Saturday, May 27, 2006

Stop Telecommunications megamergers!

The largest telecommunications and cable companies are fighting to shut down a free and open Internet. They keep raising prices while making empty promises about serving all Americans. They've even illegally handed over your personal information to government eavesdroppers.

Now they want the government to help them get even bigger.

Please join me in telling the FCC to stop these megamergers. Adding your voice to the FCC's public record is one of the most effective actions you can take to make your voice heard, and only takes a minute. Visit http://www.freepress.net/act/mergers

World Peace Forum 2006

June 23 - 28, 2006
World Peace Forum 2006
Vancouver, Canada

The World Peace Forum 2006 is an international gathering of individuals, groups and civic governments from cities and communities to envision a living culture of peace and sustainability in our lifetimes.

The World Peace Forum 2006 will organize panels, workshops, public forums,
arts and entertainment activities and networking events to offer all participants an open space for discussion and performance within the main theme of "Cities and Communities: Working together to end war and build a peaceful, just and sustainable world."

For more information, see: http://www.worldpeaceforum.ca/ and
http://www.worldpeaceforum.ca/forum/program

Report from CodePink's Mother's Day 2006 Vigil in D.C. and Call forHunger Strike

Report from CodePink's Mother's Day 2006 Vigil in D.C. and Call for
Hunger Strike

This past weekend, CodePink transformed the park in front of the White
House. The lawn became a magical space filled with families reclaiming the
historical origin of Mother's Day as a time to work for Peace. Cindy
Sheehan, Susan Sarandon, Patch Adams, Dick Gregory and Iraqi and Iranian
women added their voices and talents to our 24-hour peace vigil.
For news coverage of Mother's Day 2006 Vigil in D.C., see:
http://www.codepinkalert.org//article.php?id=986

CodePink writes: "We literally put our bodies on the line to create a
beautiful aerial image spelling 'Mom Says NO WAR.'
( http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=984 )
We held teach-ins on Iraq, Iran, immigrant rights, Katrina and more. We
cried with moms who lost their children; we prayed with Native American
healers; we read letters to Laura Bush; we sang and danced and created a
powerful and compassionate community. At the close of the 24 hours, we tied
roses with names of the dead onto the White House fence, and as we chanted
"No More War, No More War", the rain that was predicted for both days
suddenly burst forth as if cleansing our nation's soul. You can see photos
at our virtual vigil at
http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=141 A dedicated
group of CodePink women took inspiration from the weekend and decided to
stay in D.C. for a month, taking action at Congress every day to demand an
end to war. Click on http://www.womensayenough.org/ to read more about their
action plans.

While the entire weekend was filled with magical moments, one stood out.
Comedian and civil rights leader Dick Gregory -- legendary for fasting
against the Vietnam War -- was in Cleveland en route to California when he
saw the CodePink vigil on CNN, and immediately changed planes to join us in
D.C. There he met environmentalist/author and CodePink cofounder Diane
Wilson, who earlier had called all of us to up our commitment and join her
in a hunger strike. The two of them joined together and called us to a
long-term fast to bring the troops home. Cindy Sheehan, CodePink members,
military families and Iraqi vets have already agreed to join.

On July 4, we will launch an historic hunger strike called TROOPS HOME FAST.
While many Americans will be expressing their patriotism via barbeques and
fireworks, we'll be fasting in memory of the dead and wounded, and calling
for our nation to be the democracy it was created to be, not an empire.

We're inviting people around the world to show their support for this
open-ended fast by committing to fast for one day -- July 4 -- plus as many
more days as you can handle.
Please sign up to join us at
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/codepink/signUp.jsp?key=1289
and encourage your friends to do the same at
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/codepink/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=816.
Together, we can bring our troops home."

Check out all the other ways you can join with CodePink this summer at
http://www.codepinkalert.org//article.php?list=type&type=124

The Declaration of Peace and Votes for Peace

The Declaration of Peace

A Nonviolent Action Campaign For an End to the U.S. War in Iraq

The Declaration of Peace is a nonviolent action campaign to end the U.S. war
in Iraq and bring the U.S. troops home now. By signing the Declaration of
Peace, people across the United States will pledge to: work actively for
this immediate withdrawal from Iraq and take nonviolent action if the U.S.
government has not established a comprehensive withdrawal plan by a
mid-September, 2006 deadline.

If a withdrawal plan is not established by the deadline - shortly before
Congress adjourns for the fall elections - thousands of people will engage
in nonviolent action in Washington, D.C. and in congressional offices and
other sites throughout the nation. Nationally coordinated nonviolent
activities will continue on a regular basis until the United States
withdraws from Iraq.

The Declaration of Peace will call for a comprehensive exit policy,
including:
. Withdrawal of U.S. troops
. Closure of U.S. military bases
. Support for an Iraqi-led peace process, including a peace conference to
shape a post-occupation transition
. End to U.S. control of Iraqi oil
. Reparations for the destruction that this war has caused, and
. Increased support for U.S. veterans of the Iraq war

For more details and to sign the Declaration of Peace, visit:
http://www.declarationofpeace.org/

*************************************************

Voters For Peace: The power to end the war and prevent future wars of
aggression.
What if millions decided to vote their conscience and said 'No More War
Candidates'?

