On Sept. 22, 2005, Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN)introduced legislation in the Senate. He was persuaded, we are told, by Minnesota youth in their visit with him during the Annual Dept. of Peace Conference in D.C., Sept. 10-12. Speaking from the floor, the Senator said, "If we are to remain the world's leader...we must become better known for our peacemaking successes than for our military forces. Peace, to have any lasting value, must be advanced, expanded and strengthened continuously. Doing so requires skill, dedication, persistence, resources, and most of all, people." read more »

I was fortunate to spend a few days in Rehoboth Beach last week, and made my annual visit to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Southern Delaware in Lewes. I took an extra Department of Peace folder, naturally, spoke with women, one of whom was eager to take a leadership role, locally. She took the information and will initiate a petition campaign in the church and more widely. Her name is Felicity LaVelle at ftlavelle@aol.com , for those who know people in the area who might like to become active. read more »

The MA Campaign for a U.S. Dept of Peace is thrilled to announce that Jason White has become its new Co-Coordinator. His passion for peace and his Community website skills, gifts, from the very day of the state campaign's beginnings, can now be more publicly acknowledged. We are grateful for the incredible support of Jason's family!

Jimmy Tingle, wonderful and generous political humorist, hosted a Benefit performance on June 29 of his comedic production, "The American Dream", for the new MA Campaign for a U.S. Dept of Peace. Sixty-six supporters of this new statewide effort were also given the gift of laughter. Jimmy wove episodes in American history with 21st century realities of U.S. politics and New England life (Pilgrims found rooms on Cape Cod hard to find in the summer), in one startling comic episode after another, until the peals of laughter shook the walls of his Off Broadway basement theater. A memory that still delights me is one of Jimmy, as he attempts to demonstrate for us, how to assume the various Yoga postures: In reading aloud a page of written instructions, he found himself locked, finally , in such a grotesque position that he gave up, untangled his body, and graciously extended his arm to us with his wish, nevertheless, for our own peace and joy in Yoga. He took occasional respite in quiet reflection with us on the tragedies of our time and of the importance of our work for a Dept of Peace, explaining that his own American Peace Party uses the healing power of humor to help people and organizations to fulfill their missions. He intends to party for peace! read more »

On Monday, April, 11, I met in Cambridge with Dot Maver, Director of The Peace Alliance and Foundation, and Patty Roeding, as they returned home to VT from organizing in NJ. They are thrilled with the grassroots launching of a MA Campaign for a U.S. Dept. of Peace and with the networking support of webmaster, Jason White. I updated them on activities of our leaders in MA Congressional Districts 5,6 and 7, who plan to hold organizational meetings with the many people in their Districts who signed on to the Campaign in our January 15 meeting with Dot Maver and in our March 5 event featuring 3rd District Congressman, Jim McGovern. We also gathered members at the Unity Church in Amesbury where Dennis Kucinch spoke on Mar.13. These leaders intend to find coordinators for a petition campaign which will show wide support of constituents for a Dept of Peace in their visits with Congressmen or their staff.

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