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COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Amnesty International: www.amnestyusa.org
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Founded in 1961 and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977, AI is a grassroots activist organization whose one million members are “dedicated to freeing prisoners of conscience, to gaining fair trial for political prisoners, to ending torture and ‘disappearances,’ and to abolishing the death penalty throughout the world.” In the past 40 plus years, they have freed over 40,000 prisoners of conscience. They are currently working on the Guantanamo situation among many others. |
American Association for University Women: www.aauw.org and www.aauwarizona.com
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Founded in 1881, this organization focuses on education and equity for women and girls and “positive societal change”. The national organization sponsored a ground-breaking study on discrimination against girls in American schools. |
Christian Peacemaker Team: www.christianpeacemakerteam.org
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An organization committed to “reducing violence by getting ‘in the way’”, the Christian Peacemaker Teams working in places around the world like Iraq and Palestine, ask this question: “What would happen if Christians devoted the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war?” |
The Earth Charter: www.earthcharter.org
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Believing we stand at “a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when humanity must choose its future,” the Earth Charter is working for us to join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. They affirm “gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development”. |
Fellowship of Reconciliation: www.forusa.org
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The oldest interfaith peace and justice organization in the U.S., it is “committed to addressing conflict and oppression through active nonviolence as a transforming way of life and as a means of radical change.” It boasts 115 local groups and is a member of the International FOR, founded in 1914. |
Global Nuclear Disarmament Fund: www.GNDFund.org
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This fund was established to empower global citizens everywhere to help dismantle and destroy nuclear weapons. An historic agreement was reached with the Russian Federation Agency of Atomic Energy in Moscow in May for a protocol of public participation. Members of the public give contributions for dismantlement and receive jewelry. |
Global Warming: www.climatecrisis.org or www.stopglobalwarming.org
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“There is no more important cause than the call for action to save the planet on which we live.” These sites give information about Al Gore’s film about global warming, An Inconvenient Truth, as well as statistics and data. For example, the average American generates about 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year from personal transportation (a U.S. car dumping 5.5 tons of CO2 into the air per year), home energy use, and the energy used to produce the products and services we consume. You can calculate your own personal impact and download “Ten Simple Tips” on how you can reduce your impact. |
The Hunger Project: www.thp.org
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“Empowering Women and Men to End Their Own Hunger. Women are the key. The issue is not food but opportunity.” Operating in 10,000 villages in 13 countries in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. |
Maricopa County Regional Domestic Violence Council: www.mag.maricopa.gov./dv/DV_Council
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One of the largest coordinated community efforts to address, prevent, and eradicate domestic violence. Published a plan in 1999 with 41 recommendations that include a Zero Tolerance community education campaign, the training of justice personnel, hospital protocols, and affordable housing. |
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: www.naacp and www.naacpaz.org
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This organization devotes its energies to voter registration, civil rights complaints, legislation, and advocacy. |
National Priorities Project: www.nationalprioritiesproject
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“Turning Data Into Action.” This site shows how federal tax and spending policies impact your community. For example, it shows the cost of the Iraq War to our state as $4.2b and to Phoenix as $1.1b. It shows the cost to each taxpayer in the U.S. as $2,379 and to each household as $2,819. |
The Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP): www.spiritualprogressives.org or www.tikkun.org (Rabbi Michael Lerner’s website named after the magazine he edits).
