CA Dem. Party Endorses DoP 2017 Act
CDP Endorses DoP 2017 Act
& Adopts Resolution to Budget for Peacebuilding
By Nancy Merritt
The California Democratic Party (CDP) endorsed the Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2017 (HR 1111) and adopted the CA Department of Peacebuilding’s “Resolution to Budget for Peacebuilding for People and the Environment” as we took our message of peace and compassion to the CDP statewide Executive Board meeting in Anaheim from 8/25 – 8/27/17, where the CDP also celebrated the 97th anniversary of women securing the right to vote.
The CA Peace Alliance/ Campaign for a Department of Peacebuilding, in partnership with Compassionate California, also:
- Advocated with members of Congress for additional HR 1111 cosponsors
- Celebrated Women’s Equality Day – the 97th Anniversary of women securing the right to vote – with a CDP panel discussion which included Jerilyn Stapleton, Peace Alliance Legislation Lead and President of CA NOW
- Advocated/ petitioned for federal and state legislation to reform or replace the current bail system which punishes people for poverty by imposing prohibitive bail, both of which were endorsed by the CDP — the federal Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act ( 1593 introduced by Senator Kamala Harris (CA) and Senator Rand Paul (KY)) and the state Bail: Pretrial Release Bill (SB 10)
- Recognized that Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) has repeatedly sought an amendment to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (HR 1229) and to compel Congress to resume its Constitutional duty to debate matters of war and peace, ending the blank check for perpetual war, which was also supported by the CDP
- Promoted the UN “Global Resolution for the Establishment of Infrastructures to Support the Culture of Peace,” which individuals and groups can support at PeaceNow.com
- Built awareness about Compassionate California’s vision for a state that is unified in its commitment to effectively preserve healthy, equitable and resilient communities through methods of cooperation, collaboration and collective impact through compassionate action
- Connected with others about peace and justice legislation and initiatives
For more details, read here and here.
“Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the center of our world and put another there, and to honor the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.”
– The Charter for Compassion, www.compassionatecalifornia.org
The Department of Peacebuilding legislation calls for creating a peace curriculum which includes teaching and fostering compassion
Nancy Merritt
Peace Alliance/ Department of Peacebuilding Lead
National Department of Peacebuilding Committee
CA State Coordinator, Northern CA