The Voters Pledge makes visible a powerful political force, the peace vote,
a force that politicians cannot continue to ignore. It sends a clear message
to the hawkish minority that leads both major parties to end the occupation
of Iraq and to end unprovoked attacks on other nations.

Sign the Voters Pledge and ask at least 10 of your friends to sign as well.
You can help get 2 million signers in 2006.

"I will not vote for or support any candidate for Congress or President who
does not make a speedy end to the war in Iraq, and preventing any future war
of aggression, a public position in his or her campaign."

Sign the Voters Pledge at: http://www.votersforpeace.us/signUp.jsp?key=1134

Read more about the Voters Pledge in Cindy Sheehan's "A Perfect Mother's Day
Gift: Create a Peace Movement That Ends the Iraq Occupation and Prevents
Future Wars of Aggression" at:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051206R.shtml


“ex-CHANGE FOR PEACE” with Roland Wiederkehr

Bloomington Peace Action Coalition and the Center For Sustainable Living offer a Youth and Community Forum “ex-CHANGE FOR PEACE” with Roland Wiederkehr, co-founder of various institutions in Switzerland and abroad in the field of Environment, Culture and Peace, on June 5.

The Forum will start at 7:30 pm at the Monroe County Public Library, Room 1-B with an introduction by Lew Polsgrove.

Roland Wiederkehr will speak about his vision of creating a “Platform of the Good" to replace the “axis of evil” worldview, and of engaging young people in bringing about change towards a more sustainable and peaceful future. To this end Roland Wiederkehr created a leadership training organization called “ex-CHANGE FOR PEACE” http://www.ecfp.org

“ex-CHANGE FOR PEACE”, founded in Switzerland and supported by the Swiss government, supports young leaders in their efforts to work for a positive future in countries affected by conflict. Roland Wiederkehr will speak about how “ex-CHANGE FOR PEACE” encourages and facilitates young peoples’ effective engagement for peace. The organization was founded in 2001 and has had several participants from the United States, including a young woman from Bloomington, Indiana. http://www.ecfp.org/en/archiv/index.php

Roland Wiederkehr is a former member of the Swiss Parliament. He was Director of the WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE in Switzerland from 1968 – 87, and founded GREEN CROSS INTERNATIONAL together with Mikhail Gorbechev in 1993. The U.S. affiliate organization is GLOBAL GREEN.

http://www.greencrossinternational.net/index.htm
http://www.globalgreen.org

http://greencross.ch

The ongoing activities of Green Cross International are centered around

· Preventing and resolving conflicts over natural resources, especially energy and water

· Addressing the environmental consequences of wars and conflicts. Green Cross promotes the clean­up and conversion of military bases to civilian use, the remediation of nuclear contamination, and the environmentally ­responsible destruction of conventional and chemical weapon stockpiles.

· Promoting value and behavior changes leading to a sustainable future. Green Cross was one key actors in the development of the EARTH CHARTER, a document which is intended to serve as a universal code of conduct to guide people and nations towards a sustainable future.

Roland Wiederkehr can be reached for interviews at: E-mail: rw@rolandwiederkehr.ch , Phone: 805-969-0413 (until May 30), 812-336-0360 (May 31-June 9)

Bloomington Peace Action Coalition and the Center for Sustainable Living invite members of the community, and especially high school students and young people in their twenties, to learn about these efforts to prevent conflicts and wars over scarce resources (energy and water), and to explore how individuals, and communities like Bloomington, can bring about change towards a more sustainable and more peaceful future.

The event is free and open to the public.

“ex-CHANGE FOR PEACE”

Monday, June 5, 2006

7:30 pm

Monroe County Public Library, Room 1-B,

303 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington

For additional information: Christine Glaser, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition

E-mail: cglaser@iupui.edu, Phone: 812–336-0360

"Peopleof Conscience and the Morality of War – A Forum for Youth ConsideringConscientious Objection."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2006

For additional information: Colin Schoder-Ehri, Bloomington Friends Meeting
E-mail: colinse@gmail.com, Phone: 812-219-6517

Bloomington Friends Meeting and several co-sponsors present: "People
of Conscience and the Morality of War – A Forum for Youth Considering
Conscientious Objection."

Bloomington, IN – Bloomington Friends Meeting, Truth in Recruiting,
Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, and the I.U. students group
"Against the Occupation of Iraq" present a forum for youth considering
conscientious objection on Monday, June 12.

The Forum begins at 7:00 pm in the Monroe County Public Library, Room
I-B, with an introduction by Colin Schoder-Ehri, who intends to
request status as conscientious objector if a military draft is
instituted.

Following the introduction will be will short statements by invited
speakers. Rev. Bill Breeden, Brown County author Hank Swain, poet
Patricia Coleman and others are giving personal perspectives on the
following questions:

Are any wars good?
Are you willing to be ordered to kill?
What happens when you decide to follow your conscience?

After these opening statements all participants are invited to share
their thoughts and views on these issues, in a discussion moderated by
Matt Turrissini.

Young people will have the opportunity to discuss and consider how
someone makes the decision to become a conscientious objector and what
steps they would need to take to establish their status as a
conscientious objector in case of a draft.

There will also be information about how someone who is already
serving in the military can obtain conscientious objector status, and
either leave the military or serve in non-combat-related functions.

Handouts will be provided about the reality of war, and about
educational opportunities, career options, and ways for young people
to serve their country outside of the military.

