David Rose

David Rose is an MIT lecturer, inventor, and five-time entrepreneur who envisions future products and businesses enabled by design and new technology. His work spans various domains, blending creativity with cutting-edge innovation to transform how we interact with the world.

In his first book, “Enchanted Objects,” David explored how everyday items can be imbued with intelligence and connectivity. He founded and sold several companies, including Vitality, which introduced the GlowCap, a cellular-connected pill cap, Ambient Devies, and Ditto Labs, an AI-driven computer vision company. 

As VP of Vision Technology at Warby Parker, he led the use of AI to improve eye tests and virtual try-ons.

David is known for translating complex technologies into intuitive products, helping businesses thrive during digital disruption. His innovative approach has earned him recognition in both academic and commercial sectors.

David’s work has been featured at the New York Museum of Modern Art, and covered in The New York Times, WIRED, and The Economist. His home was showcased in a New York Times video titled “The Internet of Things,” highlighting inventions, such as a Google Earth coffee table, Skype cabinetry, and a Mrs. Weasley’s clock-inspired doorbell. He even made John Stewart laugh during his appearance on The Daily Show.

Currently, as the CEO of LOOKOUT, where his team is using AI and augmented reality to reinvent safe marine navigation. He has taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the MIT Media Lab, and the MIT School of Architecture,  and contributes to Forbes, sharing insights on technological advancements.

David is an accomplished singer, sailor, and proponent of micromobility commuting on an electric cargo-bike. 

I first met David playing pickleball at my local Brookline Coolidge Park court - where else does one meet people these days? I had earlier noticed his parked cargo bike while walking Remi and was intrigued. I always thought that when I would finally meet such a rider it would be an MIT guy. Confirmed! A wonderful eclectic conversation ensued. He knew MIT's Media Lab remarkable Michael Hawley, who helped inspire and encouraged me to create Convisero and I was certain this would become a promising relationship. David might finally even be the person to enable me to create the graphic visualization I've dreamed of to make our increasingly complex  Convisero network accessible,  Phase one, I've introduced LOOKOUT to another of my wonderful network friends, Jim Gilbert, who is very interested in a conversation with David to learn more. 

Can this conference inspire a new Israeli-Palestinian peace movement?

Maoz Inon (left) and Aziz Abu Sarah (right), Israeli and Palestinian peace activists. (Uri Levy)

For activists Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah, reviving a joint peace effort that learns from past obstacles is ‘the biggest antidote to extremism.’

By Oren Ziv

Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah are an unlikely pair. Inon, 49, is an Israeli tourism entrepreneur and the founder of Abraham Hostels. He lost both of his parents, who lived on Kibbutz Netiv HaAsara, during the Hamas-led assault on October 7.

Abu Sarah, 44, is a Palestinian peace activist, journalist, and tourism entrepreneur who founded MEJDI Tours, and a resident of East Jerusalem (and a former +972 contributor). When Aziz was 9 years old, his older brother Taiseer was arrested and held in prison for nearly a year; shortly after his release, Taiseer died of internal injuries he sustained while being tortured in prison.

The two met after Abu Sarah wrote to Inon in the days after October 7, expressing his condolences for Inon’s murdered family. Since then, they have been leading a personal and public campaign against revenge and in favor of reconciliation. They have spoken in media interviews, conferences, and home circles, held an open conversation at a TED conference, and met with diplomats and, recently, with the Pope. 

Together with dozens of organizations, Inon is now leading an event titled “It’s Time — The Great Peace Conference,” which will take place on July 1 in Tel Aviv, and is expected to be the largest formal left-wing gathering in recent decades. Delegations representing vast swaths of Israeli and Palestinian society will be in attendance, with artists, politicians, and intellectuals expected to speak. The event will screen a video message from Abu Sarah, who is currently abroad.

In an interview with +972 and Local Call, Inon and Abu Sarah discussed the new peace process they are promoting, the goals of the conference, and how they plan to convince their respective general publics to support their work. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Israeli security forces guard while Muslim worshippers arrive for the last Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem’s Old City, April 5, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Where did the idea for the conference come from? 

Inon: It all started in Geneva in March. Aziz and I were there with 70 other Palestinians and Israelis. We wrote a charter for a common future and started thinking about a road map to achieve peace between the river and the sea. This is the first step, to make the calls for peace and to build legitimacy for the peace process and for us — the leaders of the future. 

The conference is the first public event in Israeli society in which Jewish and Palestinian citizens will come out publicly and begin a peace process that derives from the people. This is the first time, at least from what I remember, that more than 50 civil society organizations are working together to build the infrastructure for such a process. Since we aspire to build legitimacy, it will take place in the Menorah Hall and not in demonstrations in the streets. This is just the first event in a series of events we plan to organize.

We have seen protests against the war in recent months, as well as demonstrations calling for a ceasefire. What is the difference between that and the conference?

Inon: We are not against anyone; the demonstrations are important, and some of us participate in them. But this is not a demonstration. We’re changing the framing and talking more about hope and the future. The idea is to build a coalition and work together.

Abu Sarah: I look at when I was a child in East Jerusalem, and, honestly, I never saw or heard from the Israeli peace movement, and there are Israelis who have never seen a Palestinian peace movement. The inability to see these movements has established a perception that there is no one on the other side who wants to bring peace, who cares about human rights, and so on. This event, which is making a lot of noise, will have thousands of people say they want to live together, to find a way to end the bloodshed, and to work with partners on the other side. This declaration itself is very strong and will be an important message to the Palestinian side.

