Centre for Applied NonViolent Conflict and Strategies

1. CANVAS: Who we are? Centre for Applied NonViolent Conflict and Strategies (CANVAS) is non-profit, non-governmental international network oriented to educational work related to strategic nonviolent conflict. Our mission is to reach widest possible international audience, in order to share experiences and learn more on Strategic nonviolent conflict and examine related knowledge transfer Methods for spreading this knowledge in the future. Email:office@canvasopedia.org Website:www.canvasopedia.org

2. From 2002-2009 CANVAS organized or participated in 106 workshops or conferences with more than 1800 participants coming from 59 different countries trying to empower non-violent movements or help international organizations to act in more efficient manner. Together with its partners CANVAS has developed Curriculum for transferring knowledge on nonviolent struggle and has published two books. Together with Belgrade University CANVAS has developed graduate studies on methods of Nonviolent social change, which has started in February 2008.

3. EXAMPLE CANVAS ACTIVITIES 2007-2010 Where we are? In 2007-2010 CANVAS has organized or participated in: 62 workshops, transferring knowledge to groups from 46countries with total of 524working days

4. EUROPEUkraine (2002) Belarus (2002, 2006-2009) Georgia (2003, 2007) Turkey (2007) Ireland (2007) Spain (2007) NORTH AMERICA USA (2006,2008) ASIA / MIDDLE EAST Azerbaijan (2004) Lebanon (2004, 2007) North Korea (2005) Iran (2005,2006,2007) Palestine (2004,2006) Uzbekistan (2006) Kazakhstan (2006) Kyrgyzstan (2006)Maldives (2006,2007) Vietnam (2007-2009) Jordan (2007) Egypt (2007,2009) Syria (2007, 2009) Iraq (2009) AFRICA Zimbabwe (2002,2003, 2006, 2007-2009) Eritrea (2006) Siera Leone (2007) Liberia (2007) Ivory coast (2007) West Sahara (2007) Nigeria (2007) Ghana (2007) SOUTH AMERICA Colombia (2004) Venezuela (2005) Cuba (2005) Guatemala (2007) Bolivia (2008) AUSTRALIA&OCEANIA West Papua, Fiji, Tonga (2006)

5. CANVAS – success list: 1. GEORGIA, 2003: knowledge transfer to “Kmara” movement which has launched “Revolution of Roses” and replaced Kuchma. Shakkashvilli sworn president 2. UKRAINE:, 2004: Knowledge transfer and trainings for “PORA” movement who was a leading engine of “Orange Revolution” 3. LEBANON: Training initial groups who has performed “Ceddar Revolution” in 2004, launching million-people sit in after Harriri’s assassination with the effect of Syrian troops leaving Lebanon after 35 years of conflict 4. MALDIVES: October 2008 Electoral victory of MDP and its democratic allies against dictator Gayoom. Mohamed Rasheed Anni elected as first democratic president of this tiny and 100% Muslim country.

6. CANVAS – key ongoing references: 1. ZIMBABWE – Ongoing projects with coalition of opposition and NGO sector 2. BOLIVIA, VENEZUELA – successful preparation of 2008 GOTV and “NO” referendum campaign and forthcoming 2009. elections with groups from Santa Cruz. Official statements of president Chavez pointing “OTPOR as main troublemakers in Venezuela” 3. BELARUS- Ongoing program with student groups and NGO`s 4. BURMA, VIETNAM TIBET – trainings with activists from inside countries, including meetings with Central Tibetan Administration and Dalai Lama 5. MIDDLE EAST – ongoing projects in Syria and Iraq, consultation with Iran pro-democracy groups

7. CANVAS- Cooperation and Partnerships: • Freedom house • International Republican Institute (IRI) • United States institute for Peace (USIP) • Albert Einstein Institution • International centre on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) • TUFT (Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy), Boston, MA • Colorado College (CO) • Grinnell College (IO) • Rutgers College (NJ, NY) • Kings College (London, UK) • Belgrade Faculty of Political Science

8. CANVAS Target audiences

9. METHODS for knowledge transfer • Workshops • Tools (existing tools, curriculum and reference list of books and articles, A Force More Powerful video game, movies and DVD’s) • International Network of trainers and consultants (7 trainers from Serbia, 3 from Georgia, 2 from Lebanon, 1 from Philippines and one from South Africa) • Educational content upgrade – New modules, University course, Specialized courses

10. TOOLS for spreading and transfering knowledge

11. TOOLSfor spreading and transfering knowledge • Curriculum on nonviolent struggle for activists (Complete Teacher`s book, Student`s book, Basic and Advanced course • Handbook manual for activists “Nonviolent struggle – 50 crucial points” (available in 5 languages) • Three – Subject Master studies (Strategy, methods and tactics of nonviolent social change”) on Belgrade University Together with its partners and other international organizations we have successfully developed:

12. BASIC CONCLUSIONS: 2 1 Every single group practicing strategic nonviolent action adds to knowledge and list of methods Know-how on strategic non-violent struggle can be effectively transferred 3 5 4 Revolutions cannot be exported/ Imported Oppressors tend to learn as well! There is a rising interest and request for this type of knowledge transfer

13. SUMMARY: Rising interest and request for this type of knowledge transfer Tools for disseminating this knowledge produced and distributed by international organizations (Albert Einstein Institutions, ICNC, CANVAS) tend to be distributed all over the world, and activists find a way to translate it and distribute it within countries, which results in rising interest for dissemination of this type of knowledge as well as number of requests for workshops Systematic upgrade of tools as well as building international cohort of educators able to transfer this knowledge is an activity which can help non-violent movements worldwide in future