rely on food banks after catching the flu. These stories are not exceptions; they are the reality for millions.”

About the Safe Sick Pay campaign:

The Safe Sick Pay campaign is a coalition of organisations and individuals advocating for reform to the UK’s sick pay regime. The coalition believes that safe workplaces are essential for recovery and that workers should never have to choose between health and financial stability. The campaign is coordinated by the Centre for Progressive Change. 

About the Employment Rights Bill:

As of 27th January 2025, the Employment Rights Bill is progressing through the UK Parliament. Introduced on 10th October 2024, it has completed the Public Bill Committee stage and is expected to reach the Report Stage on 24th February.

You can take action by writing to your MP. Click HERE to write to them.

The importance of small wins - Tiny changes, remarkable values!

 

Reflecting on the book I once read, Atomic Habits, and also reflecting on my long Community Organising life, the importance of small wins should not be taken lightly. Going for small wins;  celebrating those small wins; and using those small wins as spring board to gain added impetus to do more is vital to win big.

We often want to see a big change all at once and focus only on big things. How about developing a habit of going for small wins every now and then and seeing the compound effect through the process? Our habits are dependent on us. They could be for us or against us. What is important is to make them for us and make them consistently for us.

‘The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us; whereas the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.’- excerpts from Atomic Habits

Time to Get Out and Vote – Democracy in Action

 

United Kingdom goes to the polls on July 4th. 

Since the election was called by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, I have had the opportunity to travel to some parts of the United Kingdom to discuss with folks about the election, their expectations and what could be done to support those who have not registered to vote. I also worked on voter registration drive in places in West Midlands and North West England.  As there are many people who are excited about the opportunity the election could bring, there are still others who told me they may not even vote.

One of my experiences is worth sharing. Whilst speaking to somebody, the person said they wouldn’t vote. I asked why they were not going to vote. They said, ‘these leaders are the same; the parties are the same; they are all the same; hence I’m not voting.’ My follow up question was, ‘when was the last time you voted?’ They replied, “it has been a while since I voted.”  I thus politely said, ‘are you all the same then?’ ‘Oh no,’ they said.  That conversation was interesting on many grounds. I hope the person will vote for what they believe in; as I do.

Coming back to the election, the ball is now in the hands of the British public and all those who are eligible to vote and decide who should lead them for the coming 5 years. Vital to participate in the election. There is no need for apathy. Apathy to participate in local democracy is not the way forward. If we want to see our voices heard; if we want to see strong civil societies that can hold the state and the market to account; if we want to see the issues we campaign for to be implemented; then it is important to get out and vote. It is important to remember that we can only win through actions. Our actions on the election day is mostly associated with our votes. Our anger could only be addressed through actions. Our hopes could only be a reality through actions.  The action we need to take is to get out and vote on the election day; and also encourage others to vote. 

Worthwhile to remember that many people around the world die to get the right to vote. Many others suffer in the hands of brutal dictators and their agents because they want to have a say in their countries’ affairs. We may not like politics but our lives are affected by politics. Hence there is a need to engage actively in local democracy and vote for what matters for us. If we don’t engage locally and use our democratic rights, we must accept what others have voted for. By the end of the day, the voice of the majority rules even if we do not agree.

Avoid apathy and get out and vote! Your Vote is Your Voice! We may not get what we vote for, but it is our chance to exercise our democratic rights. 

July 4th is the day!

The Global Refugee Forum – time for meaningful participation of Refugees

 

As the Global Refugee Forum takes place between 13 - 15 December 2023 in Switzerland, it is vital that we have meaningful participation of refugees that can shape the work and the next steps following the forum. We need to see  practical next steps and delivery of pledges now more than ever.

The Global Refugee Crisis is getting worse by the hour. Lots of people forced to leave their homes searching for homes and safety. Many more displaced internally across the globe. By mid 2023, we had 110 Million forcibly displaced people worldwide, out of which 36.4 Million are refugees. There are also 62.5 million internally displaced people that need support now more than ever.

The persecution of people for their religion, race, political opinions, sexual orientation and other reasons and their forced displacement from their homes continues at an alarming rate. It is extremely heartbreaking and deeply worrying to see fellow humans denied the right to home and decent life at this day and age.

