Erik Gustafson
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erikkgustafson.bsky.social
Erik Gustafson
@erikkgustafson.bsky.social
Climate action is the secret of joy. Dad, veteran, long-distance runner, and director of Enabling Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC)
I just received a postcard from my friend Zik from Arua—a town on Uganda's distant periphery 295 miles from Kampala—and posted it here: gofund.me/ad118b28

Please check out the update and consider backing Zik's mission to bring #FOSS to young entrepreneurs and changemakers across #EastAfrica!
April 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
As spring breathes renewal into our world, we celebrate the hope and togetherness that unite us all. Happy Easter to all my friends and fam who are celebrating—and warmth and solidarity to everyone. In diversity, strength. 🌸☕️
#Easter2025
April 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Reposted by Erik Gustafson
Markets have not yet factored in the impact of mass cuts in gov't spending, Moses told Fortune. DOGE has jeopardized private contractors, small biz, and the labor market. “It's not as simple as, ‘We think there's fraud & waste, let's cut expenses,’”
finance.yahoo.com/news/big-sho...
‘The Big Short’ investor who predicted the 2008 crash warns the market is ‘underestimating’ the economic impact of DOGE’s mass spending cuts
The cost-cutting spree isn’t limited to government—billions in private-business contracts are affected, Danny Moses told Fortune.
finance.yahoo.com
March 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Today my colleague Omar and I dropped our latest conversation, where we break down the top 10 reasons why a sovereign, stable and inclusive #Iraq remains a vital interest of the U.S. and international community.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJLS...
Top Ten U.S. Interests in Iraq
YouTube video by EPIC
www.youtube.com
March 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Wishing a blessed month of reflection to my dear Muslim friends and colleagues near and far! #RamadanKareem
March 4, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Whether you’re skeptical or supportive of USAID or foreign assistance, Omar and I hope you'll learn something new about why America invests in humanitarian assistance, global health, and development in #Iraq and other countries around the world.

youtu.be/mXW68NprSF0
Foreign Aid Fact & Fiction
YouTube video by EPIC
youtu.be
February 24, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Reposted by Erik Gustafson
America is in the midst of the most self destructive period in its foreign policy history. And from the country that gave you the Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam wars, that’s saying a lot.
February 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
US friends, please call your Senators via 202-224-3121 & Rep. via 202-225-3121! Urge them to save USAID + lift the freeze on U.S. foreign assistance that since 1990 has helped helped lift over a billion people out of extreme poverty + cut maternal, infant, and child mortality rates by roughly half.
February 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
My heart goes out to all of the grieving families.

Getting answers is essential for our air safety.

Washington Crash Renews Concerns About Air Safety Lapses www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/b...
Clues From D.C. Plane Crash Suggest Multiple Failures in Aviation Safety
Clues emerging from the moments before an Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet suggest breakdowns in the system meant to help aircraft land safely at the busy Reagan National Airport.
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
There are friends whose friendship helps define you. Phebe Marr was one of those friends for me. Her journey into a life of love for & scholarship on #Iraq mirrors the journey that many other "Iraq watchers" like me have taken. #RIPPhebe www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...
January 26, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Help my friend Zik, an open-source advocate from Uganda, speak at top tech conferences in the US & Europe. Let’s power his travel and amplify his mission to bring affordable, innovative tech solutions to Africa!
gofund.me/1b774382 #OpenSource #Innovation #Africa #TechForGood
Donate to Fund Zik's Journey to Global Tech Conferences, organized by Erik Gustafson
Meet my best mate Zik (the visionary-looking guy on the left in the photo… Erik Gustafson needs your support for Fund Zik's Journey to Global Tech Conferences
gofund.me
January 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
This week, Omar & I discuss the Iraqi Parliament's controversial vote on amendments to 3 laws: the 1959 Personal Status Law, the 2016 General Amnesty Law, and Baath-era legislation that confiscated lands from Kurds & Turkmen in the mid-to-late 1970s. #Iraq #HumanRights
youtu.be/-AgxAPLuIy4?...
Iraq's Dangerous Slide to Theocracy
YouTube video by EPIC
youtu.be
January 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Some timely 'food for thought' on this day, January 25, 2025, the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge - WWII's deadliest battle for U.S. forces against fascism - open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
January 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Omar and I are excited to share news of this important victory for Iraq's environmental movement and the preservation of world heritage!

youtu.be/qj0n5Gi4tFg
IRAQ in 7 Minutes: A Win for the Environment & World Heritage
YouTube video by EPIC
youtu.be
November 25, 2024 at 7:05 AM
We’re 20% toward our $25k goal to support Iraq’s environmental movement! Help empowers bold young activists like Ali Kamil, fighting for clean air, safe water, and a brighter future for #Iraq. Together we can protect lives, demand justice, and create lasting change. Donate today: gofund.me/b45c6a41
November 19, 2024 at 2:26 PM