Annapolis Friends Peace and Justice Center

We are a networking center for peace and justice, providing resources and support for conflict transformation and collaborative problem solving.

• We partner with community groups to complement and facilitate conflict transformation and peace-making efforts in the Annapolis area.
• We offer training in conflict transformation skills to develop a core of individuals to facilitate projects and sponsor programs relevant to community needs.
• We build on previously established relationships with Israeli and Palestinian promoters of the Geneva Accord.
• We are establishing a partnering relationship with Admiral Oaks community

Palestinian-Israeli Water Rights Negotiations

GENEVA INITIATIVE WATER TREATY COMPLETED

As Israeli, Palestinian and U.S. governments struggle with the “Track I” peace negotiations, Geneva Initiative (GI) non-governmental (NGO) representatives have completed a “Track II” dialog on a central conflict between their people: how water should be allocated fairly and with cooperation to face drought and other environmental problems.

Palestinians and Israelis each sent five-member delegations, including both technical experts and representatives with close ties to their governments, for three days of intense discussions in August 2008 in Maryland on the difficult water issues.   Annapolis Friends Peace and Justice Center recruited, as advisors, U.S. experts in the fields of engineering, economics, and water law, as well as mediators including a retired U.N. ambassador.

The draft water agreement has been finalized and offered to government and Geneva Accord officials as a possible framework for water cooperation in the "final status agreement" that would bring peace to Israelis and Palestinians.

GENEVA INITIATIVE MEDIA DIALOG PROPOSED

Following successful water cooperation talks in 2008, Geneva Initiative (GI) and non-governmental representatives continue with practical “Track II” talks to overcome the toughest obstacles to peace. This year, the GI hopes to come to grips with Israeli and Palestinian media bias: Both peoples get their primary news and opinion from one-sided television coverage which encourages each to see themselves as victims while ignoring the suffering of the other.

  GI and Annapolis Friends Peace and Justice Center, as dialog co-sponsors, hope to organize a public broadcasting dialog in late summer 2009 with advisors from U.S. media such as NPR, PBS, C-SPAN and You Tube. Currently, only one radio station is operated jointly by Israelis and Palestinians with the intent of encouraging mutual understanding and support for peace.  

The dialog will seek to help Israeli and Palestinian leaders agree on plans for creation of new media for “enhancing mutual understanding," “exchanging historical narratives,” and “promoting the culture of peace and dialog” (wording from Geneva Accord Article 7, Section 14). They will explore (i) means for maintaining unbiased content, (ii) the technical requirements involved, and (iii) the economics of expanding shared, peace-supporting media to include television, internet and more.

Help Increase the Peace (HIP)

The Quaker Peace testimony leads us to search for ways to address the causes of and alternatives to conflict. Help Increase the Peace (HIP) brings skills and tools to youth who are looking for alternatives to violence in their daily lives. It uses brainstorming, cooperative games, creative problem solving, role plays, and listening circles to help participants learn peaceable behaviors.   Youth practice being inclusive, accepting, and respectful to all people.   In the exercises they search for root causes of prejudice, hate, abuse, and violence. Building trust, appreciating differences, and recognizing social and economic injustices are part of the experience.

In 2008, we introduced HIP to Annapolis through the Boys and Girls Clubs. Fifteen Program Directors, Assistants, and other community youth leaders got a taste of interpersonal conflict resolution, restorative justice, and HIP.   Following this, teenage participants enjoyed HIP training.   In addition, staff working with a first-offenders youth program through Light of the World Family Ministries took a full train-the-trainer workshop.

Alternatives to Violence

Three Annapolis Friends Meeting members are participating in the Quaker "Alternatives to Violence" Program in the men's prison in Jessup. They hope to expand the training to the women's prison and through churches and non-profits so these necessary skills can develop throughout our community.
 

Admiral Oaks Housing Partnership

The Friends Peace and Justice Center has begun a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club in the Admiral Oaks housing community to work with both adults and young people. We hope to conduct a listening project to determine residents' needs. Three areas we anticipate helping with are (i) jobs and incomes (e.g., developing skills for job searches, resume writing, interviewing), (ii) families (e.g., parenting, child development) and (iii) food (e.g., good nutrition on a limited income, community garden). Other possible programs may include problem solving/dealing with conflict, money management, and mentoring/homework support.