Hi all – sorry for the silence last week. I was at an awesome New Media Bootcamp put on by the New Organizing Institute. But I’m jazzed to be back and to present you with these awesome peace links. Enjoy!

Because the debate isn’t over on Mona Eltahawy’s article “Why they hate us” in Foreign Policy: here’s a response from Search for Common Ground.
Last week one of our favorite blogs, Gender Across Borders, announced that they would be going dark.  If you haven’t read them before, be sure to check out …

Michelle Pomeroy
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
“As women, there are many shared experiences that make lifestyle differences seem less dividing to our shared humanness. Our gathering created such a moment.”
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“I am very tired of the idea that any woman who is covered is somehow oppressed and forced to do so. There is always a choice, even if the amount and source of pressure is different,” Khulood, a local Emirati, said. “You may have noticed tourists from Saudi Arabia often wear secular, Western clothing when they’re on vacation in Dubai or Abu …

An interview with Lubna Saif Abbas

“When people come here and see that our work is Made in Kuwait, they realize we can offer the world a lot more than oil and derivatives.”
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Connection Point Manager Yasmina Mrabet interviewed Kuwaiti entrepreneur Lubna Saif Abbas about creating new economic opportunities for women in the Gulf and throughout the Arab world through the work and initiatives of LB o J’zazz. Her responses are below.
Can you tell me a little about your personal background and experience as a woman living in Kuwait?
My experience as a …

Peace X Peace Forums: Women and the Arab Spring
Welcome to the first Peace X Peace Forum! These forums, which we hope to host regularly, will take on pressing issues in the world of peacebuilding and gender. This time, we have gathered women from around the Middle East – from Egypt to Tunisia and beyond – to discuss how women have influenced the Arab Spring, and the impact it has had on them. We hope you enjoy this discussion and add your own thoughts in the comments!
To Reconcile Arab Women: Activate …