This is something new. The only way we will have an impact is with a sort of unity, even if we are not exactly the same and there are differences here and there. A meeting of thousands of people will not end the bloodshed and will not bring peace tomorrow, but it is an important step. And if we continue on this path, and organizations learn to work together, everyone’s power will double.

Israelis take part in a protest calling for the end of the war and the release of the hostages, as they march through the streets of Tel Aviv, May 09, 2024. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

One of the major obstacles to a ceasefire is the Israeli government, which refuses to make a deal. Is the event also a message to the government, meant to pressure them to agree?

Inon: That’s a good question, but I won’t answer it directly. We have been kidnapped by extremists, on both sides, and those extremists thrive on bloodshed, revenge, and killing. Now is our time to draw up an alternative — ideological and political — that will change the discourse, and that’s what we’re doing. 

I lost both my parents and so many childhood friends on October 7. I felt angry, and a desire to punish and take revenge on the Israeli government, which repeatedly promised my parents security and protection. After every cycle of bloodshed, they continued to make this promise to us. Of course, they failed, and my parents paid the price. But I decided to forgive them. I’m not interested in punishing them, they’re irrelevant to me. 

We will open the event with a reading of the poem ‘Revenge’ by Taha Muhammad Ali. [The speaker of the poem initially imagines how he will take revenge on his father’s killer]. This beautiful poem ends by saying that the revenge on his father’s killer will be to ignore him as he passes by on the street. In the same way, I decided to ignore the government. They are part of the past. I prefer to focus on the future, not on one government or politician or another. Whoever wants to join, the door will always be open. Even to those who now choose violence.

Abu Sarah: I don’t think many attendees support the Israeli government’s policies or what Hamas has done. If the event had focused on either, it would have been bad; we could focus on governments that have failed for decades and got us to where we are today, or we can focus on how to move forward and work together despite those obstacles.

One of the things that Israeli governments have been saying for decades is that there is no Palestinian partner on the other side. You can argue and yell that they’re wrong, or you can show that it’s bullshit, that there’s a partner, that we’re here. The existence of Maoz and me is the greatest threat to the extremists, who claim that war, bombing, and killing are the only way. We are demonstrating what the alternative is, what the road to peace will look like. When people find a meeting point, it’s the biggest antidote to extremism.

Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah meeting Pope Francis in Verona, Italy, May 18, 2024. (Vatican Media)

You call for making an “All for All” deal, meaning the release of all Palestinian prisoners and all Israeli hostages. At the beginning of the war, this call was heard in Israel as well, but it has since been marginalized.

Inon: We have to go back to the ‘All for All’ deal that was on the table. Prisoners can play a significant role in reconciliation and peacebuilding. 

Abu Sarah: If you look at who are the people who can speak on behalf of the Palestinians, who have power and legitimacy, they are all prisoners. I understand that people say, “But how is it possible, given what they did?” But in conflict, everyone involved has blood on their hands, and they are the people who can legitimize an agreement that will last, as in Northern Ireland and South Africa. Without the prisoners, there would be no agreement. 

[Former U.S. President] Barack Obama said we have to admit that everyone is to blame for not acting before October 7. When there is a ceasefire, we don’t want to say, “Everything is good” and not do anything else, like before October. We don’t want to say that the status quo is sustainable; we hope to push for the status quo not to be maintained.

I was in Northern Ireland earlier this month. It seems that before the Good Friday Agreement there, there was a feeling on all sides that they had had enough. In Israel, there is a feeling that the public, or at least some of it, is still not tired of war and violence, and perhaps even the opposite, that people want to continue with all their might. 

Inon: There was a poll conducted by “aChord” showing that 74 percent of Israeli citizens support a diplomatic agreement. The poll shows that maybe we’re not reading the map correctly. Besides, no one is currently offering an alternative, and that’s where we come in. For the first time in many years, we are proposing a solution to the unsustainable status quo and the ongoing bloodshed. That’s our mission.

Jews attend a prayer for the return of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, at the Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, March 21, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Abu Sarah: I worked a lot in Northern Ireland. I met soldiers and members of organizations, police officers and military personnel. At some point, they realized that peace was coming. They understood that what they did would only prolong the war and suffering, and they saw friends and family paying the price for what they had done. It took time, but once the understanding of the depth of impact on families and lives was internalized, it helped create the transformation.

To this day, the society in Northern Ireland is very fragmented. About 92 percent of schools are segregated. Nevertheless, they understood that even though the Good Friday Agreement was not perfect, the alternative was much worse. Everyone I met there said it wasn’t the agreement they dreamed of, but that it was better than the alternative. We need to get the people here to see this too.

Dialogue meetings between Palestinians and Israelis have been held since the 1990s, and there has been much criticism of them, including that they maintain the imbalance of power and serve only the strong side.

Abu Sarah: I’m a little more cynical than Maoz. I was very critical of the idea of “people to people” work. I felt it wasn’t enough, that there was a lot of talk but not much happened. This is something the peace movement needs to be careful about. 

