a selman project

It’s no secret that every nation has its own unique culture, demographics, and associated social issues. Unfortunately, sometimes our perception of many countries is shaped most by the negative issues which bubble up in the media. Worse still, is that many countries go both unheard of and unheard by the larger world.

Thankfully, every nation equally produces individuals who devote and sacrifice themselves to the principles of peace, freedom, and equality. The Peace Post project began as a means to shine a light on individuals from around the globe who are champions of peace.

As a starting point, we determined that every sovereign nation should be represented in the project with a few key disputed states entered at our discretion. As a referential guide for each illustration, we profiled each country with a keen eye on the progression of traditional and contemporary visual styles associated with the art and culture.

In choosing which individual to profile for each country, we first referenced Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, notable omissions, and various other international peace awards looking for potential candidates. In several cases when a nation was not represented by a winner of a major peace award, we used our own research to find an individual who represented associated ideals and actions of peace advocacy.

We elected to represent the chosen individuals as a series of stamps for several reasons. Stamps have a long history of commemorating important people and events. Stamps are collectible and shareable. Perhaps most importantly, stamps represent a vehicle of correspondence and dialogue.

Our goal was to learn more about these countries, the positive people there, and share their stories with you.

For more information please contact:
chris@selmandesign.com
peacepost on instagram:
@projectpeacepost
Copyright and disclaimer
The content of this web site contains information, photographs, and media intended solely for educational purposes.

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Mussie “Father Moses” Zeraii

  • Eritrea
  • Human Rights

Mussie “Father Moses” Zeraii, a Catholic priest of Eritrean descent, gained global recognition when he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2015. His remarkable work focuses on aiding migrants and refugees attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. His efforts involve receiving distress calls from migrants via satellite phones and then relaying critical information, including GPS coordinates, to coast guards in Italy, Malta, and EU naval authorities, enabling them to launch rescue operations. Father Mussie began his mission in 2003 when he provided his contact information to a journalist seeking assistance for Eritreans trapped in Libyan detention camps. His number quickly spread by word of mouth, even ending up scrawled on the walls of a Libyan prison. Over the past 15 years, he has become a vital crisis hotline for the Mediterranean, receiving calls from as far away as Yemen and Indonesia. Additionally, he founded the volunteer-driven “Watch the Med” call center, which now operates with the support of several dozen multilingual volunteers.

Eritrea

  • Population
    5,869,869
  • Capital
    Asmara
  • GDP (PPP)
    $1,349
  • April 27, 1993
  • Total Area
    117,600 km2 (101st)
  • Demonym
    Eritrean
  • Government
    Unitary one-party presidential republic

Artwork

To celebrate his esteemed position as a Catholic priest and influential leader in the Eritrean diaspora community, I sought to honor his faith by featuring a golden halo as the focal point in his portrait. Additionally, I wanted to pay homage to the rich artistic heritage of Eritrea by using a pattern inspired by Eritrean arts and culture, creating a blend of spirituality and traditional aesthetics.

  • Illustration by
    Fran Matos