Digitally Promoting Middle East Peace

I am a graduate student in mass communication. A lot of my research focuses on media and the Middle East. Today while researching, I ran into a Middle East media project that really impresses me. It's called MideastYouth.com, and its a project designed to promote social change by empowering young people with freedom of expression, and engaging them in dialogue.

I think MideastYouth.com is amazing, because dialogue and cross-cultural understanding is desperately needed in the Middle East. Religious extremism and political violence have created a culture that can nurture hate and distrust in the "other." This platform though, brings together youth from throughout the Arab world. By getting to know one another, and hearing alternate views, perhaps misunderstanding so deeply entrenched can dissolve.

The creators of MideastYouth.com didn't want the site to be a contention-free walk in the park. They made it so upon entering, visitors are directly confronted with hot-bed issues. They've even created a podcast called "Taboo." I noticed this week's "Taboo" topic was "Sex, Relationships and Independence in the Arab World." For a conservative region, that's really getting down to business.

Anyway, I'm not being lazy but you can learn more than I could ever relay by visiting MideastYouth.com.

Thus ends my first post. I've got a long way to go....