According to the UNHCR 69% of refugees live in countries neighbouring their countries of origin. These countries need to be given support to deliver better welcome.

‪As the International Community gathers in Geneva for the Global Refugee Forum, we need to see more action than words. We need leaders ready to go beyond the usual good words and soundbites. We need to see honest conversations and solutions to the crises with meaningful participation of refugees that take part in the forum. The Global Refugee Forum should not be only a talking show. We need to walk the talk and do that now more than ever. We have had many forums, assemblies, conferences, summits, workshops and seminars on how to address the worsening Global Refugee crises, yet the number of those needing protection keeps going up. Time to reimagine the way we address the challenges; and it is vital the voices of those with lived experiences are taken seriously, with open hearts and readiness to change the course. We often see promises that are unfulfilled and even forgotten. We need practical leadership from the international community, especially from the body responsible for refugees protection, UNHCR and its leaders.

Leaders in the Global North have to show leadership, willingness and practical commitment to address the worsening crises. What matters most is action and that action should be now!

There is also a need to have more legal routes for refugee resettlement around the world. The Community Sponsorship of Refugees scheme spearheaded by the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative has grown, but we need more and more countries to adapt the scheme and extend hands. The launch of Welcome Corps- Private Sponsorship of Refugees in the USA is an encouraging step and very promising. There are many promising Refugee Sponsorship Schemes in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. There are Community Sponsorship  initiatives and pilot works in countries like Argentina and Brazil. The Refugee Sponsorship Scheme in Canada has a lot to offer.  We need to see more and more countries adapting the scheme or finding their own.

We also need to see more complementary pathways to extend welcome and avail more legal and safe routes to support those stranded in camps around the world or those taking risks and going through treacherous journeys.

We need to also see more and more businesses, philanthropies, trusts, and foundations supporting the initiative so that we can scale up and deliver better and fast.

It is time for meaningful participation of refugees; time for action not words; time for reimagining the refugee welcome movement. The time is now!

Congrats to TELCO - Organising as the work of Head, Hands and Heart!

 

On 29th November TELCO, Citizen UK’s oldest chapter celebrated its belated 25th anniversary in the presence of 1129 community leaders that came from 89 institutions from across East London.  The anniversary showcased stories, music, reflection and above all a great sense of togetherness. What stood out for me was the leadership development since it last celebrated its anniversary. New, diversified and energetic leaders taking charge and running the assembly and celebration with grace and power.

The TELCO anniversary reflected on the origins of the Living Wage campaign;  its growth ever since and why we should keep pushing boundaries to get as many organisations as possible and encourage them to pay the Real Living Wage. It also showed the stories of the citizens for sanctuary campaign, especially that of strangers into citizens campaign and why Citizens UK is still working round the clock to see an immigration system that can deliver welcome.

In short, what the assembly showed was what Marshall Ganz puts organising to be. Ganz often says,  “through organising, you develop leaders, you build organisations, and you also solve problems.”

TELCO, through its organising has achieved all what Ganz and other great organisers and scholars teach. TELCO has led the way and it is down to the other chapters of Citizens UK across the country to follow suit and keep the good fight going.

Once again, congrats to TELCO. Please keep sharing the good and inspirational stories of the many good fights TECLO and Citizens UK have fought over the past 3 decades to inspire many organisers and community leaders.

Well done to Emmanuel Gotora and team Citizens UK 🙌🏿

Compassion is what matters most – the time is now

 

As our TV screens, newspapers and social media outlets bring more and more atrocious news about the worsening refugee crisis, fellow humans drowning in oceans, seas, and channels, there is a natural call for us to do the decent thing. All we need is compassion and avail more and more safe routes. All we need is to question why this is happening and how we can support fellow humans.  After all these people are the most vulnerable in our collective human family and deserve our love, empathy, and care as they have already been through lots of hardships.

