You Can Help Make Violence Reduction and Prevention a National Priority - Stand for Peace in Congress
Sign the Petition at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/696/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=946 Congress is a reactive body. We must come together to make our voices heard and tell our representatives in Washington that violence reduction and prevention must be a top priority. Sign the petition and let Congress know that you stand for peace. Ask your friends to sign the petition as well.

“Democracy In Action” will deliver the petition to Congress on September 11, 2008 to: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

• A 2004 World Health Organization report estimated the cost of interpersonal violence in the U.S. at more than $300 billion per year--excluding war-related costs. The cost to victims was estimated at more than $500 billion per year.[ The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence, World Health Organization, 2004 ]

National Peace Academy Initiative Launched!
Over 30 people from around the world attended a two-day National Peace Academy Vision Meeting earlier this week at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In a process of Appreciative Inquiry, led by Case’s David Cooperrider, the group enthusiastically bonded in launching a design process for a National Peace Academy in the United States. The group:

1. Decided to convene a Global Stakeholder Summit in March 2009, which will bring together 300-500 people to carry forward the design process (exact dates and locale yet to be determined)

2. Decided that Peace Partnership International, the Biosophical Institute, and the Business as an Agent of World Benefit at Case Western University’s Weatherhead School of Management will constitute a consortium to carry the process forward, with Peace Partnership International and Biosophical Institute serving as secretariat for the effort

3. Established teams that will carry out research, planning and organizing activities preparatory to the Global Stakeholder Summit

4. Reserved URLs to establish a National Peace Academy website

[Duchess Note: Stay tuned for more details to come! I'm a board member and active volunteer with "New Yorkers for a Dept of Peace" chapter and campaign. Read more about DoP HR808 legislation at our website ... http://www.nyc-dop.com/ ]