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Founded by Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God, and others in 2006, they held their first conference to lobby Congress for their platform in May. The Network is an educational and spiritual organization whose goals are “entirely focused on changing the public discourse and policies of our country, not on winning power for any particular person or party.” Key issues center on the environment, a values-based economy, spiritual diversity, and nonviolence. |
The Peace Alliance: www.ThePeaceAlliance.org
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This is the national organization lobbying for DOP legislation. Its next national conference in Washington D. C. will be in February ’07. |
People’s Initiative for Departments of Peace: www.peoplesinitiativefordepartmentsofpeace.org
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Along with the U.S., there has been a promising start for a DOP in India, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia. This group is calling for the non-violent resolution of the growing conflict involving Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K., the U.S., and the U.N. |
People-to-People International: www.ptpi.org and www.ptpiaz.org
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Established by President Eisenhower in 1956 to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among people of different countries and diverse cultures. Today a not-for-profit, Non-governmental Organization, it has a presence in 125 countries with 80,000 participating individuals and families. |
Prison Fellowship International: www.pfm.org or www.prisonfellowshipinternational.org
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“Seeking Justice with Mercy.” Active in 112 countries, with a Headquarters in Washington D.C., its mission is: “To mobilize and assist the Christian community in its ministry to prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims and their families; and in the advancement of restorative justice.” Among its programs is the “Angel Tree”, which is outreach to the children of prisoners at Christmas. PFI sponsors “Restorative Justice Online,” which is an articles database, www.restorativejustice.org. |
Progressive Democrats of America: www.pdamerica.org
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“Take Action. Vote.” Their key issues include: “Open debate on the Iraq War; Stop Darfur Genocide; and Don’t attack Iran!” |
Rumors of Peace: www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org
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This is a powerful nonpartisan, unarmed peacekeeping force composed of trained civilians from around the world. In partnership with local groups, Nonviolent Peaceforce members apply proven nonviolent strategies to protect human rights, deter violence, and help create space for local peacemakers to carry out their work. |
A Season for Nonviolence: www.agnt.org/snv
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Founded and coordinated each year by the Association for Global New Thought (AGNT), the Season runs from Jan. 30 to Apr. 4 in communities throughout the nation; it is 64 days of education, media, and grassroots campaigning dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal and transform. This year it is sponsoring “11 Days of Global Unity, Forgiveness and Nonviolence” from Sep. 11-21, 2006. |
Seeds of Peace: www.seedsofpeace.org
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“Empowering Leaders of the Next Generation. Treaties are negotiated by governments. Peace is made by people. Seeds of Peace is doing what no government can. It is sowing the seeds of peace among the next generation of leaders.” The national organization holds yearly an international leadership camp in Maine, bringing young people from countries in conflict together. Theological Henri Nouwen wrote that the “seeds of peace” have been sown in the hearts of the oppressed and they will be the ones to lead us because they know the way to peace. |
United Nations Millenium Goals (by 2015): www.unmilleniumgoalsproject.org/goals . There are eight goals (see below) with 18 targets and 48 indicators to achieve by 2015.
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- Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
- Achieve Universal Primary Education
- Promote Gender Equity and Empower Women
- Reduce Child Mortality
- Improve Maternal Health
- Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and other Diseases
- Ensure Environmental Sustainability
- Develop a Global Partnership for Development
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United Nations Population Fund: www.nfpa.org
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This is an “international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. It supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS and every girl/woman is treated with dignity and respect.” |
Unity’08: www.unity08.com
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“We’re a movement to take back our country from polarizing politics. In 2008, we’ll select and elect a Unity ticket to the White House—one Democrat, one Republican, in whatever order, or independents committed to a Unity team.” |
War Resisters League: www.wrl.org
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One of the oldest anti-war organizations in America, it was founded in 1923 by the socialist suffragette Jessie Wallace Hughan and others. “Believing war to be a crime against humanity. Committed not only to eliminating war, but the causes of war.” The League offers individuals data and resources for action. For example, the WRL provides a detailed analysis of the military spending for President Bush’s 2007 Budget with current military spending representing 30% or about $563 b. |
Women for International Peace and Arbitration: www.wipa.org
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In its 20th year, their goal is to channel the rising public sentiment for peaceful settlement of international disputes. “The largest untapped source of strength is the collective potential of women. Women are the key to peace.” |
Women in Black: www.womeninblack.org and www.azpeace.org
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An international peace network begun in 1988, women dressed in black stand in silent vigil. “For Justice. Against War.” |
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom: www.wilpf.org
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This is one of the oldest peace organizations, celebrating its 90th year. Coretta Scott King was a leader in this group. “WILPF envisions a transformed world at peace, where there is racial, social, and economic justice for all people everywhere.” WILPF’s mission is among other goals to “Link and challenge root causes of oppression. Build and strengthen relationships and movements for justice, peace, and radical democracy.” The national organization and all of its branches focus on two key issues; the current two are The Middle East and Water. |
World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) : www.worldaffairscouncils.org
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The largest international affairs non-profit in the U.S., it reaches 20 million with its programs. Founded in 1918, it sponsors the largest international speakers’ program in the country and organizes people-to-people diplomacy missions. |
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BLESSINGS OF PEACE!
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