I remember in the late 1990s, when I came to the peace movement, there was a lot of hope. I remember a huge meeting of Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza in 2000, before everything exploded. But that peace movement eventually delegitimized itself, and that’s why, as Maoz said, one of our goals is to create legitimacy ourselves. 

In the past, they were unable to advance beyond dialogue. What’s different now, at least for some, is that there’s more than just talk. You see it in movements like Standing Together, Combatants for Peace, Rabbis for Human Rights. You see that it’s not just dialogue, but also working together, building stronger bridges, seeing what is needed and how we can fill those needs. This movement is much stronger, and it learns from the past.

Inon: We are dreaming, but with a plan – to make peace by 2030. We need to constantly check that our actions are effective. This is exactly the formula to create hope, imagine a better future together, and make that future a reality. We have already been very effective and we are growing. The dialogue is just one phase of the plan. The goal is not dialogue, but peace.

Left-wing activists protest against the war, calling for ceasefire in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, January 18, 2024. (Itai Ron/Flash90)

Regarding a peace plan toward 2030: do you intend to publish a concrete plan, which includes steps and demands from the parties? 

Abu Sarah: This is not the time to say exactly where the borders will be; in my opinion, that was never the problem. The problem was mustering the will, a critical mass that would support an agreement. The problem was that people hijacked the political process. In the field of ideas there is, for example, A Land for All [which promotes a confederation], the Geneva Initiative [which promotes two states], and more. Ideas are not what’s missing.

Do you intend to deal with core issues in dispute, such as the right of return? 

Abu Sarah: I think we will look at all the issues. The basic principle we are talking about is equality, dignity, and security. It doesn’t matter if that’s in one country or two. There will be no peace with occupation or injustice. We are delusional if we think it is possible to talk about peace and not talk about all these issues. The question is what are the basic human values on which we agree.

People across the world have expressed their sympathy and support for your project. Do you think that at this point in time, the project can be accepted here as well, given the current political situation — in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Jerusalem, in Israel, and in light of all the criticism of the peace process in the past?

Abu Sarah: I think so. People are still very pragmatic, despite the pain and anger. One of my dearest friends from Gaza, 50 members of his family were killed, his whole family was wiped out — uncles, aunts, cousins, everyone is gone. I wanted to talk about this friend’s story at the event, so I asked him how he felt about me doing so. He didn’t even hesitate, and replied: “One hundred percent, that’s what we need.”

Yulia Navalnaya is Elected Chair of HRF

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce the election of Yulia Navalnaya as its new Chair, succeeding Garry Kasparov after the conclusion of his third term as chairman. 

“As someone who has personally witnessed the threat dictatorships pose to our loved ones and the world at large, I am deeply honored to take on the role of Chair of the Human Rights Foundation,” said Yulia Navalnaya. “In these challenging times, defending fundamental rights and freedoms is more crucial than ever. The mission of HRF is close to my heart, and I look forward to helping advance it.”

Yulia Navalnaya, renowned for her unwavering commitment to democratic principles and human rights and for her steadfast support of her husband, the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, brings a wealth of experience and a passionate vision to HRF.

“I believe in term limits. Unlike the dictators that we fight,” said Garry Kasparov, who has chaired HRF since 2012. Kasparov, who endorsed Navalnaya, expressed enthusiastic confidence in her leadership: “I look forward to supporting Yulia and HRF in this new chapter. It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation. Yulia’s courage and commitment to justice are inspiring. HRF will continue to thrive and make an ever-growing impact in the fight for human rights.”

“This leadership transition continues HRF’s proud tradition of advocacy under the guidance of notable leaders, following in the footsteps of former chairs Václav Havel and Armando Valladares,” said HRF Chief Executive Thor Halvorssen. “Garry Kasparov has provided exceptional service to HRF and it’s reassuring that his successor can match his energy, courage, and moral authority.”

HRF President Céline Assaf-Boustani also praised the appointment: “We are thrilled to welcome Yulia Navalnaya as our new Chair. Her personal experiences and advocacy work make her uniquely qualified to support HRF. We are grateful to Garry and look forward to building on the many achievements of the last decade.”

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a New York-based nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Founded in 2005, HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy.

SDE Teiman and Beyond: A Dive into Israel's Detention of Palestinians in the Shadow of War

Dear friends

As the world's eye is turned to Gaza, a parallel, sinister crisis has unfolded for the past 9 months. Dozens of incarcerated Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank have died in Israeli detention centers. Hundreds have suffered medical neglect, and many have been subjected to abuse and torture at the Sde Teiman military base and other facilities.
 
Join Physicians for Human Rights Israel for an English-language Webinar that will delve into these and other issues, including the Israeli medical system's complicity in some of these rights violations, the latest updates on Sde Teiman, and the denial of medical treatment in the Israeli prison system.
 

Tuesday, July 2nd at 7 PM Jerusalem time/12 PM EDT

Speakers:

Ms. Oneg Ben Dror, Project Coordinator, PHRI's Prisoners and Detainees DepartmentMs. Hadas Ziv, Director of Medical Ethics at PHRIDr. Lina Qassem-Hassan, Chairperson of PHRI's Board and a family physician with experience treating incarcerated Palestinians

Hosted by Ms. Lee Caspi, Director of Resource Development at PHRI
 Sign up here

 
Best regards,
Lee Caspi
Director of Resource Development
Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI)

A ‘Free Russia’ Passport Could Undermine Putin

Welcoming Those Who Want To Break With The Russian Leader’s Regime Would Mobilize A Key Community To Help Ukraine To Victory.

