World BEYOND War is pleased to cosponsor this event with Abraham Path Initiative .

How can walking lay a path for a world beyond war? The Abraham Path Initiative (API) has been developing walking trails in Southwest Asia (aka “the Middle East”) since 2007. This U.S.-based NGO promotes walking as a tool for economic development, intercultural experiences, and fostering friendships across the challenging divides of our times. When basic needs are met and people are seen in the fullness of their humanity, a foundation for fruitful engagement becomes possible. When people walk together toward a shared destination, their visions for what may be possible also align.

In this webinar, we explore the work, successes, and challenges of creating walking trails in a region known for conflict. We meet API’s executive director and its consultant in Iraq. The conversation will be moderated by Salma Yusuf, Advisory Board Member of World BEYOND War, and Q&A facilitated by David Swanson, Executive Director of World BEYOND War.

World BEYOND War and the Abraham Path Initiative co-host this lively discussion on how stable, community-based tourism may be a pathway to peace, and how to get involved in future peace walks.

Speakers:

Anisa Mehdi is Executive Director of the Abraham Path Initiative. An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Anisa brings years of storytelling and production expertise to this US-based not-for-profit organization. She is the first American to report the Hajj pilgrimage for television from location in Arabia. Anisa is a graduate of Wellesley College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Laween Mohammed lives in Erbil, Iraq, where he leads Abraham Path Initiative trail development and cultural heritage preservation projects. He was a professor of English Literature in Syria until he fled during the civil war. Laween is fluent in Kurdish, English, and Arabic.

David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is cofounder and executive director of World BEYOND War and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. Swanson’s books include War Is A Lie. He blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org. He hosts Talk World Radio. He is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and was awarded the 2018 Peace Prize by the U.S. Peace Memorial Foundation.

Salma Yusuf is a member of World BEYOND War’s Advisory Board. She is a Sri Lankan Lawyer and a Global Human Rights, Peace-building and Transitional Justice Consultant providing services to organizations at the international, regional, and national levels including to governments, multilateral and bilateral agencies, international and national civil society, non-governmental organizations, regional and national institutions.