A Passion For Peace

True Spirit

Written and Submitted by Michael Levy

True Spirit

True spirit, cannot be crushed,
True spirit, cannot drown, cannot burn, cannot die,
True spirit, will fight for peace,
True spirit, will march for justice, when there is injustice,
but will never cower, to "evil" intent,
True spirit, will fight pollution,
True spirit, will fight corruption,
True spirit, will protect life from "evil" beings,
by providing the tools, to protect,
True spirit, will envelope a human,
so they can still live, in love & joy,
through all humanity’s chaos and mayhem
Live with spirit ? live the truth.

©2005 by Michael Levy
http://www.pointoflife.com/

The Last War

Written and submitted by Bruce Larson*Moore

The Last War

Freedom, Peace and Security will NEVER be won nor secured by the sword, another war will always need to be fought to end the fear of the sharp blade against the vital thoughts of change.

The last war will be waged without soldiers or freedom fighters, without blood shed or death, no rockets red glare, no bombs bursting anywhere.

The last war will not cause suffering, broken hearts, splintered spirits, or shattered bodies and souls, the creation of nature and man will not be crushed under the rolling thunder of armored machines, chemicals will not rain down from above, maniacal viruses will not attack from within, suicide terror raids, genocide, and nuclear holocaust will have no place in the last war, the casualties will be the end of competition, industry, government and religion which plan for and carry out the destruction, addiction and control of others.

The last war will be waged BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE, a war where all things will be TREATED as equal, a war employing weapons of MASS COOPERATION, battles fought and won with tolerance for all, understanding of difference, awareness of responsibility, a war in which compassion and love conquer and destroy the final evil enemy of humankind, the last war, the mother of all wars, the war to end all wars, must be waged upon fear.

We the People, declare a global war on fear.

How do we the people start this war, how do we wage this war, how do we the people win the last war?

We start by turning away from those who support fear, by denying our services, our employment, our political, financial, moral and spiritual support to those who build and profit from the economy of competition, addiction and war.

We wage the last war by demanding that our energy and environment be clean and renewable, by demanding that the thousands of billions of dollars spent yearly on making the weapons and means of war be shifted and added to the nearly meaningless hundreds of billions which is reluctantly parted out for social, health, education and domestic infrastructure.

We win the last war by simply entrusting our votes, our support, our children's and grandchildren's lives to those of US whose words and actions DELIVER love and truth.

We the people can, will and must defeat fear.

©2005 by Bruce Larson*Moore
http://www.timeless-ink-press.com/

The King Center

Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, The King Center is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of America’s greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace.

More than 650,000 visitors from all over the world are drawn annually to the King Center to pay homage to Dr. King, view unique exhibits illustrating his life and teachings and visit the King Center’s Library, Archives, his final resting place, his birth home, gift shop and other facilities. 

Located in Atlanta’s Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, The King Center utilizes diverse communications media, including books, audio and video cassettes, film, television, CDs and web pages, to reach out far beyond its physical boundaries to educate people all over the world about Dr. King’s life, work and his philosophy and methods of nonviolent conflict-reconciliation and social change.

The King Library and Archives is the world’s largest repository of primary source materials on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the American Civil Rights Movement.  Significant records which document the social, cultural, economic, and political impact of the civil rights movement are housed at the King Library and Archives.

The Beloved Community Network

For Dr. King, The Beloved Community was not a lofty utopian goal to be confused with the rapturous image of the Peaceable Kingdom, in which lions and lambs coexist in idyllic harmony. Rather, The Beloved Community was for him a realistic, achievable goal that could be attained by a critical mass of people committed to and trained in the philosophy and methods of nonviolence.

Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood. In the Beloved Community, international disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. Peace with justice will prevail over war and military conflict.

ProPeace.net Community Peace Blog

ProPeace.net is a community blog where you can list your peace events, post your writings on peace, or share any other peace related thoughts or news.