By Garry Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky

The war in Ukraine is now well into its third year, and Western support for the country has faltered dangerously.

While the U.S. Congress did pass an aid bill after months of fitful negotiations, the assistance came late — and at great cost. In the interim, Russia took advantage of Kyiv’s shortfall in munitions, dramatically intensifying the shelling of key cities. The EU, for its part, did pass a multibillion-euro defense package in March, but the bloc remains deeply divided over the scope and type of military assistance.

In light of all this, commentary has rightly focused on the need to provide adequate support that would allow Ukraine to defend itself on the battlefield. This must remain a key area of attention. However, the West has other avenues at its disposal to help Ukraine win — and these can and must be explored too.

We speak on behalf of all the Russians who believe in the potential for a free and democratic Russia. Neither of us have been able to return home for decades because of our opposition to the regime. Thankfully, with the resources available to us, we’ve been able to establish new homes and lives for ourselves and our families in the West. But the same opportunities aren’t available to the millions of Russians who, like us, don’t support Putin’s criminal system.

At this critical juncture in the struggle for Ukraine’s sovereignty, we have an opportunity to give these Russians the chance to make the same moral choice to break with the Putin regime — and, in doing so, mobilize a key community to help Ukraine to victory.

Let us be clear about what is at stake: the freedom and self-determination of millions of Ukrainians and their government’s right to territorial integrity. But the consequences extend far beyond one country’s borders. A victory for Putin’s regime would be a clear sign that the world’s democracies aren’t able to stand together in a firm coalition to uphold their core values and support their members in need.

But we still have an opportunity to change the outcome — if we act now — and affirm that democratic institutions and values are stronger and more sustainable than what authoritarians offer.

Thus, as a vital step in the international fight for Ukraine and against Putinism, we propose the creation of a single, harmoniously operating community of pro-Western Russians, which would serve as a crucial link in the broader Western web of opposition against the regime.

Practically speaking, Russians who wish to join this group would be required to sign the Berlin Declaration, which sets out the key principles for a Ukrainian victory and a Russia without Putin. After passing the necessary checks, signatories would then be issued documents recognizing them as members of a “Free Russia,” which would allow them to obtain visas and enter all countries participating in the agreement.

This would create a powerful incentive for more Russians to disavow Putin and emigrate. Many of the over one million citizens who have already departed the Russian Federation are highly educated. And the more that leave Russia, the greater the “brain drain” Putin’s regime suffers, leaving fewer intellectual resources for him to develop new deadly technologies and fewer soldiers to send to the front.

Unfortunately, Russians who have left their country behind often find themselves in a state of limbo and at risk of politically motivated extradition, living, for the most part, in Georgia, Armenia, Turkey or Central Asian countries, unable to seek refuge in Europe. Many would gladly join in the fight against Putin openly. However, with expiring passports, uncertain residency and no representation, this is an impossibility.

These individuals aren’t in need of economic assistance — they’re fully capable of supporting themselves. The system we propose would give them the opportunity to help themselves, their families and the West by supporting the international struggle against Putinism openly and without fear.

If the idea sounds far-fetched or impractical, we point to a historical example that suggests otherwise: Nansen passports, developed for stateless persons in the political chaos following World War I, were issued by the League of Nations after the Russian government officially revoked the citizenship of hundreds of thousands of Russians abroad. Named after Norwegian politician Fridtjof Nansen, their chief promoter on the international stage, nearly half a million Nansen passports were issued during their nearly two-decade existence. And the office responsible for their operation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in combating this massive displacement crisis.

While the parallel is imperfect — as historical analogs always are — the growing number of Russians disaffected with Putin’s rule today similarly stand to have their lives transformed by such international recognition. In recent days though, Norway, along with Finland, banned the entry of Russian tourists (with few exceptions for essential travel and humanitarian reasons). And while the measure signals a strong stance against Putin’s war, it offers no way of distinguishing between Russians who fall in line behind him and those who seek to disavow him. It only further points to the urgent need for an international juridical mechanism for making precisely this kind of distinction.

As the war staggers on, we must use all the resources at our disposal — military, economic and legal — to help Ukraine prevail. The establishment of an extraterritorial free Russia, so to speak, with international recognition, would mark a crucial step toward Ukraine’s victory, dramatically shifting the balance of power in the struggle between democracy and dictatorship.

We cannot shy away from the truth that victory for Ukraine entails the full defeat of Putin’s regime. The steps we take to ensure Ukraine’s future are also steps that pave the way for a free, fair and democratic Russia aligned with the West. We urge the leaders of the free world to take this proposal seriously: to bring like-minded Russians to their side of the current fight and, as a result, integrate them into the international democratic fabric.

This month at Abraham Initiatives

 

Keeping the Peace in Mixed Cities Since October 7th

Last month, Yoni Arie, our Safe Communities Director, participated in an important meeting of the State Audit Committee in the Knesset. Presenting data collected by The Abraham Initiatives and partners, Yoni explained that in order to sustain positive relations between Jews and Arabs in mixed cities, cooperation between the police, the municipality, and civil society is imperative. Our advice to the government and public officials is informed up by careful research and the relationships our shared cities coordinators in the field build.

