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U.S.
Department of Peace INSIDE:
BREAKING NEWS... Department
of Peace on NPR
Third Annual Mother’s Day
National Action Day
Join us in our third annual Mother’s Day “Peace of the Pie” National Action Day! On May 11th (the Friday before Mother's Day), gather members of your community to take pies to your local Congressional offices, letting your members of Congress know that “Peace wants a Piece of the Pie,” (i.e., the federal budget). We know all too well the lack of attention and resources that serious peacebuilding efforts receive in our nation. It’s time for that to change. Your participation in this Mother's Day-inspired campaign is a creative way for us to get out the word about the Department of Peace and to let Congress know that we want our government to make peacebuilding a national investment priority. PARTICIPATE! Sign up to organize or join activities in your area! Click here… At this early date, we already have 8 states and 14 cities setting up meetings. Get active in your area to launch a campaign! Your participation can consist of any one or all of the actions listed below. Please don’t let this list limit or intimidate you; it is your own individual/group’s availability and creativity that should guide your actions. Do as much or as little as you are willing and able to do -- it will all have an impact.
To see photos and media generated from local “Peace of the Pie” events last year, click here… Be creative, have fun!
Below is an update from 17-year-old
member of the National Student Peace Alliance Coordinating Committee,
Danielle Gram, on an education and postcard campaign she undertook
at her high school. Danielle wrote this message to her local San Diego
area campaign team. Dearest Peacemakers, I wanted to let you all know of the enormous success the postcard campaign has been. Yesterday, I brought 120 pre-postmarked cards...to school to try to see if any teachers would allow me to present about the Department of Peace in my classes. Not only did every single teacher allow me to take class time to explain the bill, teach students how to write to a senator, and ask for their future support, but all of the teachers asked me to speak to their other classes too. By the end of the day, I was already entirely out of the 120 cards so I headed off to Jill's to pick up the leftover postcards she had from the Chili Peppers. Today, I was even more inspired (after staying up late last night crossing out the old bill numbers on over 800 postcards) as students committed to sharing the Department of Peace message with their friends and family members. The incident that touched me most occurred after speaking to my AP English class when a student who notoriously has the most opposite views of mine possible...came up to me after class asking if I would speak to his swim team and family and bring 100 cards. As fiercely conservative as he is, he said that the matter of peace and nonviolence must become a national nonpartisan issue and that he would support the effort in any way possible. Reading through the stack of cards I now have is even more inspiring. These teens all have something powerful to say and are desperately asking Senator Boxer for her support. Out of the 300-some odd students I have spoken to so far, all but 4 signed cards and every single one has an honest and clear message. I was planning on holding another campus activism day, but physically going into classes seems much more effective for truly articulating the bill and doing it justice. Thank you all for making this postcard campaign a success! I am confident Senator Boxer will see the thousands and thousands of cards as a sign that now is the time to act! ! In peace,
ministry for peace is delighted to inform you all that the British Government this week published a new policy entitled 'Preventing Violent Conflict'. This policy was based on wide consultations including submissions from Transcend and ministry for peace. It is particularly significant that no less than five government departments consulted on and support this new policy - The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office, the Treasury, and the Department for International Development. We are also especially delighted that the launch event for this new policy was hosted by the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues which was set up and is managed by ministry for peace. The minister, Hilary Benn gave a brilliant speech which we will send you very soon. Meanwhile, you can read the policy document at - Very best wishes from all at ministry for peace and good luck with all your endeavours. Irving Rappapor
Get Active in your Community!
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Paula
Abdul
Two New Rep. Dale Kildee [MI-5-D] These two members of the House of Representatives are brand new co-sponsors. This brings our current total to 62 Representatives signed on in support of H.R. 808. Congratulations to all who helped make it happen! Please call these two new co-sponsors,
regardless of where you live, and thank them for their commitment to
the legislation. You can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard to be connected:
Marianne Williamson on Oprah & Friends "Passionate for Peace" The Peace Alliance Chair, Marianne Williamson, has her own weekly XM radio show on the Oprah & Friends block. During the week of March 26th, listen to a special one-hour broadcast that addresses the importance of peace in our lives today. From politics to social issues to personal and spiritual peace, the special includes interviews from Aerosmith's Steve Tyler and "The Secret's" Michael Beckwith, as well as remarks from Denise Brown and Amy Smart at the 2007 Annual Peace Alliance Conference in Washington, D.C. Check
for details
Conference Calls Peace
of the Pie Media All Call The National Media Team is hosting a call to help you generate coverage for your Peace of the Pie activities! Learn the ins and outs of targeting key media, pitching a great story, and working with the press. Get your questions answered and get great support. Join us! Nonviolent
Communications These calls are intended to support you in your communication challenges with regards to your work, using the methods of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to enhance the effectiveness of the Dept. of Peace campaign. Monthly
All Call All active campaigners or anyone interested in learning about what we are doing are encouraged to be on this call. We review campaign activities, talk with guest speakers and share success stories from around the country. Fundraising
and Event All Call Interested in learning more about fundraising and events?
Want support for ideas you're hatching? Join the call! National Fundraising Event Production Team Specifically
for people who are creating (or want to help create) a special event
to raise funds for The Peace Alliance, this dynamic and creative group
meets periodically to co-create awesome events that help fund this historic
campaign! Contact Judy Kimmel at judy[at]thepeacealliance.org for details. D.C. Conference Follow-up surveys If you attended our recent D.C. conference, we would love your feedback. We have a congressional meeting survey and a conference survey for you to fill out.
The Peace Alliance Foundation Volunteers wanted! The Foundation is looking for a few good volunteers! If interested, please go here.
YOUCAN
Student Peace Alliance coordinator Aaron Voldman (above) gave a keynote address at the 4-day National YOUCAN Conference in Ottawa last week. Read more...
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