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| The Peace Alliance Newsletter July 2008 |
CONTENTS
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Dear [[First_Name]], What an amazing community we continue to create together! This ideal of peace as an organizing principle, including carrying that ideal into the political arena, is a powerful bond. Being a stand for contributing to the healing of the political divide is a principle that can test our convictions, and while not always easy, I applaud us for accepting this challenge, particularly during a Presidential Election. We had a wonderful response to our email last week asking for funds and ideas to support our outreach at both conventions aand have raised $1,200 so far. Thank you very much! We received an opportunity to possibly do something at the RNC (small possibility), nonetheless, I am thankful that we have worked hard to make something happen. In the email last week, I mentioned that you would have an opportunity to call all of our Democratic Members of the House and the Senate and ask them to attend the Tuesday Gelato Reception. We are having a wonderful response to this creative idea (Thanks Shirley Morgan and Barbara Rivera!), inviting our Members of Congress to cool off on a hot Denver day and mix with volunteers to learn more about HR 808 or to thank those who are already cosponsors. Read about how you can help under "Peace Presence at the Conventions" below. And stay connected by joining our monthly National All Call, the first Tuesday of every month. Join our call tonight at 6PM Pacific/7PM Mountain/8PM Central/9PM Eastern at (712) 432-1601, access code 470821#. There are no fees for this call other than your normal long distance rates. Join us and let us know what you are doing in your district and state. In Peace and Appreciation,
Kathy Kidd Peace Presence at the Conventions The Democratic and Republican National Conventions are just around the corner. Thanks to the tireless work of volunteers in Colorado, the Department of Peace Campaign will be hosting a reception for Democratic members of Congress on Tuesday, August 26 during the Democratic National Convention. As of press time, volunteers were burning up the phone lines extending invitations to all Democrats in the House and the Senate to join us to learn more about peacebuilding and the bill. Local leaders have also been invited. We will be calling back this week and next to confirm who will be attending. Take
Action: Just call the receptionist, let them know someone will be calling to confirm and that you would love for them to drop in for some gelato and information about the bill, or if they are a cosponsor, let us thank them with some cool ice cream on a hot day! Here are the details for the event you will need when you call: Tuesday,
August 26, 2008 Gelazzi
Cafe If you get a confirmation that the elected official you called plans to attend, please call Kathy Kidd at (202) 296-1187 or email her at kathy@thepeacealliance.org to let us know to help with our planning. We're also hoping for a similar opportunity at the Republican National Convention. If you can help, contact Kathy Kidd. Make
Peace National Priority
We're already over 75% of the way toward our goal of 5,000 signatures. Won't you help us exceed it? If you haven't yet, sign the "I Stand for Peace" petition and encourage everyone you know to do the same. This is not a partisan issue and it's not about a particular piece of legislation. This is about raising awareness of a largely preventable public health issue that costs billions of dollars and millions of lives each year. We'll take signatures until September 9, and deliver the petition to Congressional leadership on September 11, 2008. Use our Tell A Friend tool to spread the word to your friends and other peace networks. Help us tell Congress that We Stand for Peace. Walking the Talk of Peace
Plans are taking shape across the country for peace-inspired walkathons on September 20, 2008, the second Saturday between Patriot Day (9/11) and the International Day of Peace (9/21), or other dates in that time frame that work for you! It's a fun, creative, dynamic way to raise money and awareness about the Department of Peace. In the Dallas/Ft Worth area, you can run for peace in the first annual Peace Race 4-mile Walk/Run and 1K Kid's Run. Sponsorship and participation opportunities are still available. Visit thepeacerace.com for details. Kentucky brings the food and fun at their "International Walk for Peace," immediately following their second Global Potluck (see pictures from the first one online). In Longmont, CO, walkers will stroll along the beautiful St. Vrain River Greenway and celebrate the success of the groups and individuals who work towards nonviolent resolutions, teach peace, and take proactive steps towards a peaceful existence with our local, national, and global neighbors. What amazing event will you create? Updated resources and planning tools are available online. You can search for a Walk near you, or you can start organizing your own event using our Distributed Event Tool. Just make sure you name your event with your information in the following format: "State, City - Walk for Peace" That makes it easier for folks scanning all of the events to pick out ones in their states. Meet Congress During August Recess August is a great time to meet with your members of Congress and talk with them about the Department of Peace and Nonviolence legislation. Why? Because they're at home! And not only are they home, they're running for re-election. That means that right now through Election Day, they're listening to constituents more than any other time of the year. Gather your friends, wear Department of Peace T-shirts and bring banners to every town hall meeting or election forum. Not only will your elected officials see you, it's a great opportunity to inform and enroll others who are already politically active and inspired. You can find more tips and resources for working with candidates on our website. And
when you do make contact, be sure to report