The event is free and open to the public.


"People of Conscience and the Morality of War"
A Forum for Youth Considering Conscientious Objection.

Monday, June 12, 2006
7:00 pm
Monroe County Public Library, Room 1-B,
303 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

"A Water Ethic: Cure for the Coming Crisis"

"A Water Ethic: Cure for the Coming Crisis" is the title of author
Kirpatrick Sale's June 2nd lecture for the Great Barrington Land
Conservancy. Mr. Sale will speak about how for centuries humans have
attempted to have control and dominance over the forces of nature, most
especially of water, but in the 21st century we have come to the point where
our control and use of water has reached a crisis. We depend upon water even
more than we do oil, but what isn't being polluted and defiled is being used
up, in this country and around the world, at a disastrous rate. It is no
exaggeration to say that the wars of the coming century will most likely
about water, and when they are over there still won't be enough to go
around.

"The only way we can escape from the coming crisis is by developing a 'water
ethic,' similar to Aldo Leopold¹s land ethic, but about this precious and
vital resource."

Mr. Sale's talk is part of a weekend of festivities dedicating the William
Stanley Overlook on the Great Barrington River Walk (www.gbriverwalk.org).
The Observation Platform for the Overlook is directly across the Housatonic

River from the site of the historic Horace Day rubberwear factory. It was
here in 1886 that Stanley successfully transmitted high voltage alternating
current electricity. Interpretative signage tells the story of Stanley¹s
experiments and his role in Great Barrington¹s industrial history.

Great Barrington is proud of its River Walk, which also features the W. E.
B. Du Bois River Garden, honoring Great Barrington's native son. The River
Walk is demonstrating the potential for developing riverfront access along
trashed and abused areas, so that more pristine riparian areas may remain
forever wild. River Walk has shown how public access need not compromise
river ecology and water quality, by creating vegetative buffers of native
species, mitigating non-point source pollution with drop inlets, installing
a rain garden and permeable trail surfaces, and addressing degraded soils
with "compost tea". Most important, the process of building the River Walk
trail (now counting over two thousand volunteers) continues to strengthen
Great Barrington's own "river ethic". It is appropriate that Mr. Sale's
Water Ethic address will be made in our town!

Kirkpatrick Sale is a contributing editor for the "Nation" and the author of
nine previous books, including "Human Scale," "Dwellers in the Land: The
Bioregional Vision," "Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and
Columbian Conquest," "Rebels against the Future: The Luddites and Their War
on the Industrial Revolution," and "The Fire of His Genius: Robert Fulton
and American Dream." He was named by "Utne Reader" as one of the 100 Living
Visionaries. He makes his home in Cold Spring, New York.

In 1980 Mr. Sale was appointed a founding board member of the E. F.
Schumacher Society. He was responsible for suggesting the creation of the
Schumacher Library with its stellar collection of books on local economics.
Mr. Sale's essay "Economics of Scale vs. the Scale of Economics" is printed
below for your information. It was first published in the February 2006
"Re-inventing Economics" issue of "Vermont Commons," guest edited by Susan
Witt. Additional essays by Mr. Sale may be read online at the publications
section of the E. F. Schumacher Society's web site
(www.smallisbeautiful.org).

Best wishes,

Staff of the E. F. Schumacher Society
140 Jug End Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
www.smallisbeautiful.org

* * * * *

Economics of Scale vs. the Scale of Economics:
Towards Basic Principles of a Bioregional Economy
by Kirkpatrick Sale
from "Vermont Commons" (www.vtcommons.org)

Economics of scale is what conventional industrial economies are all about,
finding ways to more profitably and efficiently exploit nature. But the
scale of economics is what the new economies of the future must be about,
finding the ways to live so that healthy communities may foster a healthy
earth.

There are only two essentials to consider in coming at the problem of the
optimum scale for an economy to produce and distribute goods and services:
the natural ecosystem and the human community. An economy that does harm to
the natural world‹depleting resources, extincting species, maltreating
animals, producing pollution, piling up wastes‹has grown too large; an
economy that is out of democratic and humanitarian human control‹where
decisions are made by a few distant corporate individuals and a polity whose
choices are beyond individual influence‹has grown too large.

Let us take the economic scale that is optimum for the earth¹s systems. It
would be based on conservation, stability, sustainability, recycling,
harmony. That means, for starters, an economy at a bioregional scale‹that
of a watershed or river valley, or a mountain system, or a lakeshore‹for it
more or less dictates the economy appropriate to it: an economy based on a
watershed, for example, automatically considers downriver populations as
well as headwater ones. The human constructs would adapt to the environment
rather than be imposed, and human uses would be confined to those the
bioregion allowed.

In Vermont terms, it would be possible to think of the western watershed of
the Connecticut River, with all the rivers running eastward from the Green
Mountains, as a bioregion (though it would of course demand cooperation with
the New Hampshirites, who share the Connecticut). Another bioregion would
encompass the watershed to the west of the Green Mountains, to Lake
Champlain.

In this case, dairy and general truck farming would naturally be at the
heart of the bioregional economy, although if a truly ecological sensibility
informs it, those farms would not allow the disastrous sort of waste runoff
that now so badly pollutes Lake Champlain and other waterways. Nor would
they use artificial chemicals and fertilizers. Nor would they have factory
farms of 1,000-plus cows and 100,000-plus hens. An ecologically based
agriculture would depend on solar power appropriate to the region, on
human-powered machines, on organic and pest-management systems, perennial
polyculture and permaculture, with markets geared to seasonal and regional
foods.