 

Our work in mixed cities during this emergency period has helped prevent a recurrence of the intercommunal violence of May 2021. We have repeatedly called on the police and municipalities to strengthen cooperation with civil society and local residents. You can read more in our most recent policy paper examining the state's response to the May 2021 violence and lessons learned for today.

 

On June 24th, Yoni will make a public presentation of The Abraham Initiatives' study of the government's implementation of its policy commitments to Arab communities. You can read a summary of the findings here.

 

Strengthening Civil Society in Ramla

 

Co-Executive Director Shahira Shalaby opened the first training session for local organizational and grassroots leaders in Ramla. Shahira's presentation focused on strategy for community work in mixed cities and formulating a shared vision for everyday life.

This is just part of the work our local coordinator, Kholod Alzinati, has done in developing civil and political partnerships in Ramla. The dynamic group was composed of local leaders full of motivation and clear potential. Our work in mixed cities and regions, which was essential in controlling tensions and preventing violence since October 7th, is moving beyond emergency coordination to build capacity for long term day-to-day needs in mixed cities and regions.

 

Countering Racism and Extremism in Schools

 

Our team recently attended a daylong roundtable discussion organized by the Ministry of Education, the National Institute for Research and Development in Education, and the Center for Educational Technology. 

In front of an audience of policymakers, academics, and educators, we raised concerns of growing extremist attitudes and racism prevalent in high schools since October 7th.

 

Dr. Shany Payes, Director of Research & Evaluation, and Galia Bazak Hilger, Director of Education for Shared Society, discussed our most recent survey results showing alarming levels of hatred among Jewish and Arab youth; the challenges that principals and educators are facing; and the model we have developed and implemented in high schools since October 7th. 

 

Narrowing Gaps in Digital Access

 

Yaacob Ibrahim, our co-Director of Public Affairs, sits on the Forum to Promote Internet and Digitization in Arab Society. This month, Yaacob addressed the Forum and discussed gaps in access to technology, including in schools and the workplace.

While certain socioeconomic gaps have recently seen improvement in Arab society—including the number of university students and level of women's employment—there are areas still desperately in need of address. Access to digital resources in Arabic is one of them. The government has committed to making sure content and forms on Ministry websites will be available in Arabic by the end of 2026, and we intend to monitor progress toward this goal.

 

Introducing Shahira Shalaby

 

Last week, The Abraham Initiatives hosted a webinar conversation between Shahira Shalaby, our new co-Executive Director, and board member Josh Arnow. You can access the recording below:

Webinar recording: Click here

Passcode: Abraham1!

We are excited about our upcoming programs and initiatives, including preparing for the next national election in Israel, and hope hold more of these conversations in the future!

Rachel Svetanoff keynote panelist for UN Foundation's Intergenerational Townhall

Convisero mentor Rachel Svetanoff sits alongside two UN youth leaders, Ose Ehianeta Arheghan and Sophia Kianni, on the National Visions for 2100 Intergenerational Townhall for the UN Foundation’s Our Future Agenda program in collaboration with United Nations Association of the USA at the 2024 Leadership Summit. Each panelist shared lessons learned about youth activism that came from lived experience, demonstrating their diligence and passion for solving issues that face current generations today and future generations. This townhall is part of Our Future Agenda’s intergenerational action initiative where participants also crafted solutions surrounding 12 ideas for future generations. Rachel and her colleagues facilitated round table discussions who shared their ideas for creating pathways pathways forward towards a shared vision of intergenerational unity.

The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) was selected to serve as the main implementing partner in the United States for the Intergenerational Town Hall Series. This initiative, underpinned by the United Nations Foundation and supported through the Unlock the Future Coalition, provides the opportunity for 16 UN member states to host Town Halls that are designed to engage, empower, and elevate voices of young people and future generations.

The Intergenerational Town Halls are designed to convene a diverse assembly of participants and speakers, ranging from visionary young leaders and activists to seasoned policymakers, experts, and global thought leaders.  UNA-USA encourages and welcomes non-members to participate in these Town Hall elements, so that their voices are heard and represented within the cumulative report that will be developed from the consultations.

HRF submits joint petition to the UN on behalf of Vladimir Kara-Murza

HRF submits joint petition to the United Nations on behalf of Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza

———

NEW YORK (June 17, 2024) — On June 3, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) in the case of Russian opposition leader and pro-democracy advocate Vladimir Kara-Murza, along with the Centre de la Protection Internationale (CPI), Freedom House, Free Russia Foundation (FRF), Global Justice Advisors, McCain Institute, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR).

The groups requested the UNWGAD declare Kara-Murza’s detention arbitrary under international law and urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release him. This request follows another address to the US State Department, in which HRF and three other groups urged the agency to designate Kara-Murza, a lawful permanent resident of the US, as wrongfully detained and facilitate his release and safe return to America.

For the past 20 years, Kara-Murza has tirelessly promoted democracy and human rights in Russia. In 2015 and 2017, he survived two near-fatal poisonings, almost certainly perpetrated by the Russian regime. As a result, he developed a medical condition called polyneuropathy. He was arrested on April 11, 2022, while visiting Moscow. In April 2023, he was sentenced to 25 years for “public dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces,” “carrying out the activities of an undesirable organization,” and “high treason.”

