Vote for Peace on Change.org

There's a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are now submitting ideas for how they think the Obama Administration should change America. It's called "Ideas for Change in America."

I wanted to see if you could quickly vote for the idea: Appoint Secretary of Peace in Department of Peace and Non-Violence. You can read and vote for the idea by clicking on the following link:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/appoint_secretary_of_peace_in_department_of_peace_and_non-violence

The top 10 ideas are going to be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day. So each idea has a real chance at becoming policy.

Although we don't know who the next President will be, we do know that one of his first actions will be to present Congress with a budget. We want to tell the new President--whether it's McCain or Obama--that we want increased funding for effective violence reduction and prevention programs.

So we're launching a "Personal Postcards to Your President" campaign beginning as soon as we know has won and through to the Innaguration.

It's easy to participate!
Visit your local store and get a postcard representing your town or city

Mail it by Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009

Urge all of your friends and family to do the same

You should use the address of his Senate office. Here are the addresses of the two top candidates for the office:

Will you join us in this campaign? Click here to say YES!
Your personal note to your President will continue building our relationship with him, keeping him aware of the Department of Peace concept and campaign. It will also expose the President to a special kind of citizen lobbyist-one who is a peacebuilder, committed to lasting solutions.

Not sure what to say? The key is to make this your personal and passionate message. Tell him, in very few words, what is most important to you!

You can:

Offer your Congratulations

Introduce yourself
Say you are a Mom, a student, a plumber, a bank teller--whatever is true for you

Say why this issue concerns you<

Ask him to make funding violence prevention programs a top priority of his presidency.

Use a statistic or two that strengthens your message.
You can find some statistics on violence on our website.

Ask him to use the State of the Union Address to talk about the importance and urgency of funding violence prevention in all sectors of our society--in our homes and schools, in our streets and prisons.

Urge all your friends and family you see over the holidays to join you. Offer people postcards from your state to write on, and wait while they write it and give it back to you with a stamp. We are eager for there to be thousands of postcards sent--every card counts!

A few reminders:

Do not send letters. All letters with envelopes require more complex screening, which is why we're encouraging everyone to USE POSTCARDS.

Mail all postcards by Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.

Keep it simple! This is, after all, a busy time

Tell us you are going to join this effort - click here.

Need help crafting your message?

Here are a few phrases you can use or adapt:

Make violence reduction and prevention a top priority in your first term

Invest in proven violence prevention efforts for our schools and homes.

Strengthen peacekeeping efforts internationally through our foreign assistance and diplomacy.

Lead us to peace with all your efforts.

As part of the Department of Peace campaign, I am urging that violence prevention and peacebuilding programs and policy be one of the top priorities of your legacy.

Are you going to join this action?Let us know that you're saying YES!

Thank you for joining us in welcoming our new President, and for standing with us for a culture of peace. Together, we are making a difference.

With Gratitude,




John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-0303 <


Barack Obama
713 Hart Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-1305

 

International Day of Peace  is Sunday Sept 21st. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FmEIP46B-E

 

 What is Peace Day? How did it get started? Watch the video at the above link to find out.

Then come join us!Celebrate peace this weekend!
In celebration of the International Day of Peace, the Peace Alliance is sponsoring Peace Walks all over the country.

There are two Peace Walks in the LA area this weekend, one on Saturday morning in Los Angeles starting at Leimert Park at 9:00 am, and one on Sunday morning starting at the Santa Monica Pier North parking lot at 9:00 am, in conjunction with Heartwalker (www.heartwalker.org) -- so please come and join us, and walk for peace!

Saturday:
The 3rd Annual Crenshaw District Peace Walk
Come Join Us: Location: Leimert Park - Crenshaw Blvd. & Vernon Ave. L.A., CA 90008 (4300 Block of Crenshaw)
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008
Time: 9:00 A.M Registration and the Walk Starts at 10 AM - approx ending time is 12:30PM
We will be walking on the sidewalk starting at Crenshaw Blvd. & Vernon Ave. down Crenshaw Blvd. to Rodeo Rd. & Crenshaw Blvd and back to Leimert Park.
WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE A FUN, PEACEFUL DAY FOR ALL THAT COME OUT...So Please Come Out.
(Wear Comfortable Shoes)
Peace Out - Love In, LOCAL CONTACT: Mr. Mel. Taylor (323)286-5502 Email: all4peace@usa.com

Sunday:
Sunday, September 21, 2008 (International Day of Peace!)
Walk Start Location: Santa Monica Pier parking lot.
Time: 9:00 am to 12:01 (a minute of silence for peace will be held at 12:00 noon)
The Walk for Peace is from the Santa Monica Pier to Venice and return. This walk is coordinated in solidarity with the Heartwalker peace project (www.heartwalker.org).
For flyers / details, contact: Sherri Jaye, sherrijaye@sbcglobal.net, 310.625.9658


Hope to see you there!  
Terry and Tory
www.thepeacealliance.org

Mantra Rock Fest
26th July, 2008

People's PArk Berkeley, CA

Congratulations volunteers in Maryland's Congressional District 1! The Department of Peace and Nonviolence legislation has its first (and certainly not its last) Republican cosponsor.