And the economic scale desirable for the human community would be one in
which decisions about the economy‹what is produced, from what resources, by
whom, for whom, how distributed, how recycled‹are made democratically by the
various units, from towns to bioregions. Most power would locate at the
level of the community, and it is there that we can imagine effecting some
basic economic justice‹specifically, practices of workplace ownership by the
employees, workplace democracy for decision-making, and workplace commitment
to the immediate surrounding populace‹all of the things that are impossible
with large scales and distant chainstore corporations.
And here we come to an essential element of a stable economy that dictates
much of its scale: self-sufficiency. If the farms of Vermont were part of a
self-sufficient economy, feeding the 620,000 people within its borders as
its primary mission, there would not be such a concentration on dairy farms
(and the resultant pollution problems) and there would be a far greater
diversity of animal products and crops, ultimately to the health of the
ecosystems.

Self-sufficiency is operable only at a limited scale, where humans are able
to understand the resources at hand, can perceive and regulate the variants
in the economy, and be sure that production and distribution is made
rational and systematic. It is certainly possible at a bioregional scale,
at least bioregions conceived as no bigger than 10- and 20,000 square miles
(depending on the size necessary for resource variables), and in fact state
governments right across the country even now calculate much of their
operations on geographic areas of such a size, though they usually think in
terms of watersheds or forests or deserts rather than bioregions. (Although
in fact the Federal government has begun to calculate at this scale, with a
bioregional map recently put out by the Bureau of Land Management.)

In terms of population, too, there is a limit at which rough
self-sufficiency can be achieved. I did a lot of analysis of this for my
book Human Scale some years ago, and I found that historically
self-sufficient communities with economies of some complexity tended to
cluster in the 5,000-10,000 population range‹one urbanologist, Gideon
Sjoberg, has said that ³it seems unlikely that, at least in the earlier
periods, even the larger of these cities contained more than 5,000 to 10,000
people, including part-time farmers on the cities¹ outskirts.² Medieval
trading centers commonly held up to 10,000 people for centuries, and even
when larger cities grew in the 13th and 14th centuries to 20,000 or even
40,000, they were typically divided into quarters--literally four parts‹of
5-10,000 people.

On a modern American scale, then, we might imagine a mixture of somewhat
self-sufficient cities within more self-sufficient counties within mostly
self-sufficient bioregions within a totally self-sufficient state, and then
the economy of self-sufficiency might be quite complex indeed. In terms of
Vermont, this might be a mix of relatively self-sufficient cities (Barre,
Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington (divided into quarters), Essex,
Hartford, Middlebury, Milton, Montpelier, Rutland, South Burlington, and
Springfield are obvious candidates), within ecologically determined more
self-sufficient shires (an Otto River shire, say, and shires for the West,
Black, White, Winooski, Lemoille, Passumpsic watersheds), within the two
self-sufficient bioregions on either side of the Green Mountains, within the
state‹whose economy, if independent, could be just as self-sufficient as it
desired.

Such self-sufficient units would need to be guided by certain maxims to
provide a full range of goods and services, and they would need to adhere to
them with some ingenuity. But the maxims are all simple and thoroughly
practical. They would include the principle of sharing, at the community
level, an adherence to recycling and repairing (or at a more complex level,
remanufacturing) almost everything, an emphasis on handicrafts and bespoke
production rather than manufactures and mass production, a commitment to
using local raw materials instead of imported (and especially local foods,
cheaper, fresher, safer, better-tasting, healthier), a nurturing of local
ingenuity without patent and copyright restrictions, and an agreement to
abandon as unnecessary and undesirable almost everything manufactured at the
factory level anywhere and anyhow. All of which is no more complex than the
old New England adage:

Use it up, wear it out,

Make it do, or do without.

* * * * *
The E. F. Schumacher Society is a tax-exempt, educational organization.
Membership donations support the Society's programs. Donations may be made
on-line at http://www.smallisbeautiful.org/membership.html

Monday, May 22, 2006

Why Peace Begins With You

Why Peace Begins With You

Seven spiritual practices for bringing peace into your life and the world around you.
By Deepak Chopra

Reprinted from Chopra.com.

The approach of personal transformation is the idea of the future for ending war. It depends on the only advantage that people of peace have over warmakers: sheer numbers. If enough people in the world transformed themselves into peacemakers, war could end. The leading idea here is critical mass. It took a critical mass of human beings to embrace electricity and fossil fuels, to teach evolution and adopt every major religion. When the time is right and enough people participate, critical mass can change the world. Can it end war?

There is precedent to believe that it might. The ancient Indian ideal of Ahimsa, or non-violence, gave Gandhi his guiding principle of reverence for life. In every spiritual tradition it is believed that peace must exist in one's heart before it can exist in the outer world. Personal transformation deserves a chance.

Can it end war?

There is precedent to believe that it might. The ancient Indian ideal of Ahimsa, or non-violence, gave Gandhi his guiding principle of reverence for life. In every spiritual tradition it is believed that peace must exist in one's heart before it can exist in the outer world. Personal transformation deserves a chance.

