Martin Smedjeback's Page

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

The horrible poverty in the world and the generous sums spend on the military.

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

Born 27th of June 1973 in Malmö, Sweden. Living in Stockholm since 2001. Worked in the psychiatric care in Malmö, Lund and Uppsala from 1992-2001. Studied psychology, sociology, development science, astronomy, theology, literature and philosophy at Lund University.

Spent five months in a Coptic Orthodox monastery in Cairo, Egypt working in a school.

President of the Swedish Student Christian Movement from 1998-2001. Was involved with several international exchanges during this time with South Africa, Burma etc. Volunteering in a development project in the north of India in 2000.

Worked for SweFOR (Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation) as the secretary of nonviolence from 2001 until 2008. Worked with information and education in nonviolence in Sweden and Sudan.

Ecumenical Accompanier in Israel and Palestine the summer of 2004. Nonviolent civil disobedience actions for disarmament in England, USA and Sweden.

Author of "Nonviolence in Israel and Palestine" and numerous articles on nonviolence, Burma, Israel/Palestine and Sudan.

Works as a peace activist and freelance nonviolence educator and speaker. In 2008 and 2009 working against the Swedish weapons export.

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

Sweden, Sudan, USA, Burma, Israel, Palestine, South Africa, India

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

Sweden

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

Peace activist and nonviolence educator

What is your personal or organizational website?

http://www.avrusta.se

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://www.ofog.org

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://www.transnational.org

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Education, Media

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Advocacy, Program Design

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

Nonviolence, weapons export, happiness research.