The Enabling Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC) is a charitable organization that works with Iraqi civil society to provide relief, monitor Iraqi affairs to better inform public policy, and enhance understanding of Iraq's story. EPIC was founded by veterans of the Gulf War in 1998 in Washington, DC including executive director Erik Gustafson.
Trade and economic sanctions against Iraq and the Saddam Hussein regime throughout the mid-1990s contributed to conditions of inadequate healthcare, few public education opportunities, and a critical shortage of food across the country.[1][2] Iraqis who sought to convince Hussein to comply with UN demands or conspire to remove him from power were frequently jailed or killed by the regime.[3]
In that context, EPIC was founded in 1998 by veterans of the Gulf War. Early organizers created a grassroots movement to share the concerns of everyday Iraqis living under sanctions with Members of Congress, thought leaders, and the American public.[4] Leading up to the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, EPIC urged the American public to support a peaceful approach and to prevent war through the use of e-mail petitions and a speakers bureau of volunteer military veterans who discussed their opposition to the invasion on college campuses and in front of civic organizations. In the aftermath of the invasion, including the years of sectarian violence and occupation of territory by the so-called Islamic State, EPIC's mission shifted to include humanitarian work on-the-ground.[4]
Current programsedit
EPIC currently conducts the following programs in three categories, according to its website:[5]
Enhance understandingedit
Blog - EPIC's Blog includes written analyses of urgent socio-political issues facing the country, such as anti-corruption reform, infrastructure development, and access to healthcare.
Iraq Matters Podcast - The Iraq Matters podcast involves interviews conducted with notable Iraqis, humanitarian experts, academics, and government officials. Episodes are released at least quarterly and are available on the organization's website.
Iraq Speakers' Bureau - The Speakers' Bureau enables those who have a close connection to Iraq to share their knowledge and experience with the American public, helping to correct misconceptions about Iraq and the needs of refugees fleeing violence. Iraq thought leaders are connected to local speaking engagements wherever they live to help tell Iraq's story.
Monitor the crisisedit
Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor - The weekly e-mail publication and Blog post is available to policymakers, scholars, aid workers, journalists, and anyone interested in analysis of ongoing humanitarian, political, and security developments in Iraq. The publication uses firsthand accounts and Arabic and Kurdish-language news outlets as its source material.
Provide reliefedit
Emergency Response - The organization provides funding to cover emergency medical needs in areas recently cleared of ISIS militants, including Mosul.
Soccer Salam - EPIC leads a consortium of non-profits who deliver humanitarian relief in the form of food, water filtration, medicine, and other essentials to displaced families in Iraq under the banner of "Soccer Salam." The program includes donations of soccer balls and equipment for children whenever humanitarian aid is distributed.
Board of directorsedit
As of June 2017, the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center's board of directors is composed by the following officers and members:[6]
^Al-Araji, Adnan (2001-07-07). "Iraqi doctors appeal for help from doctors in other countries". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 323 (7303): 53. doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7303.53/b. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC1120689. PMID 11464839.
^Spagat, Michael (September 2010). "Truth and Death in Iraq Under Sanctions". Significance. 7 (3): 116–120. doi:10.1111/j.1740-9713.2010.00437.x.
education, peace, iraq, center, enabling, peace, iraq, center, epic, charitable, organization, that, works, with, iraqi, civil, society, provide, relief, monitor, iraqi, affairs, better, inform, public, policy, enhance, understanding, iraq, story, epic, founde. The Enabling Peace in Iraq Center EPIC is a charitable organization that works with Iraqi civil society to provide relief monitor Iraqi affairs to better inform public policy and enhance understanding of Iraq s story EPIC was founded by veterans of the Gulf War in 1998 in Washington DC including executive director Erik Gustafson Enabling Peace in Iraq Center EPIC Formation1998Legal statusNonprofit organizationPurposeEducation research advocacy humanitarian reliefLocationWashington DCRegion servedIraqFounder and Executive DirectorErik GustafsonWebsitehttp www epic usa orgContents 1 History 2 Current programs 2 1 Enhance understanding 2 2 Monitor the crisis 2 3 Provide relief 3 Board of directors 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editTrade and economic sanctions against Iraq and the Saddam Hussein regime throughout the mid 1990s contributed to conditions of inadequate healthcare few public education opportunities and a critical shortage of food across the country 1 2 Iraqis who sought to convince Hussein to comply with UN demands or conspire to remove him from power were frequently jailed or killed by the regime 3 In that context EPIC was founded in 1998 by veterans of the Gulf War Early organizers created a grassroots movement to share the concerns of everyday Iraqis living under sanctions with Members of Congress thought leaders and the American public 4 Leading up to the U S led 2003 invasion of Iraq EPIC urged the American public to support a peaceful approach and to prevent war through the use of e mail petitions and a speakers bureau of volunteer military veterans who discussed their opposition to the invasion on college campuses and in front of civic organizations In the aftermath of the invasion including the years of sectarian violence and occupation of territory by the so called Islamic State EPIC s mission shifted to include humanitarian work on the ground 4 Current programs editEPIC currently conducts the following programs in three categories according to its website 5 Enhance understanding edit Blog EPIC s Blog includes written analyses of urgent socio political issues facing the country such as anti corruption reform infrastructure development and access to healthcare Iraq Matters Podcast The Iraq Matters podcast involves interviews conducted with notable Iraqis humanitarian experts academics and government officials Episodes are released at least quarterly and are available on the organization s website Iraq Speakers Bureau The Speakers Bureau enables those who have a close connection to Iraq to share their knowledge and experience with the American public helping to correct misconceptions about Iraq and the needs of refugees fleeing violence Iraq thought leaders are connected to local speaking engagements wherever they live to help tell Iraq s story Monitor the crisis edit Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor The weekly e mail publication and Blog post is available to policymakers scholars aid workers journalists and anyone interested in analysis of ongoing humanitarian political and security developments in Iraq The publication uses firsthand accounts and Arabic and Kurdish language news outlets as its source material Provide relief edit Emergency Response The organization provides funding to cover emergency medical needs in areas recently cleared of ISIS militants including Mosul Soccer Salam EPIC leads a consortium of non profits who deliver humanitarian relief in the form of food water filtration medicine and other essentials to displaced families in Iraq under the banner of Soccer Salam The program includes donations of soccer balls and equipment for children whenever humanitarian aid is distributed Board of directors editAs of June 2017 the Enabling Peace in Iraq Center s board of directors is composed by the following officers and members 6 Soren Sudhof President Marion Abboud Secretary Hussein al Baya Treasurer Yasmeen Alamiri Zach Brooks Miller Peter Kjeldgaard David Slater Bilal WahabSee also editEPIC Website Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor ISHM EPIC on Facebook EPIC on TwitterReferences edit emhj WHO EMRO Volume 6 issue 4 EMHJ volume 6 2000 Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal www emro who int Retrieved 2016 08 12 Al Araji Adnan 2001 07 07 Iraqi doctors appeal for help from doctors in other countries BMJ British Medical Journal 323 7303 53 doi 10 1136 bmj 323 7303 53 b ISSN 0959 8138 PMC 1120689 PMID 11464839 Spagat Michael September 2010 Truth and Death in Iraq Under Sanctions Significance 7 3 116 120 doi 10 1111 j 1740 9713 2010 00437 x a b Who We Are EPIC Retrieved 2016 08 12 What We Do EPIC Retrieved 2016 08 10 Our Team EPIC Retrieved 2016 08 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Education for Peace in Iraq Center amp oldid 1188007516, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