The desperation of people on the move and their travels through extremely perilous situations is a stark reminder that people will take any risk to go out of the situation they are in unless we have safe and legal routes to help them. One of my  friends often says, “You won’t leave home unless home has the mouth of a shark.” People take risks than falling into the mouths of sharks. People run away to go into the unknown over the known danger. It is very natural to run for safety. Because hope is what almost everybody has. Hoping for better days and life despite all the challenges and sufferings of the day and on the way.

I have read and heard many good initiatives and ideas on what could and should be done to address the crisis. The need for being proactive and collaborative. The need for addressing our collective human responsibilities and moral obligations in the sense of urgency and with more plans in the long run. As someone who has travelled a lot across the United Kingdom and around the world, I know that there are many great people in this country and globally who are doing everything possible to support fellow humans. I know many people who are on the right side of history. I wholeheartedly believe the good outweighs the challenges.

It is time to rethink. Time to revisit our systems. Time to check as to when all the safe and legal routes would be open to those who need them most. How we can widen the welcome and meet expectations. How can we  make sure people seeking protection are given the protection they deserve? How can we make sure those stuck in the immigration system are properly dealt with and compassionately? In short how can we make the system fit for purpose and more compassionate?

As we celebrate Refugee Week 2023, I want to join many others in  calling for more compassion and positive actions. I want us to find ways to bring wider civil society, businesses, and others on board so that we all contribute to the Refugees Welcome work. To make the  Community Sponsorship of Refugees scheme more accessible and attractive to existing and potential  community sponsors by introducing a system that is more appealing and addressing many good interests. The time is now to have a compassionate approach to the worsening crises. More deeds than words!

Nonviolence is the only better option, as violence invites violence

 

“I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people”- Rosa Parks

We have had numerous nonviolent struggles around the world that not only were successful, but also avoided cycle of violence. Hence nonviolence is the only better option, no matter what the challenge might be. It may take time to get what we want, but worth the wait than to resort to violence. All needed is patience, perseverance, clear strategy and visionary leadership.

When we resort to nonviolence, every life matters for us. Even the lives of those we do not agree with. That is the bottom line and a great benchmark for organising ourselves to wage nonviolent struggles. As we design our strategy for our nonviolent struggles, the first and most important question that comes is, ‘would our struggle put the lives of others at risk?’ If so, we need to rethink and rethink again to avoid endangering the lives of others.

When we hear stories like that of Rosa Perks, who had the courage to refuse giving up her seat to a white passenger on the bus she was travelling on 1st December 1955, we would ask what happened next? Why did she do it and what was the outcome? We know that despite her action and subsequent arrest, it took coordinated actions and nonviolent struggles to stop the segregation. It took 13 months of bus boycott and sacrifice until the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional

If we take the suffragette movements, they took a great deal of organising and nonviolent struggles to succeed. Despite the resistance these movements faced, those who led the movements did not resort to violence and didn’t endanger lives of others. We did in fact see some direct actions, including actions on properties, but that didn’t put lives of others at risk.

In the 21st century, however, we have seen more and more violence; and groups with differing views resorting to force and violence to fulfill their demands. The violence we have seen around the world have been very deadly, costly and have brought cycle of violence and mistrust. We cannot afford to be in such a cycle of violence; and hence have to reorganise ourselves in a nonviolent way as the only option for achieving what we want to achieve. We need to learn from our successes, work on our shortcomings and mistakes, and revisit our strategies to make our struggles fit for purpose, inclusive and contemporary. Tribalism, ethnic politics, the attitude of ‘I and my group are better’ would not take us any where; as it is an outdated thinking. It would not also help us to achieve our objectives as collective humans with unique personalities that are interdependent. Equally if we are stuck in the victimhood mentality, it is vital to have a rethink. After all, we are only once in this world and have a lot to work together as collective humans, with a world big enough for all of us to live in unanimity. If we are still in the thinking of ‘I and my’ instead of ‘we and us’ attitude, we need to rework on our paradigm without delay.

In nonviolent movements, we need to see who can be with us and strengthen our allies’ base. We need to be clear be on why our allies should be with us as we wage our struggles in a nonviolent way. What does it mean for them and consequently for all of us? Thinking about humanity in general, where everyone of us have a part and contributions to make. In our nonviolent struggles, the winners should be all of us; nothing less. Hence as we sit down to strategize, we have to think on ‘Why’ our nonviolent struggles are important. It should be noticeably clear on where we want to go together and how we would go there.

