MEPEP Los Angeles

About the Program

Mission and Principles
Highlights

Middle East Calendar

Palestinian Olive Oil

Prayer Vigil

Challenge the Media

For Teachers

Resources and Links

What You Can Do

 

 

Mission Statement and Principles

Mission Statement

AFSC's Middle East Peace Education Program (MEPEP) in Los Angeles strives to increase Southern California public understanding of the Middle East, its peoples, and its conflicts, and to encourage an appropriate US role in the region based on peace, justice and human dignity.

MEPEP is committed to the peaceful and just resolution of conflicts. We sponsor non-violent programs that contribute to the fulfillment of this end, such as public events, education, literature, media exposure and advocacy, and when necessary, public protest, MEPEP seeks to foster a more informed and engaged US public in three key areas:

1) the Israeli-Palestinian/Arab conflict;

2) the ongoing military and economic war on the people of Iraq; and

3) domestic issues impacting religious and ethnic Middle Eastern communities in the US.

MEPEP closely monitors the political situation in the Middle East and adopts other focus areas as necessary.

The Los Angeles-based Middle East Program is rooted in the experience and contacts of AFSC's programs in the Middle East, which is part of a worldwide effort of a number of Quaker organizations, including the Quaker United Nations Offices in New York and Geneva, Quaker Peace and Service, Friends World Committee for Consultation, and Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Principles

MEPEP Los Angeles is guided by the following principles in its work:

MEPEP supports nonviolent alternatives to international conflict. Recognizing that conflict situations are complex, MEPEP seeks to understand and address the root causes of poverty, injustice, and war. It nonviolently confronts powerful institutions of violence, oppression, and injustice. Wherever possible, MEPEP supports efforts to foster dialogue and reconciliation between enemies and to facilitate a peaceful and just resolution of conflict.

MEPEP considers the United Nations and the equitable application of international law the starting point for negotiations in international conflicts. UNSC 242 and 338, the Fourth Geneva Conventions, as well as the rights of Palestinian refugees under international law, are especially applicable in the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

MEPEP affirms internationally recognized human rights as the foundation for building peace. The freedoms of religion, assembly, speech, free press, education, nutrition, civil rights-to name just a few-are fundamental to the functioning of a healthy society. The safety and security of all people-regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political orientation, nationality or ethnicity-must be safeguarded; one people cannot exercise their rights at the expense of another.

MEPEP recognizes that all peoples in the region have the right to self-determination, specifically the right to live as sovereign peoples in their own homeland. This is a right which the Palestinians have yet to realize, and which the Iraqis have had taken from them.

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