Department Of Peace

The U.S. bill to create the Department of Peace is co-sponsored in the House of Representatives by more than 40 representatives, and supported by the Natural Law party. Nice sentiment at the very least. The bill establishes Peace Day, a cabinet level agency, coordinates existing and new government peace work (including nonviolent responses to domestic violence and crime in general!), expands study of nonviolent practices, creates an academy training people to go out and resolve disputes peacefully, etc., it's really quite broad and sophisticated.

The bill: Text | PDF | Summary | Outline

The main sponsor, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, has a Department of Peace page with more information and ways to help, and i'm looking for non-profits that are actively supporting it...

Something like it was apparently proposed as early as the 1930s. The PeacePilgrim called for it, and Another Mother for Peace in the late 60s early 70s.

Who knows if the government can be a positive force in nonviolence? It can't hurt too much to try. A few more articles about the bill.

Also see NonviolenceResources.

An interview with Riane Eisler talking about the September 11 attacks in America, and responses to it. In the end, not many concrete proposals, a common frustration i'm having with the 'peace' position. But she did mention the Department of Peace bill, and she's not a simple peacenik, she surprised me.

(see the original post at AbbeNormal#DepartmentOfPeace)