As we can see from Marin Luther King’s six principles for nonviolent struggles, we get even more enlightened on why we should resort to this form of struggles today more than ever. Here are MLK’s 6 principles on nonviolence:-

“Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people; nonviolence seeks to win friendships and understanding; nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice or evil, not people; nonviolence holds that unearned, voluntary suffering for a just cause can educate and transform people and societies; nonviolence chooses love instead of hate; and nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.”

Powerful message from MLK. Nonviolence is the only option to win and thrive together.

 

Memorable days in Nepal, a country in between mountains

A few months ago I had an email from Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh, Co-Founder and Director of Solidarity 2020 and Beyond about an event that was going to take place in Kathmandu, Nepal. As a long-standing member of the Solidarity network, the intended event was something that I would take highly. By then, I didn’t know if I could get the time to join such a great initiative in person. After some negotiations with relevant people in the UK, I not only confirmed my attendance, but also asked how I could be of use during my days in a country surrounded by the Himalayan mountains, including Mount Everest, which is the highest of Himalayas and also the highest on earth.

After lots of virtual meetings, debates and meticulous planning, the time to fly to Kathmandu, capital of Nepal was nearing. 80 participants from about 45 countries had confirmed their attendance. A welcome group formed by one for the veteran civic leaders in Nepal, our brother Ram Bhandari, was finalising its preparations to welcome its esteemed guests. Session leaders, facilitators and convenors had started to finalise their preparations. The Solidarity 2020 and Beyond team bringing the many dots together. ‘Story of us’ in action!

For me, in addition to preparing for the sessions I was going to facilitate and lead, doing research about Nepal was important. The people, culture, food, places to visit and folks to build relationships with. In doing so, I Knew the time difference between the UK and Nepal is 5:45 hours. Nepal is ahead. Unique time difference! I also knew Nepal was never colonised and that it is a landlocked country fully surrounded by India and China. Yet it has it unique nature.

As folks from around the world started to update us about their journeys and at times challenges departing from airports, we got even more excited to hear the stories in person and meet fellow comrades. Many had paid sacrifices to be at the event. Some had travelled on camels; others on buses, trains and all sorts of treacherous journeys to get to the nearest airports. Courage is what it takes to reach the intended destination. Kudos to all who did it🙌🏿

As soon as we all gathered in Kathmandu, the city of wooden temple, we were accorded kind welcome, and the business kicked off. Sharing and learning! Many great sessions through out the 5 days together. Great organising; great leadership development and commitment to share. At times debates and constructive alternatives. We also took time to celebrate the work we have done together. Recognise colleagues, visit places and enjoy cultural food and music. Among the most exceptional moments was the dinner at local traditional restaurant called Bhojan Griha, where we were served with mouth watering food, traditional drinks and uplifting and enjoyable music. Below is a short video about this great event.

The best of #Nepal

As we gather in Kathmandu, Nepal for #S2020BNepal conference, there is a lot to enjoy & appreciate in this very welcoming country.

Community Organisers, Human rights defenders, activists & civic leaders who have come from 45 countries are being entertained by… pic.twitter.com/VtmteZWi06

— 𝘽𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙖 (@BekeleWoyecha) March 18, 2023

We also had some amazing moments in between. One of the most heart warming moments was led by people with sight loss and visual impairment.

The best of #Nepal

As we gather in Kathmandu, Nepal for #S2020BNepal conference, there is a lot to enjoy & appreciate in this very welcoming country.

Community Organisers, Human rights defenders, activists & civic leaders who have come from 45 countries are being entertained by… pic.twitter.com/VtmteZWi06

— 𝘽𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙖 (@BekeleWoyecha) March 18, 2023

Also another wonderful opportunity to visit Monkey Temple, which is utterly gorgeous and worth visiting when one is Nepal.

Following 5 days of many workshops, talks, discussions, public actions and deliberations, we had the Kathmandu 2023 Declaration, which was endorsed by all the participants. And yes, it was then the turn of Arnab Chakraborty and his team to take us to the last event of the conference. An opportunity to celebrate togetherness. An opportunity to reaffirm our solidarity and commit to work together as children of the world.