When a person is established in non-violence, those in his vicinity cease to feel hostility.
— Patanjali, ancient Indian sage

Seven Practices for Peace

The program for peacemakers asks you to follow a specific practice every day, each one centered on the theme of peace.

Sunday: Being for Peace
Monday: Thinking for Peace
Tuesday: Feeling for Peace
Wednesday: Speaking for Peace
Thursday: Acting for Peace
Friday: Creating for Peace
Saturday: Sharing for Peace

Our hope is that you will create peace on every level of your life. Each practice takes only a few minutes. You can be as private or outspoken as you wish. But those around you will know that you are for peace, not just through good intentions but by the way you conduct your life on a daily basis.

Sunday: Being for Peace

Today, take 5 minutes to meditate for peace. Sit quietly with your eyes closed. Put your attention on your heart and inwardly repeat these four words: Peace, Harmony, Laughter, Love. Allow these words to radiate from your heart's stillness out into your body. As you end your meditation, say to yourself, "Today I will relinquish all resentments and grievances." Bring into your mind anyone against whom you have a grievance and let it go. Send that person your forgiveness.

Monday: Thinking for Peace

Thinking has power when it is backed by intention. Today, introduce the intention of peace in your thoughts. Take a few moments of silence, then repeat this ancient prayer:

Let me be loved, let me be happy, let me be peaceful.
Let my friends be happy, loved, and peaceful.
Let my perceived enemies be happy, loved, and peaceful.
Let all beings be happy, loved, and peaceful.
Let the whole world experience these things.

Any time during the day if you are overshadowed by fear or anger, repeat these intentions. Use this prayer to get back on center.

Tuesday: Feeling for Peace

This is the day to experience the emotions of peace. The emotions of peace are compassion, understanding, and love.

Compassion is the feeling of shared suffering. When you feel someone else's suffering, there is the birth of understanding.

Understanding is the knowledge that suffering is shared by everyone. When you understand that you aren't alone in your suffering, there is the birth of love.

When there is love there is the opportunity for peace.

As your practice, observe a stranger some time during your day. Silently say to yourself, "This person is just like me. Like me, this person has experienced joy and sorrow, despair and hope, fear and love. Like me, this person has people in his or her life who deeply care and love them. Like me, this person's life is impermanent and will one day end. This person's peace is as important as my peace. I want peace, harmony, laughter, and love in their life and the life of all beings."

Wednesday: Speaking for Peace

Today, the purpose of speaking is to create happiness in the listener. Have this intention: Today every word I utter will be chosen consciously. I will refrain from complaints, condemnation, and criticism.

Your practice is to do at least one of the following:

· Tell someone how much you appreciate them.

· Express genuine gratitude to those who have helped and loved you.

· Offer healing or nurturing words to someone who needs them.

· Show respect to someone whose respect you value.

· If you find that you are reacting negatively to anyone, in a way that isn't peaceful, refrain from speaking and keep silent. Wait to speak until you feel centered and calm, and then speak with respect.

Thursday: Acting for Peace

Today is the day to help someone in need: A child, a sick person, an older or frail person. Help can take many forms. Tell yourself, "Today I will bring a smile to a stranger's face. If someone acts in a hurtful way to me or someone else, I will respond with a gesture of loving kindness. I will send an anonymous gift to someone, however small. I will offer help without asking for gratitude or recognition."

Friday: Creating for Peace

Today, come up with at least one creative idea to resolve a conflict, either in your personal life or your family circle or among friends. If you can, try and create an idea that applies to your community, the nation, or the whole world.You may change an old habit that isn't working, look at someone a new way, offer words you never offered before, or think of an activity that brings people together in good feeling and laughter.

Second, invite a family member or friend to come up with one creative idea of this kind on their own. Creativity feels best when you are the one thinking up the new idea or approach. Make it known that you accept and enjoy creativity. Be loose and easy. Let the ideas flow and try out anything that has appeal. The purpose here is to bond, because only when you bond with others can there be mutual trust. When you trust, there is no need for hidden hostility and suspicion, which are the two great enemies of peace.

Saturday: Sharing for Peace

Today, share your practice of peacemaking with two people. Give them this information and invite them to begin the daily practice. As more of us participate in this sharing, our practice will expand into a critical mass. Today joyfully celebrate your own peace consciousness with at least one other peace-conscious person. Connect either trough e-mail or phone.

· Share your experience of growing peace.

· Share your gratitude that someone else is as serious about peace as you are.

· Share your ideas for helping the world move closer to critical mass.

· Do whatever you can, in small or large ways, to assist anyone who wants to become a peacemaker.

The Best Reason to Become a Peacemaker

Now you know the program. If you transform yourself into a peacemaker, you won't become an activist marching in the streets. You will not be "anti" anything. No money is required. All you are asked to do is to go within and dedicate yourself to peace.

It just might work.

Even if you don't immediately see a decline in violence around the world, you will know in your heart that you have dedicated your own life to peace.

But the single best reason to become a peacemaker is that every other approach has failed.

We don't know what number the critical mass is--the best we can hope is to bring about change by personal transformation. Isn't it worth a few moments of your day to end 30 wars around the world and perhaps every future war that is certain to break out?

Right now there are 21.3 million soldiers serving in armies around the world. Can't we recruit a peace brigade ten times larger?

A hundred times larger? The effort begins now, with you.

