MINNEAPOLIS ENDORSES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF PEACE
Minneapolis, MN. By a near unanimous vote of its city council (12 for, one abstention), Minneapolis became the 16th local government to pass a resolution calling for creation of a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. By doing so it adds its voice to the growing grassroots chorus of cities across the country declaring that peace is not only possible but practical - and that they're willing to send a message to Congress that the time for a Department of Peace is NOW.

"There is often little a city council feels able to do to decrease violence in a city," said council member Cam Gordon shortly after the vote. "When I saw this small opportunity, I knew Minneapolis needed to give a voice to peace."

"Minneapolis could directly benefit from programs the Department would develop or distribute that deal with social discord like school violence, gang and gun violence," said MaryJane LeVigne, Minnesota Dept of Peace Campaign State Coordinator.

[Duchess Note - Bravo to those in Minneapolis DoP who worked so hard to make this happen. They are so inspiring! To learn more about the Dept of Peace campaign in NYC, go to our website at http://www.nyc-dop.com ... to become more involved with a DoP chapter in your part of the US, go to http://www.thepeacealliance.org]

BUMPER STICKER QUOTE OF THE DAY ... JESUS WAS A SOCIAL ACTIVIST -- THAT IS A LIBERAL

SOME LIBERAL NEWS TO GET ONE THROUGH THE WORK WEEK

WHERE BUSH'S ARROGANCE HAS TAKEN US
Jim Hightower, Hightower Lowdown
An illegal war, a long list of eroded rights, and a country run by and for the benefit of corporate campaign donors -- all courtesy of the imperial presidency.
http://www.alternet.org/story/40678/

City Asked To Un-"Democrat" Lieberman
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0822-03.htm

Veteran Protests against Iraq War
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0822-01.htm

ANOTHER 9/11 COVER-UP IN THE MAKING?
Rory O'Connor, AlterNet
The author of a new book about the mistakes that led to 9/11 accuses the National Geographic Channel of diluting a documentary about the book in order to protect the government.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/40693/

TRUTH-TELLING GONE WILD
Molly Ivins, AlterNet
The Bushies are having the hardest time trying to un-lie.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/40674/

STUDENT DEBT CRISIS: ARE THERE ANY SOLUTIONS?
Talia Berman, WireTap
A look at what's behind the ever-increasing cost of college and potential solutions offered by activists and government.
http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/40187/

Daily Show: Why aren't the Iraqis more thankful?
In light of Bush's recent puzzlement over the fact that the Iraqi people are not appreciative of the US occupation of their country, Jon Stewart interviewed their Baghdad Senior Bureau Chief to get the inside scoop on why they are so damn ungrateful.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/40675/

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest. Thomas Jefferson