The charges stemmed from his public speeches criticizing the Kremlin’s human rights violations and war in Ukraine, his alleged collaboration with the US-based FRF — an “undesirable” organization according to the Russian regime — and his “cooperation with a NATO country.”

The groups state that Kara-Murza’s detention resulted from the exercise of fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression. The complaint also lists numerous violations of the right to a fair trial, such as restricted access to a lawyer, denial of family visits, denial of a public hearing before an independent and impartial court, and denial of necessary medical care, among others.

“Kara-Murza has been detained solely for exercising his fundamental human rights, including his right to freedom of expression and his vocal opposition to the Russian regime," HRF Chief Advocacy Officer Roberto González said. "The numerous violations of international law in the proceedings against him clearly demonstrate that his detention is an attempt to punish him for his relentless opposition to Vladimir Putin and his allies, aiming to silence one of the last remaining voices of dissent in Russia.”

Kara-Murza is serving his sentence in a Siberian penal colony in Omsk. Under these severe conditions, his health has deteriorated significantly; he has lost more than 50 pounds (22 kilograms) and experiences numbness in his limbs. As Russian officials continue to deny Kara-Murza vital medical attention, experts fear he may not survive another year in these conditions.

Scott Kirsner

Scott Kirsner has spent two decades as a business journalist and contributing editor at the Boston Globe, Wired Magazine, Fast Company, Variety, The New York Times, BusinessWeek and other publications. His focus on how innovations that matter get introduced to the world has taken him to the White House, the Sundance Film Festival, the United Nations, and the innovation labs of Google, Disney, General Motors, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, Marriott, and many other companies. Scott is the author of several books on innovation and technology, including a highly-acclaimed collaboration with George Lucas, “Inventing the Movies,” which explores the challenge of bringing new ideas to a century-old, change-resistant industry: Hollywood. His most recent book is “Innovation Economy: True Stories of Startups, Flame-Outs, and Inventing the Future in New England.”

 

He has spoken at Harvard Business School, the MIT R&D Conference, South by Southwest, the Consumer Electronics Show, HubSpot Inbound, New York Internet Week, the Churchill Club, Tijuana Inovadora, the Connected Health Symposium, and the NAB Futures Summit. Scott has also appeared on NBC's Today Show, Yahoo Finance, CNN, NPR's Science Friday, the Discovery Channel, and WBUR's Radio Boston. 

 

Scott is a co-founder of InnoLead, a Boston media and events company focused on corporate innovation. He helped start The Convergence Forum, a life sciences gathering on Cape Cod, and the Nantucket Conference, an entrepreneurship event. His latest project is co-founding a new organization, The Innovation Trail of Greater Boston. You can follow it on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn: @BostonInnoTrail, or learn more at theinnovationtrail.org

Students Stage Peaceful Demonstration at Mass. State House

In March 2024, students at the Brookline, Massachusetts chapter of SND at Brookline High School staged a peaceful demonstration outside of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. They urged lawmakers to pass Resolve H. 738, a bill establishing a commission to study the existential threats that nuclear weapons and climate change pose to humanity. Read more about Students for Nuclear Disarmament here.

Patrick for Kansas Newsletter!

Patrick for Kansas

Welcome to my newsletter! I'll be using this space to bring you campaign news, upcoming events, and house renovation updates.

PATRICK SCHMIDT JUN 12

 

On May 24, I officially filed for candidate in Kansas-19 Senate District. I filed by petition with well over the 335 signature requirement! It was a proud day for me and my wife, Megan. The last 6 months have been an awesome journey and the next couple months leading up to the primary are going to be filled with hard work and exciting events. Thank you all for your support!

Our first piece of mail has officially gone out! We look forward to sending out more in the coming weeks, so be sure to look out for those.

This space will be used to bring you local news, campaign updates, and upcoming events to support us!

News

Following Governor Kelly’s veto of HB 2749 and the override votes, Kansas abortion providers challenge the abortion survey law. Forcing women to provide reasons and justification for getting an abortion is violating. Women should have freedom and access to their healthcare. The legislature needs young, progressive Democrats to help win this fight; I want to fight for and represent women’s issues and protect their access to healthcare.

Events

May 18: I got to spend some time with the Midwest Elks Lodge 1441 in Topeka a few weekends ago, supporting a scholarship fundraiser and eating some catfish! It was a beautiful day and a great event. Thanks to the Elks for having me and for raising money for such an important cause.


On Memorial day, I had the opportunity to join the ceremony at Mt. Hope Cemetery to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As we commemorated another Memorial Day, we remembered all those who sacrificed their lives so that we may be free today.


This past weekend, I got to join the Lawrence Pride Parade! There was a great turnout and it was lots of fun. Thanks to everyone that showed up to celebrate the diversity & acceptance of those in our community!

Houses Renovation Updates

The tree in front of our house fell down and this weekend I planted a new one! Can’t wait to watch it grow over the next years in our new house.

 Amir Grinstein: Israeli Palestinian conflict not either/or situation 

From the Boston Herald:

Our world is plagued by conflicts, both domestically and globally, fueled by political, social, economical or religion tensions. One that has gotten significant attention is the Israeli Palestinian conflict, which seems to have reached a peak with the Israel-Hamas war and the protests on college campuses.

