Guest guest Posted February 25, 2003 Report Share Posted February 25, 2003 New Campaign to Create U.S. Department of Peace! Express Your Voice in Washington! Help us Spread the Word! Global Renaissance Alliance Takes on Major Project CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE Since its inception in l998, the Global Renaissance Alliance has been dedicated to a marriage of spiritual and political principle. We are devoted to the creation of a new political consciousness, based upon the non- violent principles articulated by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Fundamental change, in the words of Dr. King, involves a ³qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.² The GRA has sought to foster personal transformation as a foundation for societal change. The reason Gandhi said we must be the change we wish to see happen in the world, is because if we do not become the change, the change will not occur. Over the last three years, we have stressed the internal aspects of peace: how through prayer, meditation, education, envisioning, sacred conversation and deep listening, we can achieve the personal transformation necessary to become authentic non-violent activists. We have met in small circles, built deep community, articulated a more peaceful vision for the planet, and empowered our members to take leadership positions in bringing these visions forth in their own communities. Now, having achieved a field of peaceful consciousness among ourselves, we are ready to approach politics in a new and transformed way. We invite you join with us as we participate in a concerted, strategic grass-roots effort to support Congressman Dennis Kucinich¹s proposed legislation to establish a Cabinet-level Department of Peace within the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government. Congressman Kucinich¹s legislation to create a Department of Peace focuses on individual and group responsibilities for establishing non- violence as an organizing principle in society. The Department of Peace would focus on nonmilitary peaceful conflict resolutions, prevent violence and promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights. Domestically, the Department would be responsible for developing policies which address issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, mistreatment of the elderly, and other issues of cultural violence. Internationally, the Department would analyze foreign policy and make recommendations to the President on matters pertaining to national security, including the protection of human rights and the prevention and de-escalation of unarmed and armed international conflict. The Department would also have an Office of Peace Education. This office would work with educators in elementary, secondary and universities to develop and implement curricula instructing students in peaceful conflict resolution skills. In addition, a Peace Academy, modeled after the military service academies, would be established to provide instruction in peace education and offer opportunities for graduates to serve in programs dedicated to domestic or international nonviolent conflict resolution. Please visit our website at www.renaissancealliance.org to read the bill in its entirety, as it includes many additional peace-building proposals that will help dismantle the structures that foster violence. With this legislation, we have the opportunity to bring a sensibility of non-violence into the structure of the United States government. There is no goal more worthy of our efforts. None of us need feel, at such a time as this, that there is nothing we can do to help restore the world to peace. Each of us, with both our prayers and our behavior, can make a difference in where history goes now. Let us create the political will to bring the Department of Peace into law. Each of us, as citizens, can lobby our own Congresspeople and communicate effectively with our fellow citizens, to build the necessary Congressional support for the Department of Peace legislation. The GRA will provide the necessary tools to participate in this effort, as we join in concerted lobbying for the bill as soon as it is introduced into the House of Representatives. To kick off this campaign, please join us in Washington D.C. on April 6-8 for an urgent and inspiring gathering of non-violent activists, culminating in Congressman Kucinich¹s introduction of the Department of Peace legislation during the current session of Congress. Join Congressman Kucinich, Marianne Williamson and Lynn McMullen (former Executive, RESULTS) for a powerful training in civics, non-violence and citizen activism. Train in the principles of deep democracy, followed by lobbying your Congressperson and Senators to create the political power to turn the Department of Peace legislation into law. At a time when our nation stands on the brink of war, let us make a stand for peace. Now is a time of historical reckoning, as we are called upon not merely to protest a war, but to create the fundamentals of a deep and lasting peace on earth. In the words of Thomas Paine, ³We have it in our power to begin the world over again.² Time is of the essence; let us begin now. For more information on this campaign, or for general or registration information on our peace gathering in Washington, visit our website at www.renaissancealliance.org, email us at peace or call us at (586) 754-8105. Please help us spread the word! You can send this email to everyone you know. If you are a part of an activist network, please consider sharing this information. If you would like to receive updates on this campaign and all our work in the GRA, you can sign up for our eNewsletter be sending a blank email to: join-GRA-eNews Global Renaissance Alliance P.O. Box 3259 Center Line MI 48015 Phone: (586) 754-8105 Fax: (586) 754-8106 www.renaissancealliance.org - peace CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE 1.) Read the Bill 2.) How to Lobby 3.) Conference in Washington 4.) Additional Way to Help Us 5.) Contribute to the GRA 6.) Highlights from Department of Peace Legislation READ THE BILL: Please visit our website at www.renaissancealliance.org to read the latest draft of the proposed legislation. GRA peace circles are a perfect vehicle for reading and discussing the legislation with others. HOW TO LOBBY: There are two primary steps to our lobbying effort. First, please join us in Washington D.C. for the bill¹s introduction in Congress. At that time, each person will visit their Congressperson¹s office to lobby support for the bill. We will provide information in advance, concerning appointments with your Congressional representative. We will hold a conference call on