I carried around Peace Pilgrim's book for years before I finally got around to reading it. When I did, the message of her life seemed to me to be more poignant, more urgent than ever before. When she started her pilgrimage from the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA, Jan. 1, 1953, she carried three documents in a brief case: one asking the president to stop the war in Korea, one to the United Nations requesting a halt to the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the third was to Congress, to create a Department of Peace at the cabinet level .

Now, 25 years after her death, there are major role players working to influence Congress in the creation of a Department of Peace at the Cabinet level. Dennis Cucinich, of Ohio, is one congressman working on that, as is the renowned Marianne Williamson, author and visionary. Rep. Cucinich has created a bill specifically to establish this department and this role in the executive branch. The link to the website for the Peace Alliance is http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/20/.

Please check this out as it contains wonderful links, including a "30-Minutes" segment discussing the project of the Department of Peace. There is a U.S. Institute of Peace, but it is extremely small with almost no power. They have worked with Iraqi officials to help train them in resolution conflict, but it is far from being an advisory post to the President of the United States--in fact, it is called "the best kept secret in Washington, D.C."

The Peace Alliance is sponsoring Regional Conferences around the country to educate us about this bill and about what the Department of Peace will do. We will learn what we can do to help pass this bill in Congress, and how to inspire others to support this bill. In California, this meeting will be held:

WHEN: Fri., 6:00 p.m. June 23 thru Sun. noon, June 25, 2006
WHERE: Courtyard Marriott - Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley
15433 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
FEES: Registration $50 by May 31st; $60 after May 31. Plus $30 for optional barbeque dinner party on Saturday (available for first 200 who choose to attend; alternative dinnertime activities will be announced during the event).
Hotel room special Conference rate: $149.00+tax; Parking: $13.20 per day.
SPEAKERS: Marianne Williamson and others. (MY NOTE: Getting to hear Marianne Williamson for $50 is an incredible opportunity.)

LET'S GO!!! This may be the single most important change in our government for good, which is what we've all been wanting!