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ABOUT US - The Campaign

LOCAL CAMPAIGN

Mission Statement: The New York Campaign for the Department of Peace is a citizen organization working to establish a cabinet-level, federally-funded, United States Department of Peace that would promote nonviolent conflict resolution including: prevention, education and training both domestically and internationally. Within a framework of respect and integrity, the New York Campaign for the Department of Peace uses public outreach, education events, citizen training and media publications to empower ordinary citizens to exercise their civic duty; to organize groups of citizens to have greater impact on the Congressional process; and to practice the principles it seeks to achieve.

NY DoP First Event: Sept. 12, 2004, "The Pursuit of Peace", marks our first annual event in NYC. Our featured guests were Marianne Williamson, Lynn McMullen, Congressman Nadler and others. Held along the Hudson River on pier 63 next to the Frying Pan at 23rd Street, it was a big success and launched our local efforts here in the NY metropolitan area.

See complete list of Congressional cosponsors

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

A Department of Peace is not as new or radical an idea as we might think.It is part of the rich tradition of our Country's history. The earliest efforts to create a Department of Peace date back to near the time of our Nation's founding, around 1790.

"...Benjamin Banneker, a black astronomer, proposed that the federal government establish a peace office. HIs idea was developed in detail by the humanitarian Benjamin Rush, a philadelphia physician who had been surgeon general of the Continental Army. He urged that such a national peace office – a secretary of peace, perhaps? – create a system of free schools to teach pacifism. Schoolbooks usually focus on the necessity of wars and the glory of fighting in them, he said, while the peacful ways of settling differences are all too often ignored. The peace officer would work to eliminate military parades, titles and uniforms and open anitwar museums displaying collections of swords beaten into plowshares. Dr. Rush wanted to nourish a culture of peace and wipe out the glamour of war."

– Ain't gonna study war no more, Milten Meltzer

So while it is the second time in recent years that such a bill has been introduced it is the third time in our Nation's history.

In this our most recent effort, we have currently 63 congressional co-sponsors to the bill.

Over the past few months the Democratic Party in 11 states has adopted the Department of Peace onto their party platforms. They include:

    Alaska
    Colorado
    Hawaii
    Iowa
    Michigan
    Minnesota
    Ohio
    Oregon
    Texas
    Washington
    Idaho (missed by just 7 votes)
Please visit the website of our National Campaign and learn more about this great effort!

Also visit these local websites from around the country. We are active in all 50 states.

INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN

There are efforts in several countries to institute Ministries of Peace. Currently they include Great Britain, Sweden and Canada.

Read more about the international effort here: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/campaigns/peoples_summit.htm

Visit these websites dedicated to this international effort

 

 

            
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