[Peace-discuss] Department of Peace: National call-in campaign Dec 3-7, and, Student Peace Alliance

[Stuart Levy]

You may have heard of the idea for a cabinet-level Department of Peace,
which would promote peace at all levels: not only preventing war between
nations, but on conflict resolution education, restorative justice,
prevention of domestic violence and child abuse, ...  It considers
violence as a systemic problem which requires a systemic response.

There's a proposed bill in the US Congress, submitted by Dennis Kucinich
with 68 current co-sponsors, including four from Illinois (Tim Johnson is
*not* one of those four).  Dozens of cities across the country, including
Chicago, have passed resolutions expressing support too.  More at

   http://www.thepeacealliance.org/

Like this idea?  What can you do?  Two things:

This coming week, Dec 3-7, the SPA and Peace Alliance are organizing
a national call-in campaign to urge our representatives to sign on to
the bill.  They'd like lots of congressional phones to ring often -- a
different person every half hour, 9-5 next week, in every congressional
district across the US.  Tempted?  You can see what they're up to and
sign up for a calling time at:
    http://www.callforadepartmentofpeace.org/
The password is "peace" (!).


And, the Student Peace Alliance is organizing chapters around the country.
Anyone at the U of I, Parkland, Uni High, Urbana High, or anywhere
in reach of this, who'd like to get involved?  I'm including a blurb
below from Katie Regan, the IL statewide student coordinator. 
(Heard about her from Karen Johnson, overall IL statewide coordinator,
who visited us in C-U last year.)

Ms. Regan writes:
    The Student Peace Alliance unites youth from across the country around
    the common goal of establishing a Department of Peace.  The Student
    Peace Alliance advocates for the creation of a Department of Peace
    through education and grassroots action.

    Every day we see countless reminders of our culture's violent nature.
    From the radio, to the television, to the newspaper we see and
    hear reports of mass violence.  This is especially pertinent for
    the youth who make up a large part of the casualties from violence.
    Gang violence and school violence take a heavy toll on the student
    population and at times it is the students who perpetuate such
    violence.  It is therefore important to mobilize students to change
    this ingrained culture of violence and spread the message that
    there is another way.

    Student Peace Alliance members are empowered to work in their
    communities on such issues of youth violence as well as other
    violence issues that permeate those communities.  Together we
    can make a difference!  Specific issues of youth violence are
    not the only forms of violence that affect the lives of students.
    All violence issues affect youth and must be addressed by those youth
    before progress can be made.  Therefore the Student Peace Alliance
    works to create a culture of peace on the individual and local level.
    Students are encouraged to work in their local communities on issues
    of violence as well as educate their campus about a culture of peace.
    A Department of Peace will be our future so we must begin building
    the culture that will support it today.

     Peace,
     Katie Regan
     Illinois State Organizer SPA
     602-320-8766
     kmregan at hotmail.com