Special thanks to Katherine and the amazing team for working round the clock to see this through. Thanks also to individuals and organisations who sponsored this great initiative. Thanks to all who made it to Kathmandu from around the world. Together we will make our world a better place to live in. God willing we will meet again. As our friend Sungu Oyoo often says, “it is Africa’s time.” I endorse it and hope to see our next solidarity convening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Till then we will keep our watchful eyes open and deliver our best as organised global citizens.

After all, we are the world!

We're the world!

Community Organizers, activists, human right defenders, scholars & civic leaders from across 45 countries together in Kathmandu, Nepal for a conference organised by @solidarity20203

Great to be with folks with vision that is big & far reaching.
#S2020BNepal pic.twitter.com/CRlAnrR4C5

— 𝘽𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙖 (@BekeleWoyecha) March 21, 2023

Nonviolence is the way - another opportunity to learn and share

 “We adopt the means of nonviolence because our end is a community at peace with itself. We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts.”- Martin Luther King

In June 2016 about 50 of us from around the world gathered in Boston, USA, for an  Advanced Study of Nonviolent Conflict, which took place at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. The fellowship sponsored by ICNC was successful by many standards. It not only brought together activists, campaigners, community organisers and civic leaders from across the world, but also availed the tools necessary to organise civic activism in a nonviolent way and paved ways for the participants to work together and support one another in any way possible. Some of us met in between in different countries and continents including in the US, Asia, Europe and Africa which helped us to reconnect and strategize together as we all aspire to see a better world for all of us and work to achieve that.

I still remember the powerful message from Rev Dr. James Lawson, one of the most prominent civil rights movement leaders in the US who worked along with Martin Luther King. As he delivered his lecture in an engaging and thought-provoking way, Rev Lawson said,  “You may not see change in your generation, but you must make sure you sow the seeds of change so that the next generation or the generation after may benefit from.” That message has stayed with me and many others ever since.

Here is a short video of his lecture

As we prepare to gather for the Solidarity 2020 and Beyond International Peace and Leadership Conference that will take place in Kathmandu, Nepal, there is excitement in most of us at this will be an opportunity to reconnect,  hear stories of success and challenges whilst sharing and learning from one another. Kudos to the organizers of the forthcoming conference, in particular the tireless Katherine Hughes-Fraitekh, who is always on the move to share her years of learning and experiences. Keep it going!

What would make the forthcoming conference different is that it will mostly be led by moderators, convenors and facilitators that are part of the movement and come as participants. Great opportunity to bring stories to inspire and challenge to act whilst teaching tools that help to wage struggles for issues that matter most in a nonviolent way.

A better, tolerant, inclusive and peaceful world is possible. It takes us all to achieve that.

If you want to see change, be the change!

 

We often want to see others speak like us, behave like us, think like us and do everything like us. That’s where we get it wrong.

 

We should remember that we all have our own unique nature and personal gifts. Each of us are unique and different. Yet we have many things in common. Many things to agree or disagree based on how we process what we see, hear, and in general sense.

 

The question often unasked and that remains unanswered is ‘how often do you do proper research and subsequent actions on your mental faculties?’

 

It is vital to step back and reflect on self. Vital to see:-

 

📍 The importance of working on your mental faculties and the need to focus on the person you want to be.

📍 The importance of getting into the habit of doing it now. Today is the day.

📍 The importance of trusting yourself, believing in your capacity, working on your challenges, and keeping up on your great accomplishments. .

📍 The importance of stretching. Do not be limited by what you see or think. Take time to reimagine.

📍 The importance of Discipline – which needs a due attention. Discipline matters most. 

 

Hence it is always important to have time to reflect, evaluate and be honest to yourself before taking actions. Even if you don’t want to act, you  need to have convincing reasons as you don’t want to regret your inactions at some point in time.

 

The bottom line is that you have to revisit your mental facilities and take actions on each of them as and when needed. Go into the habit of taking actions if you are keen to see changes/reactions. Through the process you empower yourself and consequently help others empower themselves.

