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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Activist Type
Region

Serikzhan Bilash

  • Kazakhstan
  • Human Rights

Serikzhan Bilash, an ethnic Kazakh from Xinjiang, China, is a prominent human rights activist who has endured many tribulations in his awareness campaign against Chinese “reeducation camps.” Tens of thousands of Kazakh people in the Xinjiang region have been sent to these camps, along with hundreds of thousands of other Muslims. Bilash founded the human rights group Atajurt Eriktileri (Volunteers of the Fatherland) to keep record of and advocate for the release of detainees, as well as give support to family members. Atajurt has created one of the most important and extensive accounts of the camps to date, compiling first-hand interviews and data from released individuals.

Due to political backlash, Bilash was arrested by Kazakh officials and charged in March 2019. He was released after a plea bargain was settled, barring him from partaking in activism against China for seven years. The pressure did not stop there, so Bilash and his family moved to Turkey where they now reside. Bilash’s group, Atajurt, is at risk, and is trying to register in Turkey to gain recognition as a human rights group. Bilash plans to return to Kazakhstan when pressure subsides so he, his family and organization can live freely.

Kazakhstan

  • Population
    18,050,488
  • Capital
    Astana & Almaty
  • GDP (PPP)
    $25,669
  • December 10, 1991
  • Total Area
    2,742,900 km2 (9th)
  • Demonym
    Kazakh
  • Government
    Unitary dominant-party presidential republic

Artwork

The symbols and color of the Kazakh flag are reassembled in relation to Bilash’s profile, echoing the border and tension between the Xinjiang region and the Kazakh people. The presence of gold reflects his light and courage in an homage to the culture’s diverse art history.

  • Illustration by
    John Paul Chirdon