ProPeace.net lists upcoming peace events and orgainizes their posts into such categories as:

• activism -- civil liberties, environment, peace in Iraq, women's issues
• culture -- internet
• education -- children, conferences
• government -- department of peace, U.S., international
• news and opinion -- media, fundamentalism, politics and ideology
• science and faith -- religion, metaphysics

Department of Peace Conference

February 3-5, 2007
Washington D.C.

Department of Peace Conference

Participate in an historic citizen lobbying effort to create a  Cabinet-level Department of Peace, as the legislation is re-introduced in the House of Representatives as a tribute to victims of September 11th. The bill is sponsored by Congressman Dennis Kucinich. 

The primary function of a United States Department of Peace would be to research, articulate and facilitate nonviolent solutions to domestic and international conflict. The Department would focus on nonmilitary peaceful conflict resolutions, prevent violence and promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights.

Speakers at the Conference will include:

• Marianne Williamson
• Deepak Chopra
• Rev. Michael Beckwith
• Kai Brand-Jacobson       
• and more…

Carpenter Country

Written and submitted by  H.L. Carpenter

CARPENTER COUNTRY
What's Happening in Our Neck of the Human Experience

Subway bombs in London. Car bombs in Iraq. Hotels bombed in Egypt. So many people killed. So many lives disrupted. What drives these dealers in mass destruction?

Here in Carpenter Country we think we may have gleaned a clue from a long-ago tea party.

Picture the scene: A cozy round table set for two. Delicate flowered teacups. Fun and giggles between friends.

And the child next door, shouting hateful words and making threats.

Now picture the result: Upended furniture, broken dishes and lots of tears.

Why? Because “You didn’t invite me to the party.”

While it’s no excuse, feeling left out can lead to destructive behavior. Behavior that can easily be directed at the innocent.

We’re not suggesting terrorists should have a seat at the world table. Those who organize and promote murder are criminals and should be treated as such.

But what about extending an invitation to the disenfranchised masses these organizations recruit? What about setting a place for these folks – and their children – as a gesture of friendship?

Trite as it sounds, world peace is a dream we’d like to see realized. Won’t you join our party?

Copyright 2005 by H.L. Carpenter

A Piece for Peace

Written and submitted by N. O. Tate

A Piece for Peace

War rages             
    But, from whence does it come?

Endless Ages
    As amorphous as an unplayed drum

Labels - Ageless
    Demoralizing in their symmetry         

Nameless faces
    Transformed to nothings when we lack  humanity

EXILED - LOST
    Those dreams of helpful, loving hearts
ICE      COLD     FROST
    Our willingness to  leave, depart
LONG-AGO CROSSED
    That threshold that extolled just one
WARS WON!    …Lost?
    In a child’s hope that they will ever belong

      YET REMAINS:
            BEGIN AGAIN
                    WITH BEGIN AGAIN
            MUCH TO GAIN
                    IF WE BEGIN AGAIN
                    WITH BEGIN AGAIN
            LEARN WITHIN
                    AND BEGIN AGAIN
                    WITH BEGIN AGAIN
            STRIVE WITH THEM
                    AND BEGIN AGAIN
                    WITH BEGIN AGAIN
            GRASP A HAND
                    AND BEGIN AGAIN
                    WITH BEGIN AGAIN
            UNDERSTAND
                    AND BEGIN AGAIN
                    WITH BEGIN AGAIN
            EYES ALERT
                    AND BEGIN AGAIN
                    WITH BEGIN AGAIN
            HOPEFUL BIRTH
                    IF WE LEARN AND THEN - BEGIN AGAIN

                                                N.O.TATE

Copyright 2005 by N. O. Tate

United States Institute of Peace

The United States may not have a Department of Peace, but we do have an Institute of Peace.

The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by Congress to promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts. Established in 1984, the Institute meets its congressional mandate through an array of programs, including research grants, fellowships, professional training, education programs from high school through graduate school, conferences and workshops, library services, and publications. The Institute's Board of Directors is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate.

July Poll Results

In the two weeks that my poll has been up, 52 people have responded.

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

Thank you all for joining in this chorus for peace.