Our Bikhoshoonat Education Campaign in Iran

Balatarin
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Bikhoshoonat
by Bikhoshoonat
26-Jan-2009
 

Since shortly after the Iranian revolution, the Iranian people have been deprived from their most basic civil, social, economic and political rights. However, although the majority of them want change, they have been ineffective in bringing a lasting change to the country.

So a little over a year ago, a network of Iranian educators, translators and activists began a campaign to educate our fellow Iranians about the history, strategy and tactics of nonviolent action from around the world and our country’s own history. The Bikhoshoonat network has no interest in engaging in the debates of the past, nor is it interested in taking political sides. It is only an impartial educational group that is striving to promote the use of nonviolent action in Iran as the most effective method of causing social change.

Having produced many important and useful educational materials, we have been getting them into the hands of activists in Iran and also made them available at our online resource center, the Center for the Study of Strategic Nonviolent Defense (www.bikhoshoonat.net).

Starting today, we are starting to widely introduce our materials to the online Iranian community. The two banners you see on the homepage of iranian.com is part of our effort.

If you are reading this, chances are you are an Iranian and know someone in Iran who can use our materials to effectively push for change. I want to ask you to download, copy and distribute our materials among as many of our fellow Iranians as you know. We would just like to ask you to please let us know how approximately how many people you have been able to distribute our materials to by e-mailing that estimation to us through our contact page.

We have been able to produce these materials with the help of our fellow Iranians. As we move into this new promotion phase for our education campaign in Iran, we are in critical need of financial support so that we can continue to produce new materials and distribute them among activists in Iran. Please visit www.bikhoshoonat.net and make a contribution of any amount.

Throughout history, there have been many well-organized and strategic nonviolent movements in many countries—from the American civil rights movement and Gandhi’s movement for Indian independence to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and the Orange Revolution in Ukraine—and in all instances, the success rate has been significant. We recognize that it is time for our fellow Iranians to get access to the kind of education that would allow them to use the same kind of strategic thinking to bring the changes that they wish to bring to Iran. We are working to fulfill that need, and we hope that you help in every way you can.

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Q

Anonymous8 is right

by Q on Tue Jan 27, 2009 04:31 PM PST

First of all, it really is important who is behind organizations such as this. There seems to be a flourishing of "pro democracy" organizations tied to the US government through State department grants and other things... I really should blog about all of those that I have seen lately...

but anyway, Reza, it's obvious you are involved with this group yourself. That's fine. So please enlighten us as to who they are, how they formed and who is funding them. If it's an American based NGO, they have to hire area specialists and Farsi speaking managers. Who are they?

Websites and advertisings are not cheap and if you really want to accomplish your goals you have to be honest and open about them. I can show you MEK terrorist sites that also say exactly the same thing.

We just went through 8 years of hell with an administration that was funding multiple terrorist groups and seperatists inside Iran. Do you honestly think people aren't suspicious of things like this? Do you honestly think they should not ask questions? If they are skeptical about it here, what do you think the reaction will be in Iran?

I'm in full agreement with "don't be silly" as a response.


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More than fish

by Reza M. (not verified) on Tue Jan 27, 2009 07:27 AM PST

Absorber, I just went to it again and there are TONS of stuff on the site. There is a whole 7-week curriculum on the site, a huge library of materials and a video section. I'm familiar with translation costs; it must have taken them a whole lot of money to get these things translated. And by the way, they are not making access to the materials conditional to donations; they have made them available for free!


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You are the silly one, Anonymous8

by Reza M. (not verified) on Tue Jan 27, 2009 07:23 AM PST

Have you heard about The Economist magazine? Last time I checked, they were a social science magazine that ask for money but issue their magazines with no names of authors. Yet it is one of the most widely cited and reliable sources in the world, and yes, people give money to them in HUGE amounts in return for their servides. The reason is that what people care about is knowing that the money they are donating is being used to produce products that they can use. When you go and buy a toy, do you have to know the name of the worker who made it in China in order to pay for the toy or all you have to know is that the toy is what you want and it works? Explain how these educational materials is any different. You obviouusly don't understand the risks of doing this kind of work in Iran, and I don't see you doing anything for Iran. Who are you to judge how other Iranians are helping each other?


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Don't be silly Mahmood H.

by Anonymous8 (not verified) on Mon Jan 26, 2009 09:35 PM PST

of course it matters.

If I said please come to my webpage and donate to me so I can help your be FREE, you would have a right to ask whot the hell I was.

It matters a lot. Anyone who has to hide it will not be trusted. We are paranoid for good reason. Our recent history has proven it.


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Something fishy about this site

by Absorber (not verified) on Mon Jan 26, 2009 08:49 PM PST

I opend the link there was not much in it except the donation part lol.


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Re: excuse me

by Mahmood H. (not verified) on Mon Jan 26, 2009 07:36 PM PST

It is quite ironic that you yourself posted your comment under "Anonymous8" while asking who the author is. It doesn't matter who he is, and if you know anything about the Iranian regime, you would understand that someone who is doing the kind of work that these people are doing would be snatched off the street in no time if they come out with their full name. I think the problem with Iranians is that they are in this constant state of paranoia that everyone wants to manipulate them. He is specifically saying that this group doesn't have political ambitions and isn't taking political sides. They provide materials for free online... I don't understand why it matters who it is that is doing this. Explain.


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excuse me

by Anonymous8 (not verified) on Mon Jan 26, 2009 06:31 PM PST

and you ARE ????

sorry to be rude but we Iranians have had a lot of bad experience with people "helping" and "educating" us. please tells us who is on your board. Who you get your funding from.


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Tabrik!

by Reza M. (not verified) on Mon Jan 26, 2009 05:47 PM PST

Good for you! I have heard about your amazing work in Iran! I have relatives and friends who are activists in Iran and have directly used your materials in their campaigns. You truly make me proud to be an Iranian. I just made a contribution to your center and will continue to do it again because I know it's going to be used well and for the right cause. This is when Iranians need to put their money where their mouth is and support their compatriots who are trying to win freedom. Good luck with everything.


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