Congressman Wayne Gilchrest has signed on as a cosponsor of HR 808. Congressman Gilchrest, a 9th term Republican serving Maryland's 1st District, brings our total number of cosponsors, including the bill's author, to 70 (former cosponsor Al Wynn of Maryland resigned in June). You can read the full list of cosponsors here.

Please thank Congressman Gilchrest today. His contact information is below.

Congressman Gilchrest has been well known as a moderate Republican for many years, often rising above politics and partisanship to support that which he believes best serves the nation and his constituents.

He's also a decorated Vietnam veteran. From his web site:

"After graduating high school in 1964, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. His tour of duty saw action during the invasion of the Dominican Republic, and ultimately the Vietnam War. He earned the rank of Sergeant in Vietnam, where as a platoon leader, he was wounded in the chest.

"Wayne was decorated with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Navy Commendation Medal. Today he is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Military Order of the Purple Heart."

There's one small cloud to this silver lining that you should be aware of: Congressman Gilchrest lost his recent Republican primary bid to a candidate who spoke to the concerns of the more conservative Republicans in his district.

This in no way diminishes the significance of this important news! It is a reminder, however, that we must continue to work diligently to expand bipartisan support of the legislation and the campaign. As we know and as Congressman Gilchrest clearly understands, peace is not a partisan issue.

Take Action:
Please take a moment to celebrate and then thank Congressman Gilchrest for his courage, vision and commitment to creating a strategic, sophisticated approach to reducing and preventing violence.

You can reach Congressman Gilchrest's at:

DC office
2245 Rayburn House Office Building,
District of Columbia 20515-2001
Phone: (202) 225-5311
Fax: (202) 225-0254

Chestertown District Office:
315 High Street, 105
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
Phone: (410) 778-9407
Fax: (410) 778-9560

If you live in his district, you can also send him an email using our Advocacy Form.

Reporting Phone Calls:
Once you have made your call, please report your action. It's important that we track participation in these types of actions, so be sure let us know you called Congressman Gilchrest.

Congratulations again to Maryland volunteers and all of the Department of Peace supporters. Each of us shares in these successes, and each of us helps keep this movement going. Together, we're giving peace a voice—and it's growing more powerful every day.

In peace and gratitude,

All of us at The Peace Alliance

.. ..

Join Us for the California Regional Conference Registration Discount Ends July 4th!

 

2008 California Department of Peace Conference

with Special Guest
Marianne Williamson

August 1 - 3, 2008
University of California, Berkeley

TIME'S RUNNING OUT!

Registration rates for "A World Beyond Violence," the 2008 California Department of Peace Conference
WILL GO UP ON JULY 4th!

Register TODAY at www.conference.afdop.org

Come join us on the Berkeley campus Aug. 1-3. You will be:

 

• ENLIGHTENED by Marianne Williamson, best-selling author, political visionary and spiritual advisor on Oprah's XM radio station, in her Friday evening keynote "The Politics of Possibility"
• INSPIRED by Aqeela Sherrills, peace advocate and mediator, who brokered the1992 peace agreement between longtime Los Angeles gang rivals, the Bloods and the Crips
• EDUCATED by Lynn McMullen, DOPN National Campaign Consultant, about how we can best organize and train ourselves to support passage of H.R. 808 to establish a cabinet level U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence
• EXCITED by our Saturday panel of on-the-ground experts discussing working and proven solutions to violence in our homes, schools, streets and prisons
• ENCOURAGED by 18 year old Nicole Nabulsi, California organizer for the Student Peace Alliance speaking on the growing role of high school and college youth/students in peace-building across the U.S.
• ENTERTAINED by the unique perspectives of Swami Beyondananda!
• INVIGORATED by stirring music, informational videos and a special Saturday evening BBQ dinner with live entertainment

 

Have you registered yet? Do it today!
www.conference.afdop.org