There are moving stories about the vigils from all across the country. San Diego, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis-St. Paul and other big cities had large vigils. But there were vigils in small towns like Boothbay Harbor, ME and Pocatello, ID too. This morning there was some important media coverage—showing that in every community Americans support their troops but want them to come home soon. The headline in the Seattle Post Intelligencer was "Many candles are lit for fallen soldiers." The Daily Record (Morristown, NJ) headlined their story, "2,001 are in their prayers on Morristown Green." Dozens of local TV news shows—the most watched news programs in America—reported on the vigils. Better than the news reporting, though, were the reports we received first-hand, streaming into our e-mail account over night. Here are some of the best comments:
"Our Congressman stopped by to show his support, which was appreciated by many there. I am a military-family member—although no one active-duty any more (as of a few months ago) and I want people to know what's really going on over there—a sentiment shared by many." Kristine, Arlington, VA
"I believe that all of the vigils made a difference because it gave each of us an opportunity in our local communities to stand up and be counted as being vehemently against the war, honoring the humongous losses and memories of all our military people who lost their lives as well as acknowledging the pain and suffering of all of our injured and wounded; and finally to acknowledge the incalculable losses suffered by the Iraqi people." Jack, New York City, NY
"I liked being there to honor the men and women who have died and also to send the message that we have to get out of Iraq." Janet, Mission Viejo, CA
"My best moment was the veteran who told me he had lost friends in Iraq giving me a hug before he went home. The camaraderie was really uplifting." Hope, Houston, TX
"The best moment was watching the children who came; seeing their engagement and seriousness." Melinda, Hillsdale, NY
"We had two veterans; one Korean war and one 24 year old Iraq wounded veteran who has not been home that long. They both thanked us for being there." Barbara, Bennington, VT
You can see pictures from the vigils, read reports, and look at a map of all the vigil locations at:
http://www.moveonpac.org/iraqvigils/?id=6215-4703541-5H7FNhWCAD7bN4gKIvdmfQ&t=6
MESSAGE FROM DOT MAVER AT PEACE ALLIANCE Regarding The Recent London Dept of Peace Summit
We return from the first International People's Summit for Departments of Peace, held October 18 and 19 in London, with great hope and increased energy for the work we have undertaken to create an infrastructure for peace as we call for departments of peace in governments throughout the world and continue our work here in the United States campaigning for a US Department of Peace. Forty people from twelve countries attended the London Summit. Countries represented included Australia, Canada, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, the Netherlands, Palestine, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Summit attendees also participated in a two-day training in the latest methodologies and developments in the field of peace building and conflict transformation. There are many of us calling for dialogue to determine ways to resolve conflicts with peaceful means. In July the United Nations hosted the largest ever gathering of Civil Society where a Global Action Agenda for the Prevention of Violent Conflict was presented to the Secretary-General. The global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict is calling on governments to work with civil society in building a safer, more peaceful world. http://www.gppac.net
Both the Summit and the training that preceded it were facilitated by Kai Frithjof Brand-Jacobsen, founder and director of the Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR) and co-director of Transcend. http://www.transcend.org/
On the final day of the London Summit, the participants launched an on-going partnership for global action, called the People's Initiative for Departments of Peace, and planned for the second People's Summit to be held June 2006 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, preceding the first World Peace Forum. The Summit concluded with a public meeting in the Grand Committee Room in the Houses of Parliament, where a Declaration (reproduced below) was presented to John McDonnell MP (member of parliament & in front row of photo with the summit group) who, inspired by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, has introduced legislation in the UK for a Ministry for Peace. http://www.thepeacealliance.org/campaigns/peoples_summit.htm
Please forward this message on to your networks, national and international, as there are now many Department of Peace working groups forming in countries around the world. We will keep you posted on progress as this initiative unfolds.
FIRST PEOPLE'S SUMMIT FOR DEPARTMENTS OF PEACE
London, 19 October 2005
Today, we announce the launch of an international initiative for the creation of Departments of Peace in governments throughout the world. Violence of all kinds is increasing. There is an urgent need to find responsible solutions, expanding on past and present peace-building successes. This international initiative will both provide resources and support for existing national Department of Peace campaigns, and assist new ones as they appear in other countries. While the exact role of the department will differ in each country, its basic functions will be the same:
* To foster a culture of peace;
* To research, articulate and help bring about non-violent solutions to conflicts at all levels; and
* To provide resources for training in peace-building and conflict transformation to people everywhere.
