Supporting Peace is as Easy as Pie
Fourth Annual Mother's Day National Action Day Brings Sweet Rewards
May 9th, 2008

Let [us] solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace
~ Julia Ward Howe

From coast-to-coast, Department of Peace supporters cooked up creative ways to ask their members of Congress to support HR 808 during our fourth annual Mother’s Day-inspired national action, "Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie." Below is a summary of some of the experiences we heard about. You can read more reports from activists in our "Stories From the Field" section of the website.

In Kentucky, Louisville area resident Kim Summers-Bates organized a multi-national group that included a Princess from Rwanda, representatives from Tanzania, Trinidad and the Congo, a retired U.S. Naval Officer and other local citizens all of whom delivered pies to delighted recipients and talked about the need to proactively work for and fund peacebuilding programs and policies.

"Our message was simple - supporting peace is as easy as pie," said Summers-Bates, the Kentucky State Coordinator for the Department of Peace Campaign. Summers-Bates added that her group also includes people from Tibet, Togo, and Iran, and now a Palestinian family she met while delivering pies who are eager to join the movement. "People everywhere yearn for peace. Our campaign gives them the opportunity to put their feelings into action."

In Charleston, South Carolina, a local chef opened the doors of his cooking school to willing pie-makers of all ages, providing the ingredients and coaching in addition to the space. Ten-year-old Mimi thought her pie would help make whoever ate it more peaceful.

"I think my pies are going to help with peace because I was thinking of peaceful thoughts while I was making the pie. So I think that will put a lot of peace into whoever eats it," Mimi said.

"We're hoping our Representatives will 'bite' on HR 808," said Dee Partridge, South Carolina State Coordinator for the Department of Peace Campaign. "Pun aside, violence remains an issue in our country and the world. It's time to tackle this problem in a sensible, smart, and strategic fashion, and a U.S. Department of Peace will help us do just that."

Washington, DC: Mirroring activities by grassroots volunteers across the nation, 440 peace pies representing the federal budget were available for pick up on Capitol Hill by all members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including representatives from the American territories.

"We handed out over 300 pies in the pouring rain," said Peace Alliance National Field Coordinator, Kathy Kidd. "We had great conversations about HR 808, and everyone enjoyed the pie," said Kidd, adding that members also received a packet of information on HR 808 with a reminder that "Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie."

For more reports from volunteers, visit our grassroots "Stories From the Field" pages.