A Passion For Peace

One Cannot Draw a Line - Amma

When one is full of Love and Compassion, one cannot draw a line between two countries, two faiths, or two religions.

- Amma

Responding to Hurricane Katrina

One year later, many Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina are still displaced and struggling to survive. Much has been accomplished in the last year, yet much more needs to be done.

American Red Cross

The Salvation Army

Operation Blessing

America's Second Harvest

Catholic Charities USA

Oxfam America

The 2006 Write a Piece for Peace Challenge has begun!

In direct response to the London bombings in July, and in recognition of the great ongoing need for peace within our hearts and throughout the world, I am issuing this challenge to all who long for peace, let your voice be heard. Write a piece for peace, be it a poem, article, short story, song, or letter and share it with others in some way before December 31, 2006.

403 people commited to writing a piece for peace from July to December, 2005!

WHO

Writers, ministers, musicians, moms, and anyone else who feels the need for peace. If you feel scared or angry, frustrated or helpless, don't shut down, speak up! Take one positive action step to promote a greater experience of peace in the world.

WHAT

Write one piece:

• a poem
• an article
• a short story
• a song
• a one-act play
• a meditation
• a prayer
• a letter to the editor
• a letter of concern to political and/or spiritual leaders
• a letter of forgiveness
• a sign that can go in a window or on a wall
• a few words that can be made into a button or a bumper sticker

Write about some aspect of peace or peacemaking that you're passionate about, from inner peace:

• love   
• understanding
• compassion
• respect
• hope
• responsibility
• forgiveness

to world peace:

• nuclear disarmament
• understanding the roots of fundamentalism
• diffusing terrorism by addressing and healing its causes
• finding alternative solutions to war
• eliminating poverty
• strengthening women's rights
• upholding human rights
  
• slowing or reversing pollution
• replanting our forests

* share your feelings and concerns
* challenge the status quo
* ask questions
* educate
* pose solutions
* imagine a peaceful world
* suggest action steps to get us there

WHERE

Sharing your writing about peace with others is as important as the writing itself. Some ways to get your writing out into the world:

• submit it to a magazine, anthology, or newsletter
• post it on your blog, web site, or e-zine
• submit it to other people's blogs, web sites, or e-zines
• give a poetry reading
• perform your play at schools and churches
• sing your song at open mike nights
• pass copies of your writing out at the local mall
• hang a copy on your front door
• post it on college campus bulletin boards
• print your message on bookmarks
• be creative, and get it out there...

WHEN

Write your piece and start circulating it (as best you can) before December 31, 2006.

WHY

• to move from apathy to action
• to take a stand
• to let your voice be heard
• to promote peace
• to participate in the process

This is my piece for peace.

What's yours?

Come to http://www.aPassionForPeace.com and

• share your commitment to write for peace in our survey (I'll post the number of responses every month)
• leave a comment about the "Write for Peace" challenge on this post
• find out about peace organizations and upcoming peace events
• be inspired by what others are doing to make this a more peaceful world

email: julie@apassionforpeace.com

400 Commit to Writing a Piece for Peace in 2005!

Since putting out this challenge in July, 403 people have commited to writing a piece for peace. And another 136 stated that while the writing challenge was not for them, they supported our efforts for peace. 

Thank you all for joining in this chorus for peace.

2007 Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest for High School Students

The 2007 Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest is seeking suggestions for constructive approaches to the problems of war and peace. The contest is open to all high school students throughout the world. Applicants must be enrolled in the Fall 2006 through Spring 2007 academic year.

TOPIC: To be announced.

AWARDS: First prize $1,500, Second Prize $1,000, Third Prize $500

DEADLINE: All essays must be postmarked by June 1, 2007.

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation initiates and supports worldwide efforts to abolish nuclear weapons, to strengthen international law and institutions, and to inspire and empower a new generation of peace leaders. Founded in 1982, the Foundation is comprised of individuals and organizations worldwide who realize the imperative for peace in the Nuclear Age. The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan international education and advocacy organization. It has consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is recognized by the UN as a Peace Messenger Organization.

The Power of a Kind Word - Leo Buscaglia

Too often we underestimate
the power of a touch, a smile,
a kind word, a listening ear,
an honest compliment,
or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential
to turn a life around.

--Leo Buscaglia

Peace is All Around Us - Thick Nhat Hanh

Our true home is in the present moment.
To live in the present moment is a miracle.
The miracle is not to walk on water.
The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment,
to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.
Peace is all around us--
in the world and in nature--
and within us--
in our bodies and our spirits.
Once we learn to touch this peace,
we will be healed and transformed.
It is not a matter of faith;
it is a matter of practice.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

November Poll Results

I may not get 500 pieces for peace written this year, but I may well get 500 people either writing for peace or voicing their support for it. That's fabulous!

343 have committed to writing a piece for peace while
103 have stated that they won't participate in the writing challenge,
but support peace. 

Thank you all for joining in this chorus for peace.

I may not get 500 pieces for peace written this year, but I may well get 500 people either writing for peace or voicing their support for it. That's fabulous!

343 have committed to writing a piece for peace while
103 have stated that they won't participate in the writing challenge,
but support peace. 

Thank you all for joining in this chorus for peace.

I may not get 500 pieces for peace written this year, but I may well get 500 people either writing for peace or voicing their support for it. That's fabulous!

343 have committed to writing a piece for peace while
103 have stated that they won't participate in the writing challenge,
but support peace. 

Thank you all for joining in this chorus for peace.

U.S. Department of Peace

“The current crisis in our democracy has less to do with Congressional failure to express the will of the people and more to do with failure of people to express their will in a meaningful way.”
                  Marianne Williamson

The Department of Peace Campaign:

Participate in an historic citizen lobbying effort to create a U.S. Department of Peace. The primary function of a United States Department of Peace will be to research, articulate and facilitate nonviolent solutions to domestic and international conflict.

The Department of Peace will facilitate the most cutting edge ways to wage peace. From nonviolent communication skills, to conflict resolution techniques and cultural relationship building, the Department of Peace will employ proven and effective strategies for diminishing violence in our country and in our world. As a member of the President’s cabinet, the Secretary of Peace will provide the President; the State Department; the Departments of Defense, Education and Justice with greatly expanded problem solving options. The Department of Peace will also provide support for state and local government to address issues of domestic violence.

In the words of president Dwight D. Eisenhower, "Politics should be the part-time profession of every American." We think he was right.

The Department of Peace Will Address Causal Issues

• Current policy-making tends toward reactive, not proactive approaches to violence reduction

• Traditional political problem-solving focuses primarily on addressing symptoms of violence, such as imprisonment of offenders and engagement in armed conflict.

• Suppression of symptoms should be augmented by stronger preventative measures and treatment of root causes of violence.

• The United States should be as effective in addressing the sources of violence as we are effective in addressing its symptoms.

United States Department of Peace