Tuesday March 5th with further information, visit our website for details. For those of you who cannot be with us on April 6th - 8th in Washington, we will post the bill¹s number as soon as it is introduced. YOU CAN THEN IMMEDIATELY PHONE OR FAX YOUR CONGRESSPERSON TO EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT. Between those who visit the Capital during our conference to lobby in person, and those around the country who express their support by phone or fax, our goal is to create a solid blanket of support for the bill throughout Congress. In addition to calling or faxing on that day, we will, once the bill is introduced, have on our website a downloadable postcard with which you can lobby your representatives. WE URGE EACH OF YOU TO ENROLL TEN PEOPLE, IN ADDITION TO YOURSELF, TO FILL OUT THE POSTCARD AND SEND IT TO THEIR CONGRESSPEOPLE. Ask each of them, as well, to hand out ten more. An additional point: in truth, a hand-written letter, sent or faxed, is considered more significant than a pre-printed postcard or e-mail. If you express, in your own words, your reasons for supporting a Department of Peace, your support will carry greater weight in the political process. On our website you will also find many additional ways in which you can participate in your community on an ongoing basis over the next year-- to help educate and lobby for this legislation. CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC: During our conference on April 6-8, we will hold seminars on Non- Violent Principles and Civics/Lobbying Training, led by Marianne Williamson and Lynn McMullen along with a presentation by Congressman Kucinich on the Department of Peace legislation. In addition, we will travel together to the Capitol to lobby our representatives. Please visit our website as the details unfold. WAYS YOU CAN HELP: Whatever your particular interest or skill set, there is probably a way for your unique talents to make a difference in this effort. Especially if you have a background in computer technology or political organizing, we could use your help. Please call Debbie Urben or Matthew Albracht at our office, (586) 754-8105, or e-mail them at peace. CONTRIBUTE TO THE GRA: Please generously donate to the GRA, that we might continue to provide these kinds of spiritual/political resources. Your tax-deductible contributions are deeply appreciated. Every dollar makes a difference! Whether financially or in spirit, we cannot do this kind of work without your support. You can donate online at: https://www.securedservers.net/renaiss/membership.html ********** ³The time for peace is now,² says Congressman Kucinich. ³At the dawn of a new millennium, there is no better time to review age old challenges with new thinking that peace is not only the absence of violence, but the presence of a higher evolution of human awareness with respect, trust and integrity toward humankind. Our founding fathers recognized that peace was one of the highest duties of the newly organized free and independent states. But too often, we have overlooked the long-term solution of peace for instant gratification of war. This continued downward spiral of violence must stop to ensure that future generations will live in peace and harmony.² HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACE LEGISLATION -Hold peace as an organizing principle in our society; -Endeavor to promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights; -Strengthen non-military means of peacemaking; -Work to create peace, prevent violence, divert from armed conflict, use field-tested programs, and develop new structures in non-violent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict; -Address matters both domestic and international in scope; -Submit to the President recommendations for reductions in weapons of mass destruction, and make annual reports to the President on the sale of arms from the United States to other nations, with analysis of the impact of such sales on the defense of the United States and how such sales effect peace; -Encourage the development of initiatives from local communities, religious groups, and nongovernmental organizations; -Facilitate the development of peace summits at which parties to a conflict may gather under carefully prepared conditions to promote non-violent communication and mutually beneficial solutions; and Develop new programs that relate to the societal challenges of school violence, guns, racial or ethnic violence, violence against gays and lesbians, and police-community relations disputes; -Sponsor country and regional conflict prevention and dispute resolution initiatives, create special task forces, and draw on local, regional, and national expertise to develop plans and programs for addressing the root sources of conflict in troubled areas; -Provide for the training of all United States personnel who administer postconflict reconstruction and demobilization in war-torn societies; -Sponsor country and regional conflict prevention and dispute resolution initiatives, create special task forces, and draw on local, regional, and national expertise to develop plans and programs for addressing the root sources of conflict in troubled areas; -EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES- The Secretary shall-- (1) develop a peace education curriculum, which shall include studies of-- (A) the civil rights movement in the United States and throughout the world, with special emphasis on how individual endeavor and involvement have contributed to advancements in peace and justice; and (B) peace agreements and circumstances in which peaceful intervention has worked to stop conflict; (2) in cooperation with the Secretary of Education-- (A) commission the development of such curricula and make such curricula available to local school districts to enable the utilization of peace education objectives at all elementary and secondary schools in the United States; and (B) offer incentives in the form of grants and training to encourage the development of State peace curricula and assist schools in applying for such curricula; (3) work with educators to equip students to become skilled in achieving peace through reflection, and facilitate instruction in the ways of peaceful conflict resolution. Read more at: http://www.renaissancealliance.org/projec/deptpeace/deptpeac.htm ______ Global Renaissance Alliance P.O. Box 3259 Center Line MI 48015 www.renaissancealliance.org office (586)754-8105 (586)754-8106 fax _____ " Just as there is a so-called art of waging war, so there is an art of waging peace. " -Marianne Williamson --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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