Although the Israeli Palestinian conflict is very complicated, in an era governed by social media and polarization, it is not surprising that it is often depicted in simplified terms, using unidimensional frameworks, and driving the public to adopt an “Either/Or” approach. You are either with the underdog or against it. The heroes in the story are either powerful or weak. You are either a pro-Palestinian (and anti-Israel) or you are pro-Israel (and anti-Palestinian).

This forced simplicity is detrimental as it is often motivated by ignorance, increases polarization, and is not helpful in finding a constructive path forward. Is there a better way to think about the Israeli Palestinian conflict that could lead to a deeper understanding of the complex reality and inspire more useful engagement with the issue? I came across an excellent book and mindset that opened my eyes to the value of embracing conflict and tensions, and the paradoxes that underlie them. “Both/And Thinking,” by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis, discusses paradoxes – competing but interwoven views that are a source of sustained conflict.

These paradoxes surround us in our personal and professional lives. As paradoxes create discomfort, uncertainty, and stress, we often want to solve them as quickly as we can. The easiest way to solve a paradox is to adopt an Either/Or approach – choosing one clear path and to fully stand behind the decision to regain a sense of control and minimize cognitive dissonance. Although an Either/Or approach may lead to short-term relief, this approach narrows our options, limits opportunities, listening and learning, is less creative and collaborative, and is likely to have a negative long term effect. Alternatively, a Both/And approach requires us to grapple with the paradox and identify a less linear, not unidimensional, learning-based and more creative path forward.

The Israeli Palestinian conflict is full of paradoxes. Between the old and the new. Between the extreme and the moderate. Between security and autonomy. Between hope and reality. Between the short term and the long term. Between anger and empathy. What can we learn on the Israeli Palestinian conflict and how can we address some of these paradoxes if we adopt a Both/And thinking? Who are the indigenous people in the story?

The Either/Or approach of the conflict views the Palestinians as the indigenous people and the Jewish Zionists – the national movement of the Jewish people – as “settler colonialists.” The Both/And approach would review history and religion to reveal that they connect both Jews and the ancestors of the Palestinian people to the land of Israel/Palestine. Further, for many centuries, much before the establishment of Zionism in the late 19th century, Jews lived in the holy land, emptying the concept of “colonization.”

Still, after the 1967 war, Israel did occupy the West Bank (among other territories) where the majority of Palestinians live. This territory is still under dispute, and the very small group of Israelis that have decided to live there are often viewed as “settlers”; their strategy is often debated even within Israel. So, both the Jews and the Palestinians share “the old” and are here to share “the new”. Does the story depict white privileged vs. non-white under privileged?

The Either/Or approach of the conflict has borrowed the “white=privilege” framework from other social justice battles like that of the civil rights movement. It is first valuable to note that the “white=privilege” framework is simplistic and is not able to capture many instances (you can be white and poor or non-white and successful). The Both/And approach will reveal a more nuanced reality. First, most Israelis are not “white” and, in fact, many come from Arab countries.

Interestingly, during 1948, when Israel was established and the Palestinian refugee crisis began, roughly the same amount of Jewish refugees had to flee their homes in the Arab world – about 800,000 people. So, both the Jewish and Palestinian people’s history is associated with being refugees and neither is “white.” Who should we criticize?

The Either/Or approach of the conflict has led people to be either critical of, and put all blame on Israel or critical of, and put all blame on Hamas and the Palestinians. The Both/And approach suggests that most of the time, the reality is more multi-layered. Israel is rightly perceived as the stronger actor, with a successful economy and strong military. Viewing itself as part of the Western developed world by holding similar values, Israel is disproportionally singled out for some of its actions in the context of the conflict.

Although mistakes have been made, and some of Israel’s policies and actions can be criticized, there is no logical reason to de-legitimize the country. Further, on Oct. 7, the country faced a brutal attack by Hamas, catching it off guard militarily, socially, and politically. On the other side, the Palestinians, deserving a state to reflect their self-determination, have not established effective institutions and governance systems to be able to avoid the fate of “failed nation.”

At the same time, in the West Bank, the lives of Palestinians are far from being easy, also because of Israeli policies. Finally, the extreme, jihadist branch of the Palestinians – Hamas – has demonstrated hate, evil and corruption, and is as far as can be from the values liberals in the West hold dear. Their Oct. 7 attack and strategy of hiding within and under civilians have led to a huge tragedy for Gazans. Overall, a Both/And approach could lead one to be both pro-Israel (or at the minimum empathize with Israelis) and pro-Palestinian (or at the minimum empathize with Palestinians), and at the same time be anti-Hamas.

Moving away from an Either/Or approach and adopting a Both/And thinking will not solve the conflict. But it might allow for more people to become open to learn more and listen, accept that reality is often more complicated than portrayed in social media, and be engaged with others in a more useful way. It can also enable us to reframe some of the questions we ask around the conflict. Rather than “Who is the one to blame?” or “Who is the victim?” we can start asking questions such as “How can we combine tradition and modernity in the Middle East” or “How can we create realistic hope”?

This is an opportunity for learning, in the context of the current conflict, but more broadly, a Both/And thinking can serve us well as individuals, organizations and societies, helping us address the many conflicts and underlying paradoxes around us.