Reprinted from Chopra.com.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

"Don't Attack Iran" Petition!

Please sign the "Don't Attack Iran" Petition!

If you have not already done so, Please sign the "Don't Attack Iran"
Petition!
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/iran
This petition will be delivered to The White House on May 18 (see below).

More than 41,700 people have already signed the petition. Add your name and
help spread the word.

Dear President Bush and Vice President Cheney,
We write to you from all over the United States and all over the world to
urge you to obey both international and U.S. law, which forbid aggressive
attacks on other nations. We oppose your proposal to attack Iran. ...
We urge you to lead the way to peace, not war, and to begin by making clear
that you will not commit the highest international crime by aggressively
attacking Iran.

Please sign the "Don't Attack Iran" Petition! at:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/iran
or
http://political.moveon.org/dontnukeiran/index.html

**********

Tell Your Senators: "No Military Strike on Iran!"

May 11, 2006 Raw Story article -
US military, intelligence officials raise concern about possible
preparations for Iran strike
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/US_military_seen_
ready_for_Iran_0511.html

The Midwest Social Forum - July 7-9, 2006

The Midwest Social Forum is an annual gathering of grassroots organizations, community activists, artists, workers, educators, students, and others committed to making a better, more just world possible. It provides an open space for exchanging experiences and information, strengthening alliances and networks, and developing effective strategies for progressive social, economic, and political change. This year it will be held in Milwaukee, July 7-9, 2006, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Union.

Thursday, July 6 will be devoted to retreats and caucuses by communities or networks wishing to gather ahead of time in order to strengthen their collective vision and planning for long-term campaigns and projects, and enhance their capacity to participate in the Forum in a more organized and purposeful way. For example, a youth retreat is currently being organized by several Midwest-based youth organizations. If your organization would like to organize a retreat or caucus with other organizations in the region, whether on the basis of a specific community or around a particular issue focus, fill out this form.

The early deadline to propose sessions and activities has been extended until May 15th. Activities can include workshops, panels, training sessions, round tables, retreats, caucuses, films, and other cultural events. Proposals received by this early deadline have the potential to receive the most widespread and advanced publicity. Download or fill out an online proposal form here.

Registration is now open, and early registrants receive a 10% discount. Download or fill out an online registration form here.

http://www.mwsocialforum.org/

Democracy NOW - May 16, 2006


* Freedom of the Press Under Attack: Government Begins Tracking Phone Calls
of Journalists *

ABC News reported on Monday that a senior federal law enforcement had
revealed that the government is now tracking phone calls made by journalists
from the New York Times, Washington Post and ABC News. We speak with Brian
Ross, chief investigative reporter at ABC News.

Listen/Watch/Read
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/16/145201


* Militarizing the Border: Bush Calls For 6,000 National Guard Troops to
Deploy to U.S.-Mexican Border *

President Bush spoke on national tv night and called for 6,000 National
Guard troops to be deployed to the U.S.-Mexican border. We looking at the
growing militarization of the border and the role private contractors, like
Halliburton, are playing.

Listen/Watch/Read
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/16/145205


* Hundreds Gather in Duncan Oklahoma to Protest Outside Halliburton
Shareholder Meeting *

We go to Oklahoma to speak with Corpwatch¹s Pratap Chatterjee about his new
report "Hurricane Halliburton: Conflict, Climate Change and Catastrophe." We
also speak with Nigerian attorney Michael Keania Karikpo who represents
Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria.

Listen/Watch/Read
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/16/145210


* Headlines for May 16, 2006 *

- Bush: 6,000 National Guard Troops to Be Deployed to Border
- Report: Government Tracks Phone Calls of Journalists
- FCC Commissioner Calls for Inquiry into NSA Spying Scandal
- Sunni Group Accuses U.S. of Killing 25 Civilians in Iraq
- U.S. Bars Arms Sales to Venezuela
- Haiti & Venezuela Sign Oil Deal
- Ecuador Expels Oil Giant Occidental Petroleum
- Prosecutor Focuses on Cheney in Valerie Plame Probe
- Activists Call for Clear Channel to Lose License Over Hate Radio

Listen/Watch/Read
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/16/144256

Slamming for Human Rights Midwest Region Tour

Friday, May 19th, 2006, 7 PM - Slamming for Human Rights Midwest Region Tour! Boxcar Books - 310A South Washington St., Bloomington http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/midwestern/poetryslamtour05192006.html

Join host Kevin Coval (www.melekyonin.com) and Indiana human rights
activists as Indiana poets compete for Bloomington 'Poet of
Conscience'. There will also be opportunities for you to take action
to end violence against women
(http://www.amnestyusa.org/stopviolence/index.do). Become an AIUSA
member and receive a free 'Slamming for Human Rights' t-shirt or
'Music for Human Rights' CD. The event is free and open to the
public. For more information, please contact Patricia, Local Event
Coordinator, at greendove@gmail.com.

Co-sponsored by Indiana Holistic Health Network, Green Dove Network, Hart Rock, MATRIX, Boxcar Books, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, Social Justice Steering Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Center for Sustainable Living, WFHB, Holistic Affordable Housing, WME3tv videozine and Reiki Peace and Wellness Arts

Greenpeace Rallies for Solar Energy







Mirror, mirror, on the Hall… San Francisco’s City Hall that is. More than 300 activists joined me for a rally in front of City Hall yesterday, lighting it up with small mirrors to show our support for solar energy.