We, the undersigned, joyfully vow to support and encourage each other, to share information, to enrich each other's experience, to listen to one another and to celebrate our commonalities and differences in our journey together towards a culture of peace.
§ Department of Peace, Australia
§ Working Group for a Federal Department of Peace, Canada
§ Ministry for Peace, United Kingdom
§ The Peace Alliance, Campaigning for a US Department of Peace, United States of America
§ Delegation from Israel
§ Binnie D'egli Innocenti, WWGHM, Italy
§ Federation of Damanhur, Italy
§ Global Peace Campaign, Working for a Ministry of Peace in Japan
§ Ank Mesritz, House of Peace, Netherlands
§ Paul van Tongeren, European Centre for Conflict Prevention, Netherlands
§ Zoughbi Zoughbi, WI'AM, Palestinian Conflict Resolution Centre, Palestine
§ Romanian Department of Peace Initiative
§ Jo Berry, Building Bridges for Peace, United Kingdom
§ Rolf C Carriere
§ Simonetta Costanzo Pittaluga
QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Freedom is fragile and must be protected. To sacrifice it, even as a temporary measure, is to betray it. Germaine Greer
Message from Senator Ted Kennedy Regarding - Let's Stop George Bush and his Extreme Agenda
The reckless abuses of power undertaken by George Bush and his right-wing allies are a clear and present danger to the nation and must be stopped. The arrogance and incompetence of the Administration have made our country weaker, undermined our reputation in the world, made the war on terrorism harder to win, and divided our country like few other times in our history. Now, more than ever, I am convinced that the only way to stop George Bush and his radical agenda is to elect a Democratic Senate in 2006. This is the next important election we must win. I know that committed activists like you are an essential part of our strategy for victory. That's why I am asking you today to join the fight with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the only national party committee committed to electing a Democratic Senate. http://www.dscc.org/join
Every day I see fresh evidence of the Bush Administration's misguided leadership, deviousness, and incompetence:
* George Bush led us into war under false pretenses. Now, our courageous men and women in uniform continue to pay the ultimate price for his "shoot first" foreign policy.
* The Administration refuses to come clean on Iraq. Their claims of progress bear no relation to reality and are a disservice to our troops and our country.
* They're packing the federal courts with right-wing judges. And now they're refusing to supply key background information on their most important nominees.
* Tragically, their response to the massive human disaster caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has been incredibly inept. It only serves to underscore the extreme poverty that grips our inner cities and our rural heartland.
Enough already!
The only way to stop these flagrant abuses of power is to elect a Democratic Senate in 2006 that can put the brakes on the Bush agenda. A shift of a few Senate seats to the Democratic Party can make all the difference. Only by electing more Democrats to the Senate can we begin to undo the disastrous consequences of the past four years of Republican failure. The best way you can help is to become involved as soon as possible with the DSCC and its campaign to win back the Senate. The DSCC is the only national party organization solely committed to electing a Democratic Senate in 2006. The organization is recruiting Democratic activists across the country to ensure we have the resources we need to win. Will you be part of that campaign?
The DSCC has a special role in every Senate election across the country. It is the national party organization that coordinates directly with each and every Democratic Senate campaign. It makes sure that all our candidates have the money and resources they need to win. It is the only organization with the national vision to know where our party's resources will do the most good. I am committed to building a strong DSCC, because it could be the difference that puts us over the top in key states like Pennsylvania, where far right Republican Senator Rick Santorum is running for re-election. The DSCC needs your help to defeat Katherine Harris, the notorious Florida Secretary of State who gave George Bush the presidency in 2000. We will all need to work together to ensure the reelection of Democratic stalwarts like Sen. Bob Byrd in West Virginia. Committed activists like you will be crucial to the DSCC's success. That's why I need you to join their campaign today. http://www.dscc.org/join
The DSCC's job is at the center of the action for the coming campaigns in the 34 states that will be holding elections for the Senate in 2006. Its mission is critical, because electing more Democrats is the only way we can clean up the mess George Bush has made in Iraq, stop his plan to pack our federal courts with extremist ideologues, and hold him accountable for all of the massive policy blunders that plague our nation today. If we're going to put our country back on track, we clearly need to win back the Senate in 2006. The DSCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party dedicated to doing just that. If you're troubled by George Bush and his right-wing agenda, there is no better organization for you to support. In the coming weeks and months, the DSCC will continue to ask you to help us elect a Democratic Senate and to put a stop to the right wing juggernaut. Now, more then ever, I urge you to get involved and be there with us when our party needs you. The stakes are too high for any of us to do less.
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