it! Help us track the amazing work you're doing. Pursuing Party Platforms The party platform process for the Democratic Party is closed to general input, but there's still time for Republicans to give input into their party's platform. The Republican Party is offering grassroots input into its platform via a web-based initiative at: http://www.gopplatform2008.com/intro.aspx. On this website, you can share your thoughts, participate in polls, and communicate directly with the policymakers who will be shaping the party's agenda. The site allows you to submit both text and video-based commentary. The party platform meeting is tentatively scheduled for Aug 25-28. The Republican National convention will be held Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Adapted with permission from information supplied by Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, The Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace. Student Peace Alliance Update By Miranda Fisher As we enter into the month of August, students are being struck with the realization that the start of school is right around the corner. To ensure things run smoothly for Student Peace Alliance chapter leaders, the National Coordinating Committee has devised strategies and tactics for recruitment, and opportunities and ideas for how people can be more involved with SPA. Recruitment and involvement are important to the success of a SPA chapter and the state and regional organizers are looking forward to assisting schools with these essential areas for the 2008-2009 school year. Contact your local Student Peace Alliance chapter to find out what is happening in your district, or send an e-mail to spa.field@thepeacealliance.org. Ask the Peacebuilder Editor's Note: Educator and Peacebuilder Marianne Perez, who holds a masters in Peace and Conflict Studies and is part of New Yorkers for a Department of Peace, will share information and answer your questions about the field of peacebuilding. Read the full text of the column and post your comments or questions on our website under Get Involved>Peacebuilding Conversations>Ask a Peacebuilder. Enjoy! Understanding Violence As we saw last month, violence and conflict are not the same thing. I define violence as physical, psychological, social, economic, or political force or power--threatened or actual--that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation to oneself, another party or the environment. (This is based on the World Health Organization's definition.) Conflict is defined as when two or more parties perceive that they have incompatible goals. (See June discussion). The parties may resolve their conflict in a violent way (This piece of territory is mine and only mine and I'll kill you if you so much as look at it!) or a nonviolent way (Let's figure out how we can all use this piece of territory to meet our needs.). Violence is only one possible option for resolving a conflict. Contrary to what the media--and sometimes even society--seem to imply, violence is not deterministic. Peace scholars generally break violence down into three categories: direct, structural and cultural. Read more and join the conversation on our website. Stories from the Field
-------------------------------------- News
from the World Peace Partnership International an NGO Associated with United Nations On June 30, 2008, Peace Partnership International's application
for official status as an NGO associated the Department of Public
Information of the United Nations was approved. This association
provides us, among other things, access to UN facilities (including
the NGO Resource Center), briefings for NGOs (which feature UN officials,
Government delegates, and other experts), and observer status at
open meetings of UN bodies. Importantly, it greatly enhances our
global networking capacity to further our mission of forging partnerships
for a culture of peace, including the campaign for a UN General Assembly
resolution calling for structures in government to support a culture
of peace. Costa Rica Government to Host Next Global Summit The Government of Costa Rica has agreed to officially host the Fourth Global Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace, which will take place in that country in September 2009. This marks the first Summit to have such official recognition from the government of a host country. For more news of the Global movement for ministries and departments of peace, click here. Monthly Grassroots Conference Calls
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~~~ Resources and Tools to Support You Tabling Tips and Tools for Easy Travel Want to table
but can’t seem to get that table to fit
into the car? San Diego's Brian Gibbs has a solution for you! Check
out the instructions and
even a parts list for putting together your own portable setup for events
tabling and review newly posted Tabling
Tips.
It's everything you need to spread the word this August! New Violence Prevention Report From the Fetzer Institute website: "Two dozen leaders in global violence prevention gathered this May at the Fetzer Institute to discuss ways to mobilize support from the United States for violence prevention in low- and middle-income countries. Chaired by Dr. David Satcher, former Surgeon General of the United States, the meeting included representatives from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Institute of Medicine. Global Violence Prevention, a coalition of researchers and practitioners of violence prevention, organized the meeting and will act on its conclusions. "A report
from this meeting, 'Using
Science to Prevent Violence,' [PDF] prefaced
with a letter from the Nobel Women's Initiative, was released at a June 16
briefing on Capitol Hill. Global Violence Prevention moderated the standing-room-only
event, which was sponsored by Senator Ben Cardin, Senator Chuck Hagel, Congresswoman
Betty McCollum and the Congressional Global Health Caucus." Gates Warns of Militarized Policy According to a July 16 Washington Post article: "Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned yesterday against the risk of a "creeping militarization" of U.S. foreign policy, saying the State Department should lead U.S. engagement with other countries, with the military playing a supporting role. 'We cannot kill or capture our way to victory' in the long-term campaign against terrorism, Gates said, arguing that military action should be subordinate to political and economic efforts to undermine extremism." Read the full article here. ~~~ Support Continues to Grow! Welcome our first Republican cosponsor!
Our total number of cosponsors remains at 70 because Congressman Al Wynn, a previous cosponsor who lost his primary, resigned from Congress last month. For a list of all the Congressional co-sponsors of HR 808, click here. CONGRATULATIONS to the Linn-Benton Dept. of Peace Group, led by Valerie White! The Corvallis, OR, city council passed a resolution in support of the legislation to establish a cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. Read the powerful letter to the editor Valerie wrote in response to press coverage following the resolution. For a list of all 37 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 70 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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Congratulations
everyone! By spreading the word about our I Stand for Peace Petition,
you're helping tell Congress reducing and preventing violence must
be a national priority in the upcoming Congress. 
