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| The Peace Alliance Newsletter April 2008 |
CONTENTS
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As an active junior in high school, I am well aware of our world's injustices that our generation has inherited. I see no reason for fellow humans to desperately suffer under harsh conditions while we easily live a luxurious lifestyle. When I heard about the Student Peace Alliance's efforts for a Department of Peace in the U.S. government, I was delighted that this could be a way I could take action to create peace. Many times it's frustrating, as a teenager, to feel that I do not have the ability to actively contribute to help change the ways of our society. Everyday, the media displays horrid atrocities in other countries that become just another "ordinary" news story of religious genocide and slaughter. I feel as though the numbers of deaths are just considered statistics and not real humans who are fathers, sons, and mothers--family members to loved ones. Through the campaign for a Department of Peace I have learned there are a multitude of strategic grassroots approaches that reduce domestic and global violence. However these practical and effective approaches are rarely sufficiently supported. A Department of Peace that will focus on effective nonviolent strategies gives me a new-found hope that further drives my passion to make a real and greater difference. I've got a little more to say so I hope you will follow this link to read the rest. With hope and grateful appreciation, Nadia Rodriguez Don’t Miss Peace of the Pie
In a mirror action to your efforts, national staff and DC area volunteers will deliver pies and information packets to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, (hopefully all 435 of them!), on May 9. But it won’t have anywhere near the impact of constituents taking time out of their busy lives to sit down with members and staff in-district. You can still join this action! Join a scheduled visit or if no meeting is scheduled, sign up to become a meeting organizer yourself. Even if only one person goes, you'll make a huge difference. Along with your pie, consider taking a pint of Ben & Jerry's Imagine Whirled Peace ice cream! After all, there's nothing quite like pie ala mode! DC area volunteers are still needed to help deliver packets and pies on the Hill. Contact Kathy Kidd to join this action in DC. Buy a Pie for Congress! Any contribution you can make will help us fund this action! Donate now to buy a pie. Thanks for Investing in Peace
These new Peace Partners, Guarantee Fund and Visionary Circle members join our existing sustaining donors in providing the financial core to our work. Without your regular contributions, we'd be unable to sustain this movement. And special thanks to each of you who invited someone to donate to The Peace Alliance. PSA Placement Surpasses Goal While crafting our first public service announcement (PSA), we set a goal of seeing it air on 50 stations nationwide. Thanks to your efforts, we already have it placed on 60 stations from California to Maine to Oklahoma to Michigan. Airing times vary from 30 days to 12 months with most stations agreeing to a 6-month term. We're now working on a Spanish-language version for re-release to Latino television stations not contacted in our initial launch phase, and fundraising to cover production, duplication and shipping costs. You can view the PSA, learn more about the issue of violence and how nonviolent conflict resolution can help, and take your personal stand for peace by signing the petition on our information page. Thank you, Patty Kuderer Presidential Campaign Outreach Help tell candidates that we must Make Peace a Priority. Connect with candidates-–especially Presidential candidates--as they come through your area and help make reducing and preventing violence part of the campaign dialogue! Visit our campaign page for ideas and materials. Stories from the Field
--------------------------------------- Imagine, in Louisville Kentucky, eight countries (many that have experienced the ravages of war) took their place at the table for PEACE! Read more…
--------------------------------------- Southern California State Coordinators John McNeil and Christine Elliot delivered a presentation on "Starting a DOPN Group at Your Spiritual Center/Church" as part of the Texas Regional Conference in Dallas. See five factors for success and more here… --------------------------------------- Florida volunteers watch their numbers and spirits soar while tabling at the MLK "Reclaim the Dream" event in Liberty City, Miami. Read their inspiring report! --------------------------------------- If you are new to our campaign, you can read past stories in our Grassroots Reporting section of the website. Global Connections September Sydney Summit The Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace is a worldwide community of individuals and campaigns calling for structures in government to support a culture of peace. The Global Alliance began at its first Global Summit in London in 2005. The second and third Global Summits were held in Victoria (British Columbia), Canada, and Kisarazu, Japan, in 2006 and 2007, respectively. And, now, plans are well underway for the fourth Global Summit this September 17-25 in Sydney, Australia. Included will be a sharing of country status reports, celebrations of youth and the International Day of Peace, trainings, workshops, panel discussions, and a possible visit with Kevin Rudd, the new Prime Minister of Australia. Even a beach party! The Global Alliance community has grown with each successive Summit. In keeping with that tradition, Sydney Summit attendees are expected from several "new" countries, as well. And the fifth Global Summit is already planned to be held in Costa Rica in 2009! Education and Awareness Defense
Secretary Gates Calls for Increase in Civilian Peacebuilding Capacity --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Two winners will be selected--one from college, one from high school—each receiving $1,000 and a Nation subscription. Essays are due May 31, 2008. Visit The Nation’s website for information. Monthly Grassroots Conference Calls
Hosting a Peace Empowered Event? Don't forget you can list it using our Distributed Events Tool. You can always see all listed events (if any) or Search for events on this page. Note that Peace of the Pie events have their own search and organizer sign up pages so please do not use the above links/pages for Peace of the Pie. And don't forget, you can also create your own fundraising campaigns! |
~~~ Regional Conferences Congratulations to grassroots organizers in the Northeast, Mountain States, Northwest and South Central regions. We've been hearing amazing reports and gratitude from participants in all of the regional conferences held so far. Each has inspired longtime Department of Peace campaign supporters and spread the word to new volunteers. It's not too late to join a regional conference. June 19-22 will find the Midwest region Building a Culture of Peace in the Heartland. We've added a new conference in Florida July 18-20 (details coming soon). And Californians will come together in Berkeley to explore A World Beyond Violence August 1-3. Get more information and find links to register for your regional conference (where available) here.
~~~ New Tools You can now find links to our past eNewsletter in our new eMail Archive on the webite. It is located under Resources on the menu. ~~~ Support Continues to Grow! Charlottesville Makes 35! Congratulations Charlottesville, VA, volunteers! The city council passed a resolution in support of HR 808 on April 7, 2008. The resolution also urged Rep. Virgil Goode to support the legislation and Senators Jim Webb and John Warner to introduce companion legislation in the Senate and actively support its passage. See the resolution online. For a list of all 35 cities, counties, and tribal councils who have endorsed the Department of Peace and Nonviolence, and to find out how you can do likewise in your city, click here For a list of the 69 Congressional co-sponsors of HR 808, click here. For a list of organizations endorsing the Department of Peace campaign, and a form to sign up yours, click here. ~~~ Quote of the Month
If you have a favorite quotable from a notable about peace or evocative of what peace means, we will be happy to consider it for this space. Please email us at Quotable Quotes. ~~~ Get Active in your Community! ~~~ Supporting The Peace Alliance Visit
Our Store Shopforpeace.net ~ Do you Shop Online? If you shop online for books, music, electronics, appliances or any other products, consider using our affiliate link with Amazon.com or the iGive participant stores. Amazon.com For every purchase you make using this link, we get a percentage of the sale. If you already shop regularly online, this is a simple way to help fund the work of The Peace Alliance! Click here.
Join iGive.com to support The Peace Alliance. Their online mall features over 685 trusted online retailers like Lands' End, Staples, NORDSTROM, JC Penney, eBay, Expedia.com, Barnes & Noble, QVC, & PETsMART to name just a few! A percentage of EACH purchase is donated back to The Peace Alliance, plus a bonus $5 donation if you shop within 45 days. The more stores you visit, the more chances to win a $1,000 donation during the Surfathon! No purchase required. Please Join iGive and do your shopping for peace. ~~~ Update Your Profile |
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