13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture

The Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) is the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders. The South Pacific Commission (now The Pacific Community - SPC) launched this dynamic showcase of arts and culture in 1972 to halt the erosion of traditional practices through ongoing cultural exchange. The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture, will convene in Hawaiʻi, 6–16 June 2024. “Ho‘oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania” will serve as the theme of FestPAC Hawaiʻi 2024, honoring the traditions that FestPAC exists to perpetuate with an eye toward the future.

Human Rights Foundation


This week, our community of human rights defenders and democracy advocates reunited in Oslo, Norway, for the 16th annual Oslo Freedom Forum. Over three days, attendees heard talks from leading activists and industry leaders, explored interactive art and tech installations, and discussed the struggle for freedom through exciting panels and workshops.

You can re-watch all theater talks at oslofreedomforum.com and on our YouTube page. Share these links with your family and friends so they can hear these incredible stories for themselves.

This year’s theme, Reclaim Democracy, emphasizes the pivotal role every individual — speaker and participant alike — plays within the global movement for liberal democracy and basic human rights. We encourage you to continue your involvement beyond the Oslo Freedom Forum, supporting activists and exchanging valuable tools, knowledge, and resources in the struggle for freedom.

RefugePoint first quarter report 2024

Highlights from our 2024 First Quarter Report include:

In February, RefugePoint staff traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with staff from the National Security Council, the State Department, and the World Bank, among others, to discuss refugee self-reliance. Our aim is to help more refugees pursue livelihoods wherever they are and achieve economic and social inclusion.

RefugePoint helped 4,419 refugees access pathways to relocate to safety, including resettlement, family reunification, employment, sponsorship, and other pathways, from 100 locations in 26 countries worldwide.

RefugePoint staff interviewed this family in order to submit their case for resettlement at a refugee camp in Rwanda. Photo: Chris Jensen

Our staff conducted and reviewed child protection assessments for 432 refugee children.

98 clients reached a point of self-reliance and graduated from our Urban Refugee Protection Program in Nairobi, Kenya.

Our staff trained 138 individuals from UNHCR and partner organizations on topics ranging from child protection to resettlement and other pathways.

Helping refugees settle in the U.S., one family at a time, by Sasha Chanoff, WBUR (Cognoscenti)

Darren Kew named new Dean of the USD Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies

Convisero mentor Darren Kew joins as the new Dean at the University of San Diego. Below is an except from their press release: https://www.sandiego.edu/news/detail.php?_focus=92248

The University of San Diego is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Kew, Ph.D., as the new Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, effective July 1, 2024.

Dr. Kew holds a Ph.D. from Tufts University and brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international relations. He is a professor and former Chair of the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, and Executive Director of the Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Additionally, Dr. Kew has advised democracy and peace initiatives to the United Nations, USAID, US State Department, and several NGOs, including the Carter Center and the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria.

An author and researcher, Dr. Kew's work focuses on the relationship between conflict resolution methods and democratic development in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics including civil society, international security, culture, religion, and nation-building. He also recently spent several months doing comparative research in Northern Ireland on a Fulbright award at Queens University, Belfast.

The 2024 Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony

About the Ceremony

The Joint Memorial Day Ceremony, organized by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle – Families Forum, is the largest Israeli-Palestinian jointly organized peace event in history. The Joint Memorial Ceremony provides a unique opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to grieve together and stand strong in demanding an end to the occupation and ongoing violence. The ceremony occurs yearly on the eve of Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day). In Israeli mainstream culture, the ceremonies that are most often held to honor this day serve to reinforce cultural narratives of pain, victimhood, and hopelessness. The Joint Memorial transforms this narrative by bringing Palestinians to the Memorial alongside Israelis to mourn side by side and model another way forward.

It was an honor to be together online yesterday for the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony. We are grateful to the thousands who joined us from all over the world. There were over 200 satellite ceremonies in Israel and Palestine, approximately 175 in the US, and many more in South Africa, France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, Ireland, Canada, and more.

 As many of you know, despite our efforts to safeguard the event, the Combatants for Peace YouTube channel appears to have been hacked and we are investigating what happened. Despite this, Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum were able to broadcast via Facebook and regained access to YouTube. 

AFCFP board president, Gili Getz, reflected on the ceremony: “Drowning in darkness and despair, we came together to mourn with the families of Israelis and Palestinians who lost members to violence. We gathered in Beit Jala because our Palestinian partners do not have permits to travel to Tel Aviv to be at the ceremony. It is clear that they are trying to keep us apart. Despite these obstacles, our faith is in each other, and our path is grounded in humanity. We all call this land home, and we believe supremacy, violence, fanaticism, occupation, and oppression are not the way. They will not keep anyone free or safe. The movement holds a sacred space for me. It gives me light, hope, and air. It is difficult for both societies to accept this path, but it’s a path that we believe in. We are a reference point to all who seek another way: the path of peace rather than separation and hate. We should all be able to thrive in this sacred land together. I’m filled with deep gratitude to all the hard work, care, and love so many Palestinians and Israelis put in to make this happen during these extremely challenging times. And to our supporters all over the world who watched the ceremony in solidarity at hundreds of events.”

Immediately following the Ceremony, AFCFP and American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum hosted a powerful conversation with bereaved Palestinian, Musa Juma’a and bereaved Israeli, Maoz Inon. You can watch the recording here.