 

#leadership #Mindset 

 

1 Book for Ethiopia - ፩ መፅሐፍ ለኢትዮጵያ

 

Books enlighten. Books equip. Books entertain. Books empower. The benefits of books are countless. To get these enormous benefits, access to books is vital.  

That is why we should have the determination to collect as many books as possible from across the world for the libraries in Ethiopia. Helping the extremely limited libraries we have across Ethiopia with books is more than important. It is very encouraging to see the likes of Abrehot Library at the centre  of Addis. Equally it is vital to equip this library and others with books needed. It is also important to think about the next libraries that should be built across Ethiopia. Together we have a responsibility to build a generation that is better and informed. We have a responsibility to have a generation that has access to information and consequently to knowledge. A future generation with better opportunities.

That is why we should challenge friends and good intentioned people around the world to think of providing at least one book for Ethiopia. Those who have capacity should also organise themselves, build libraries, and provide the libraries with books and useful library products. It is all about doing the right thing at the right time. It is all about investing in a generation that will look after our common world responsibly. It is all about shaping our collective future and helping the future generation to triumph.

Let my thought be your thoughts and consequently our thoughts. Let us transform our libraries together. Let us also think of building libraries in every corner of Ethiopia and equip them with what they need. It is only the will. They say, ‘ where there is a will, there is a way’.

Those who feed you, control you!

 

Ethiopia’s current wheat production is beyond the expectations of many. A country as big as Ethiopia; a country with large fertile lands as Ethiopia; a country with more than 80% of its population dependent on farming; a country with more than 110 million people of which around 65% are less than 30 years of age should have been self sufficient when it comes to the production of wheat and other agricultural products. Poor policies, bad governance, absence of sustainable peace, intermittent drought are among  the reasons for the low productivity so far.

That is no more the case as Ethiopia has now reshaped its policies and got determined to be among the top wheat producers in Africa and the world. According to the US Department of Agriculture, ‘Wheat production in Ethiopia for 2022/23 is projected at a record level of 5.7 million Metric Tons while corn forecasted to 10.2 million Metric Tons.’ About 600,000 additional hectares of wheat planted in 2022 alone, according to Bloomberg. This is praiseworthy and worth celebrating.

This is a great achievement for Ethiopia and highly commendable. We say well done to Ethiopia for great wheat production in every corner of the country. It is believed that there will be enough wheat firstly for Ethiopia; then for export. This is one of the most important policies any government should have. Be self-sufficient!

As Ethiopia takes the lead, it is hoped that other African  countries follow the suit and strive to be self sufficient. This is something to take seriously and duplicate in every corner of the continent.

In the meantime we say Keep going Ethiopia!  Rise up fellow Africans. Time to work together and shape our own destinies.

ዲያስፖራው ለሀገሩ ፣ ኢትዮጵያን በጋራ ወደ ከፍታ

 

የዲያስፖራ ኮሚኒቲዉ ወደ ሀገር ቤት በብዛት ለመግባት እየተዘጋጀ ባለበት በአሁኑ ወቅት ብዙ ነገሮችን ማሰብ ተገቢ ነው። ዲያስፖራው ወደ ሀገር ቤት መግባቱ በራሱ ፖለቲካዊ ፣ ኢኮኖሚያዊና ማህበራዊ ጠቀሜታው ብዙ ነው። ዲያስፖራው ብዙ ማድረግ ይቻላል። ይህ ጊዜ ከምንም ጊዜ በላይ ለሀገራችን ገንዘባችንን ፣ እውቀታችንን ፣ ጉልበታችንን ፣ ልምዳችንን የምንሰጥበትና በጦርነት ለተጎዱ ወገኖች ተግባራዊ ስራ በመስራት ለወገኖቻችን አለኝታ መሆናችንን የምናሳይበት ነው:: በሀገር ቤት ያሉ እንደ ውጭ ጉዳይ ሚኒስቴር፣ ዲያስፖራ ኤጀንሲ ፣ የቱሪዝም ሚኒስቴር ፣ አደጋና መከላከል ኮሚሽን፣ ትምህርት ሚኒስቴር ፣ ጤና ጥበቃ ሚኒስቴርና ሌሎች ሲቪክና ልዩ ልዩ ተቋማት በተቀናጀና በተናበበ መልኩ አጋጣሚውን ሊጠቀሙበት ይገባል። ዲያስፖራው በቡድን በመሆነ በተለይ በጦርነቱ በተጎዱ አካባቢዎች እንደ ትምህርት ቤት ግንባታ ፣ የጤና ተቋማት ግንባታና በጣም ወሳኝ በሆኑ የመሰረተ ልማት ስራ ላይ እንዲሰማራ ሁኔታዎች ሊመቻቹለት ይገባል። ዲያስፖራው ለሀገሩ ያለውን ፍቅር በዓለም ዙሪያ አሳይቷል። በተጨማሪው ብዙ አቅም እንዳለውም አሳይቷል። ዋናውና ወሳኙ ጥያቄ ይህንን የዲያስፖራውን እምቅ አቅም ለመጠቅም ዝግጁ ነን ወይ የሚለው ላይ ነው። ለዚህ ተግባራዊነት በተለይ የውጭ ጉዳይ ሚ/ር ከፍተኛ ኃላፊነት አለበት።