That’s because San Francisco is on the verge of building the largest municipal clean energy network in the world, and the city’s mayor can make it happen.

I don’t have to tell you about skyrocketing energy prices or Bush’s failure to address global warming. I’m here to tell you that we don’t need President Bush anymore – not with local leaders like Mayor Newsom stepping up to the challenge.

And why should you care about what happens in San Francisco? Because this project won’t just be the largest renewable energy system in the country – it will be the largest in the WORLD, setting a precedent that every city, large or small, can follow.

TAKE ACTION Thank Mayor Newsom for his courage and leadership in making San Francisco the world leader in renewable energy.

No matter where you live, what happens now in San Francisco could change the future of renewable energy everywhere. That means less pollution, a step towards solving global warming, and lower energy costs.

You don’t have to shine your mirror on City Hall to express your support for renewable energy – just send a note to Mayor Newsom now.

Just a minute of your time could literally change the world.

For a clean energy future,

Samantha

Samantha Rodgers
Energy Campaigner

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Mother's Day 2006

MOTHER’S DAY 2006

In honor of the true intention of Mother’s Day, Green Dove has assembled a variety of information and resources from many different places,some are available within the Bloomington community and others are available as web resources. Many are women's groups working to advocate peacemaking. We hope that you honor your Mother and all Mothers today and everyday, and that you find something useful her for yourself or someone you care about. Visit the Green Dove website and explore the Peace Links pages, Local Food Network and other resources http://www.greendove.net

Happy Mother’s Day from Green Dove Network

Today many woman have joined with CODE PINK - Mother's Day 2006: A Call for Peace! a Mothers Day 24 hour vigil at the White House May 13-14

A Coalition of women’s groups including local CODE PINKs, WILPF, and Grandmothers Against the War - Women will be taking action at Congress and around the capitol heeding Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day call for peace and advocating for an end to the Iraq war. Ongoing creative protest will be coordinated throughout the month. Bring your hot pink broom and sweep the Congress clean of warmongers! For more information, check out www.womensayenough.org or email Sam Joi at mzsam@bayareacodepink.org.

http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=894

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From May 11-14th, American Friends Service Committee have organized Eyes Wide Open -
Take part in a daily reading of names of U.S. service personnel and Iraqis killed in the war; a silent memorial procession around the Mall; testimonies from those who have lost loved ones and from those whose loved ones remain in harm’s way; visits to Congressional

representatives to discuss the human cost of the war; a candlelight vigil; and other events. For more information go to: http://www.afsc.org/eyes

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Elaine Heffner:Women do not have to sacrifice personhood if they are mothers. They do not have to sacrifice motherhood in order to be persons. Liberation was meant to expand women's opportunities, not to limit them. The self-esteem that has been found in new pursuits can also be found in mothering.

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ON MOTHER’S DAY

by Denise Breeden-Ost

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe invented Mother's Day. Or did she? Howe might not recognize her "Mothers' Day for Peace" in 2002. Here is Howe's "Mother's Day Proclamation":

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or of fears! Say firmly, "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies.... We women of one country will be too tender toward those of another to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs." The sword of murder is not the balance of justice! ....[L]et women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as the means whereby the great human family can live in peace.... Read the Complet article here -

http://www.greendove.net/zine1-5articledbreedenost.htm

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Grieving mother seeking peace for self, others


by Andy Davis, Akansas Democrat Gazette
March 12th, 2006

FAYETTEVILLE — Wearing a bright yellow “Bring home the troops” T-shirt and capri-style jeans, sunglasses pushed up on her head, the small woman with shoulder-length black hair stood at a podium before an appreciative crowd of more than 500 in the city square.

Military Families Speak Out

Listen to Neil Young's Living with War

http://www.hyfntrak.com/neilyoung2/AFF23597/

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Alice Walker: And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not anonymously, handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see -- or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.

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May 17-20th, Network of Spiritual Progressives
Building on the July, 2005 conference in Berkeley, this will be the national conference to launch a prophetic spiritual politics agenda to the media and the politicians in D.C. and to train organizers who will take the agenda into their communities. The conference will also celebrate the release of Rabbi Michael Lerner's new book The Left Hand of God, with its proposed Spiritual Covenant for America and the release of the paperback version of Jim Wallis' God's Politics. For more info go to: www.spiritualprogressives.org

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United for Peace and Justice Grassroots Training and Congressional Advocacy Days, Sunday, May 21, and Monday, May 22, 2006, Washington, DC
Don't miss this opportunity to make your voice heard on Capitol Hill, and to meet activists from your area who will do anything -- even talk to members of Congress -- to STOP THIS WAR! Click here to register now.
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/modinput4.php?modin=121

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San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace is a non-profit organization concerned with the local dangers involving the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, and with the dangers of nuclear power, weapons and waste on national and global levels. Additionally, Mothers for Peace concerns itself with issues of peace, social justice and a safe environment. http://www.mothersforpeace.org/

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Gold Star Families for Peace - Families of soldiers who have died as a result of war are organizing to be a positive force in our world to bring our country’s sons and daughters home from Iraq, to minimize the “human cost” of this war, and to prevent other families from the pain we are feeling as the result of our losses.

http://www.gsfp.org/

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Elizabeth Kenny: My mother used to say, "He who angers you, conquers you!" But my mother was a saint.

