March 31st marks a very special moment for The Peace Alliance. It was ten years ago, in 2004, that we were legally incorporated. We look back with great pride on a our remarkable journey, and look forward enthusiastically to our continued actions and the expansion of peacebuilding in our nation and world.
Some aspects of U.S. counter-terrorism laws have had the unintended consequence of discouraging, delaying and obstructing life-saving peacebuilding and humanitarian assistance to men, women and children in great need who have the misfortune of living in areas where terrorist groups operate. It also limits the capacity to demobilize armed fighters. The Humanitarian Access Facilitation Act (H.R. 3526) was recently introduced to rectify the situation.
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Chicago: Are you feeling thirsty to use the power of relationships and communication to promote practical tools for peace on Earth? We are creating political will for peacebuilding breakthroughs, and we want all of you to join us as champions for this change. National Field Director Dan Kahn and Student Peace Alliance Coordinator Sally Kaplan are coming to Midwest Heartland hotspots in the beginning of April — sharing solidarity, news of challenges and victories, and strategies for effective ways forward.
Momentum is really picking up with the Youth PROMISE Act. In the last few weeks, five new co-sponsors have signed on in the U.S. House of Representatives, including 2 Republicans! That brings our total to 105 signed on in the House, 6 of whom are Republican.
This is a new series, highlighting the challenges we face with violence and innovative peacebuilding solutions that are already making a difference. Shift does indeed happen!
► Take action now! Urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Department of Peacebuilding legislation. February 25th marks the day the Department of Peacebuilding (DoP) legislation was re-introduced last year by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13). We are also in the midst of the Season for Nonviolence, the 64-day period from January 30th to April 4th memorializing the dates Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated. In honor of these two notable moments, we are urging Congress to support the DoP legislation.