ከላይ የተጠቀሱት አስቸኳይና ወቅታዊ ተግባራትን ማከናወን እንዳለ ሆኖ ዘላቂና አሳታፊ እቅዶችን ማዘጋጀትና ለተግባራዊ እንቅስቃሴ መዘጋጀት ኢትዮጵያ በጋራ ወደ ከፍታ ለመውሰድ ጠቀሜታው ብዙ ነው።

በተጨማሪም ዲያስፖራው በግሉና በተደራጀ መልኩ ብዙ ነገሮችን ማከናወን ይችላል።

የሚከተሉትን ማከናወን ለሞራል እርካታ ከማገዙም በላይ ሀገራዊ ግዴታን ለመወጣት ይጠቅማል።

1. የውይይት መድረኮችን፣ ኮንፈራንሶችን፣ ልዩ ልዩ ዐውደ ጥናቶችን በማዘጋጀት ህዝባችን የተገኙትን ለውጦች እውቀቱን፣ ገንዘቡን፣ ጊዜውን በመስጠት በተግባር ማገዝ እንዲችል ማበረታታት።

2. ከሚመለከታቸው አካላት ጋር በመነጋገር ዜጎች የገንዝብ እገዛ እንዲያደርጉና ገንዘባቸውም ለታቀደለት ዓላማ እንዲውል ንቁ ተሳትፎ ማድረግ።

3. ዜጎቻችን ወደ ሀገራቸው በመሄድ እወቀታቸውንና ጊዜያቸውን ለወገኖቻቸው እንዲያካፍሉ ማበረታታት።

4. ዜጎቻችን ከሀገር ቤት የሚያገኙትን እውቀትና ልምድ በሚኖሩበት ሀገር ለሚገኙ ወገኖች ማካፈል የሚችሉበትን መድረክ ማመቻቸት።

5. ዜጎች የውጭ ትምህርት እድል እንዲያገኙ ጥረት ማድረግ፣ አስፈላጊ ሆኖ ሲግኝ በተደራጀ መልኩ ማገዝ።

6. ኢንቨስትመንት ወደ ሀገር ቤት እንዲገባ ማበረታታት።

7. ሀገራችን ከቱሪስቶች ጉብኝት የውጭ ምንዛሬ ልታገኝ የምትችለበትን ሁኔታ መፍጠር ።

8. ዜጎች ህጋዊ በሆኑ የገንዘብ አስተላላፊ ድርጅቶች በመጠቀም ሀገራችን የወጭ ምንዛሪ እንድታገኝ ማድረግ።

እነዚህንና ሌሎች ተግባራትን በተደራጅ መልኩ በማከናወን ሀገራዊ ግዴታን በመወጣት ከህሊና ወቀሳም መዳን ይቻላል። ከምንም በላይ ግን ለዲሞክራሲያዊ ተቋማት ግንባታ ዲያስፖራው ከፍተኛ እገዛ ማድረግ ይችላል ። ይጠበቅበታልም።

Coup in the Sudan – what does it mean for Ethiopia?