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Another Mother for PeaceAnother Mother for Peace is a non-profit, non-partisan association dedicated to eliminating the use of war as a means of solving disputes among nations, people and ideologies. http://www.anothermother.org/

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*Resources and Upcoming Bloomington Events in support of Women*

May 19th, 7:00 PM Slamming for Human Rights, Amnesty International’s Midwest Region Tour at Boxcar Books and Community Center,310A South Washington St., Bloomington, hosted by Kevin and Indiana human rights activists as Indiana poets compete for Bloomington 'Poet of Conscience'. There will also be opportunities for you to take action to end violence against women. Become an AIUSA member and receive a free 'Slamming for Human Rights' t-shirt or 'Music for Human Rights' CD.

Co-sponsored by Indiana Holistic Health Network, Green Dove Network, Hart Rock, MATRIX, Boxcar Books, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, Social Justice Steering Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Bloomington, Center for Sustainable Living, WFHB, Holistic Affordable Housing, WME3tv videozine and Reiki Peace and Wellness Arts - 812-339-8710

http://www.amnestyusa.org/events/midwestern/poetryslamtour05192006.html

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Middleway House strives - - To end violence in the lives of women and children by implementing or sponsoring activities and programs aimed at achieving individual and social change. http://www.bloomington.in.us/~mwhouse/aboutus.htm 24 Hour Crisis Line: (812) 336-0846 – Consider MiddleWay Food Works Cookie of the Month Club and do something sweet for a Mother! Contact Susan at 812-219-9525 or email catering@middlewayfoodworks.org

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Indiana Domestic Violence and Legal Resources – Indiana links and resources http://www.womenslaw.org/IN/IN_links.htm

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BABS - Bloomington Area Birth Services - Bloomington Area Birth Services, Inc., is a group of women trained and experienced in childbirth and postpartum issues. We offer a variety of childbirth classes, prenatal and postpartum yoga, breastfeeding support, postpartum support groups, drop-in parent-baby playtime, and information about midwives, birth and postpartum doulas, and local birth resources. http://www.bloomingtonbirth.com/

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Hannah House - Crisis Pregnancy Center of Bloomington, Inc. & Hannah House Maternity Home, 808 N. College Avenue Bloomington, IN 47404, (812) 334-0104 http://www.cpcbloomington.org/

Reiki Peace and Wellness Arts – Reiki is a gentle, powerful energy that accelerates the bodies natural healing abilities and is complementary to conventional and holistic wellness services. Patricia C. Coleman Reiki Master, will give any mother a 10% discount on a first time Reiki session through the month of May. http://www.hartrock.net/reiki.htm

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Women Writing for a Change - is a creative writing class which supports the lives of women for whom writing is, or is becoming, an important creative and spiritual practice. This class is designed to provide a safe and supportive space for women who want to explore their writing voice. Women are encouraged to tell their stories in whatever written form they wish to pursue, whether it is fiction, poetry, journal, essay, or drama. http://www.bethlodge-rigal.com/womenwriting.html

Bloomington Women's Writing Center - a non-projit service organization providing a forum for female writers of all ages. http://www.bwwc.org

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Indiana Holistic Health Network has a resources in its directory to women’s services http://www.indianaholistichealth.net/ and wellness related information.

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Indiana Birthing Choices - It is the vision of CHOICES to improve the quality of and sensitivity toward pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and early parenting ways. We hope to help families have positive experiences .... For babies to be gently welcomed into the world, breastfeeding past their first birthday. We want to bring awareness to attachment parenting, listening and trusting yourself and your baby. We wish for parents' to be informed, to decide what is best for themselves.

http://www.indianabirthchoices.com/STATE-DIRECTORY.html

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Community Health Access Program provides a variety of services to women and the community at large. http://cgi.hoosier.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/uwmonroe/viewentry?id=61

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Local Food Bloomington – a Green Dove Network project providing links to Community Food resources in the Bloomington area. http://www.greendove.net/communityfood.htm

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BACC – Bloomington Adult Community Center – for 50 years and over, including sports and fitness activities, adult and senior classes, travel and special events. http://www.bloomington.in.gov/parks/bacc.php

The Endwright Center – 7500 West Reeves Rd. 876-7500

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Planned Parenthood of Indiana - www.ppin.org/

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NARAL - www.prochoiceamerica.org/

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National Association of Women

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The National Association of Women and the Law -

BACC – Bloomington Adult Community Center – for 50 years and over, including sports and fitness activities, adult and senior classes, travel and special events. http://www.bloomington.in.gov/parks/bacc.php

The Endwright Center – 7500 West Reeves Rd. 876-7500

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Planned Parenthood of Indiana - www.ppin.org/

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NARAL - www.prochoiceamerica.org/

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National Association of Women

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The National Association of Women and the Law


BACC – Bloomington Adult Community Center – for 50 years and over, including sports and fitness activities, adult and senior classes, travel and special events. http://www.bloomington.in.gov/parks/bacc.php

The Endwright Center – 7500 West Reeves Rd. 876-7500

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Planned Parenthood of Indiana - www.ppin.org/

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NARAL - www.prochoiceamerica.org/

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National Association of Women

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The National Association of Women and the Law http://www.nawl.ca/