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Kalamazoo, MI, City Commission Resolution |
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At its October 15, 2007, meeting, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted unanimously to support HR 808, the bill that would establish a cabinet-level Department of Peace. Kalamazoo’s vote comes just two weeks after Lansing city officials adopted a similar resolution. A copy of the resolution will be sent to U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, as well as to U.S. Representative Fred Upton, whose district includes Kalamazoo.
Robert Weir of Kalamazoo is the Department of Peace district leader in southwest Michigan. He complimented the Commission for exercising its constitutional right to voice concerns to federal legislators who make decision that impact Kalamazoo and its citizenry. “You are telling the federal government, ‘Please vote to make this Department of Peace and Nonviolence concept a reality. Please do what you can to reduce the tragedy and the cost of violence internationally and within our community,’” Weir said.
Weir also reminded Commissioners how much violence costs the United States. “The cost of violence within our country far exceeds war costs,” he said. “First, there is the untold loss of lives, and grief and suffering. Then there’s the financial cost. We spend about $300 billion – that’s ‘billion’ with a ‘b’ – every year just on violence within our country.”
The City of Kalamazoo is the 27th governmental unit in the United States to adopt a Department of Peace and Nonviolence resolution. Five of these are in Michigan: Hamtramck (the first city in the nation to do so), Detroit, Lansing, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Resolutions are currently being considered by Grand Rapids and Manistee County, as well.
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