Late 2018 and early 2019 was monumental for Sudan. The people of Sudan were defiant in their persistent struggles for change. Their struggles to bring change was mostly led by young people and women. We remember the iconic Alaa Salah, whose photo went viral globally. She was just inspirational.

Following the removal of long-time dictator Omar Al Bashir, Ethiopia supported the people of Sudan as they worked on their transition. Ethiopia indeed played a significant role in those days. The people of Sudan had hopes and aspirations. Civil society started to flourish. There were many positive developments.  Young people and women, who were very instrumental in bringing down Al Bashir were confident Sudan was on the right track.

Yet things have been complicated for over a year now. The Sudanese leadership was unpredictable. Sudan's stand on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) was very confusing and unethical. At times Sudan was not defending its own interests and was not ready to compromise despite calls from concerned Sudanese intellectuals. It was  rather acting to satisfy the demands of Egypt, which was very unfortunate for Sudan. To make Sudan’s relationship with Ethiopia even worse and complicate things further, Sudan has been accused of supporting TPLF terrorist group that is waging war on Ethiopia, an important strategic neighbour of the Sudan. In short Sudan’s policy on Ethiopia was very confused depending on the civil or military leadership. Initially it sounded that Sudan’s civil government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok wanted to work with Ethiopia constructively, although it had challenges from the military, which has strong ties with Egypt.

The past one year therefore has been a challenge for Sudan’s Prime Minister, who was going through lots of pressure not only internally but also from western powers, especially the United Sates. USAID’s administrator Samantha Power was one of those putting undue pressure on Sudan and pushing it to the edge. For Administrator Power, it was all about getting what she wanted to achieve, not about Sudan’s strategic interest. It was about the Humanitarianism pretext and demanding changes at a pace Sudan was not able to cope with.

 

October 2021 was full of protests and unpredictability for Sudan. It is to be recalled Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, United States special Envoy for the Horn of Africa has been in the Sudan twice in a month time. Mr. Feltman who is not trusted by many in the Horn Of Africa had just departed the Sudan, when the military deposed the Civil government of Prime Minister Hamdok.  To make it even worse, the military has now declared state of Emergency and once again showed that it is not ready to hand over power to a civilian led government.  The hopes of those who sacrificed a lot in 2018 and 2019 and most recently are still on the air.

What does this change mean for Ethiopia?

The relationship between Ethiopia and Sudan has been very fragile for over a year now. Ethiopia and Sudan have yet to work on their boarder disputes, especially that of al-Fashaga. That would undoubtedly take time and patience to resolve. Ethiopia also wants Sudan to stop offering shelter to TPLF fighters, who fled to Sudan but have been training in the Sudan and trying to return to Ethiopia to join the TPLF terrorist group. Ethiopia is keen to see positive cooperation and a win-win situation on the stalled negotiation of the GERD. Ethiopia is keen to see a stable and prosperous Sudan that is ready to work with its neighbours constructively. That is why the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Issued a statement following the coup in the Sudan.

Statement of the Government of #Ethiopia on the Current Situation in the #Sudan pic.twitter.com/gxbSIIElp2

— MFA Ethiopia🇪🇹 (@mfaethiopia) October 25, 2021

In the meantime, Ethiopia has to be cautious and follow the situation in the Sudan very closely, whilst preparing itself for every eventuality. One thing is for sure, a strong and united Ethiopia is vital for the stability of the region as Ethiopia is an anchor country. That is what western powers ignore intentionally and support all those against Ethiopia.

Ethiopia could play vital roles as in the 2019 negotiation between the military and civil society if the need arises once again.

See how Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was hailed for brokering the Sudan deal in 2019.

#Ethiopia supported the people of Sudan as they worked on their transition. It played a significant role. That is why we say a strong & united Ethiopia is vital for the stability of the region as an anchor country.

See how PM #AbiyAhmed was hailed for brokering the Sudan deal👇🏾 pic.twitter.com/WC0YeelWvi

— 𝘽𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙖 🧡 (@BekeleWoyecha) October 25, 2021