Jean Himo_open-mic_Nov122024



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Letter 9: It is happening again

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Letters From The Ground 9: It is happening again From: Mohamad Hamdan - Engineer in Mathematics, Practitioner in Theatre, Practitioner in Nonviolent Communication To: Colleagues working across cultural and development policymaking, cultural foundations and institutions and donor bodies -Read in Arabic- -Read in French- Preface I write this letter as my country - Lebanon - and region are under attack. I write as a way to resist, surrounded by the sound of drones, missiles, and bombings. I write because what is happening here is not isolated from what is unfolding on a larger, global scale. Here, it is more intense, more visible. What we live and witness is part of a broader system of control, domination, and oppression worldwide. I hope to contribute to the conversation on art and culture in such times, as they remain at the core of human development. I also wish to contribute to a space for reflection on how we can practice art and culture with political clarity and a deeper awaren...
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Letter 7: On Nonviolence, Communication and Power

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My room in Nabatieh, South Lebanon - damaged by Israeli bombing Fall 2024 ( Photo by Mohamad Hamdan ) Letters From The Ground 7: On Nonviolence, Communication and Power From: Mohamad Hamdan - Mathematician, Practitioner in Theatre, Practitioner in Nonviolent Communication To: Nonviolent Communication colleagues -Read in Arabic- Abstract I write this letter as a Lebanese Nonviolent Communication (NVC) practitioner seeking to engage with NVC as a tool for self-connection, interpersonal harmony, and a means of transformative social change. I hope to contribute to an essential conversation about cultivating safer spaces within NVC learning and training—especially for those who frequently experience violence. NVC envisions a world where all needs are seen and cared for. In that spirit, I invite reflection on how trainers design lessons and learning environments: to honor the integrity of the practice, support safe and effective learning, and recognize the complex power dynamics present—...
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Letter 1: From What Remains

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Letters From The Ground 1: From What Remains From Zoukak Collective To Artists and Cultural Workers, thinkers, writers, philosophers in the US, EU and Commonwealth countries, Imagine. A father hugging a shoe box, holding the unrecognisable remains of his son.  From what remains, we write you this letter.  From what remains, we see the story. The story that we find ourselves avoiding when you ask us how we are doing. In what remains there is no space for politeness. There is no space for resilience.  In what remains nestles honesty.  What remains is what we face; the shoe boxes of our realities. When you ask how we are doing we find no words. What we can tell is what we face. We are facing military technologies based on artificial intelligence and weapons that are internationally prohibited. Israel targets our civilians, families, journalists, writers, thinkers, artists, social workers, medical and relief professionals, and political leaders. It destroys our cities, v...
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