Journalists and Writers Foundation: Dialogue is the Major Goal
"We can think differently, but this difference does not necessarily make us enemies. There is nothing more natural than thinking differently," said Mustafa Yeşil, head of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), on a television program on Sept. 23, adding that the ability to engage in dialogue over differences is what matters most.
Respecting differences and coming together are the two main principles of the foundation. Stressing that Islam also has a positive view about differences, Yeşil stated that Surah al-Ma'idah in the Quran says people were created in nations and tribes so that they may get to know each other. "The surah talks about ethnic division. If such ethnic division facilitates people getting to know each other, ideological differences also provide grounds in which people can get to know each other. Ethnicity is seen as a problem as are cultural and religious differences, yet they are not. Indeed they can all be pieces of a complete mosaic," he said.
In addition to respecting differences and promoting dialogue, the foundation also works to enhance the culture of living together. It is also interested in the issues that journalists are interested in. The foundation's activities are carried out through the work of its four platforms, and the foundation's efforts serve its ultimate goals.
Four platforms to enhance dialogue
The foundation maintains its activities through four platforms, which are the Abant, Intercultural Dialogue, Dialogue Eurasia and Medialog platforms, and its publication houses.
The Abant Platform is the most well known of the platforms since it deals with critical issues on the country's agenda. In regular meetings of the Abant Platform, which takes its name from the venue of its first meeting, the Abant district of Bolu, Turkey's intellectuals participate in discussions on issues such as democracy, human rights, state issues, secularism, globalization and religion. The platform also aims to strengthen cooperation and increase dialogue between intellectuals, and it has already started to promote dialogue abroad with meetings outside Turkey. In three meetings — one held at Johns Hopkins University in the United States named "Islam, Secularism and Democracy: The Turkish Experience," another at the European Parliament in Brussels called "Culture, Identity and Religion in the Process of Turkey's EU Membership" and a third at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris named "Republic, Cultural Pluralism and Europe" — the groundwork for productive international brainstorming was laid.
Stressing that the platform is the perfect example of communication between different ideologies, GYV head Yeşil said: "You know about Abant. The participants do not share a common ideology. No one cares if a person is agnostic in these meetings. We talk about the issues of Turkey, and no sane person could say it is wrong to meet as part of the activities of the platform."
Another of the foundation's platforms, the Intercultural Dialogue Platform (KADİP), carries out vital missions, especially in the religious world, because it promotes communication between cultures and religions. "A lot of spiritual leaders residing in Turkey say [Fethullah] Gülen — the former head of the foundation and the current honorary president — and the foundation were the first to knock on their doors," Yeşil explained.
The platform brings together spiritual leaders, scientists and artists in order to produce universal solutions to the universal problems of terrorism and war. In an attempt to prove that differences do not cause disputes and fighting, but instead are a source of richness, large events such as one in Mardin province in 2000 and another in Harran, Şanliurfa, in 2004 have taken place. The platform also organizes programs every January to bring spiritual leaders together to pray for peace.
In addition to bringing together the leaders of the three Abrahamic religions, KADİP also includes spiritual leaders of other faiths. The platform fosters intercultural and interreligious dialogue. "The leaders of other faiths are also the children of this soil, Turkey. Just like us, they were born here, and they buried their grandparents in this soil," Yeşil noted, highlighting that Islam never prohibits dialogue between Muslims and people of other faiths. "Islam tries to agree on a common ground," he added.
The Dialogue Eurasia Platform (DA) aims to build bridges among Eastern European and Central Asian countries with which Turkey has had historical, religious and linguistic connections for centuries. The platform also translates the writings of intellectuals from these regions. The platform was established because of the need for further communication in Eurasia, especially after the collapse Soviet Union. Stating that the connections among these nations, which had been lost for almost 100 years, has been established again, Yeşil noted that the platform was founded to facilitate communication between intellectuals in the region, adding that country committees were formed to take part in the platform. "The committees include the best authors, journalists and academicians of these countries," Yeşil said.
In an attempt to create cultural dialogue in the media, another of the foundation's platforms, the Medialog Platform, aims to bring the news from its source to audiences while upholding the principles of media ethics. The platform holds meetings, conferences, panel discussions and trips, providing a basis for international cooperation among local and foreign journalists.
The source of finance is devotion
The vast amount of work the foundation does also brings questions of financing to mind. Stating that the foundation maintains its activities through sponsors and through their own means, Yeşil emphasized that their activities do not involve large amounts of money. "Turkish intellectuals attend the programs because of their devotion to creating dialogue. Only very basic needs are met by us," he said.
Yeşil noted that institutions such as banks support them when an event is held on an issue that is of interests to them and that they also get support from universities and other foundations when it comes to finding venues for their activities. "For example, in an event we held in France, Sorbonne University provided the venue, and in another event, an Iraqi institution helped us to find a place," he said.
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