NAPA Lobbies for Peace
News Alert: 5/12/04
(Courtesy of TruthForPresident.org)
North American Peace Alliance Lobbies for Peace
A new organization, the North American Peace Alliance (501-c4 nonprofit), will promote direct political lobbying efforts
in support of the Department of Peace legislation (HR 1673), introduced into Congress by Rep. Dennis Kucinich and 48
co-sponsors in April 2003.
The North American Peace Alliance is a nonpartisan citizen action and lobbying organization, which will work to foster
positive, proactive change toward the creation of more a nonviolent and peaceful world. NAPA will promote programs,
projects, and legislation that create foundational transformation of the social and political conditions that cause and
perpetuate violence of all types, both domestically and internationally. NAPA carries out its mission through direct and
grassroots lobbying, education, training programs, conferences and other activities. NAPA is dedicated to creating the
social and political will to dismantle the root causes of violence in the world.
The Department of Peace (DoP) seeks nothing less than the transformation of American society by making non-violence an
organizing principle. Domestically the DoP would be responsible for developing new policies that address issues such as;
child abuse, domestic violence, the mistreatment of our elderly and cultural and racial acts of violence. The
International agenda of the DoP will be to research and analyze foreign policy and make recommendations to the President
on how to address the root causes of war. Additional responsibilities of the DoP include military crisis intervention
and foreign policy advisement. The establishment of a Department of Peace would ensure a just approach to any crisis and
establish a non-pre-emptive approach to U.S. Foreign- Warfare policy. The DoP would inform the President and Congress on
actions to intervene before violence begins, and new ways to improve National Security and secure the protection of
human rights.
The DoP will also facilitate the development of Peace Summits at which parties to a conflict may gather under carefully
prepared conditions to promote a nonviolent communication and conflict prevention and resolution. The DoP will develop
new programs that address society's challenges.
NAPA believes the Dept. of Peace is worthy of our collective support. Over the course of history people have always
dreamed of peace but we have never had a broad-reaching, well-funded, systemic structure to help make it a reality. The
consequences of not doing so are almost too difficult to imagine. The Dept. of Peace legislation provides substance and
meaning to the political yearnings of our generation. It systematically applies the power of peace to the eradication of
root causes of violence. From international conflicts to domestic issues such as gang, school and domestic violence, the
Department of Peace would systematically root out the underlying causes of violence in our culture.
NAPA's press materials include this urgent statement: We have lived with war, violence and abuse for far to long. By
establishing a Cabinet level Department of Peace, we have the unique opportunity to confront the root cause of these
evils and the ability as a society to build a safer world.
NAPA's initial focus will be to conduct training workshops around the country to teach citizens how to effectively lobby
their respective Congresspeople and Senators on behalf of the DoP. A major kick-off event is planned for May 19, 2004 in
San Francisco.
Among the nationally known people who will appear at this event are John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America, Jean
Shinoda Bolen, M.D., author of The Millionth Circle and Goddess in Everywoman, and Professor Michael Nagler, founder of
Peace and Conflict Studies Program at UC Berkeley and author of Is There No Other Way: the Search for a Nonviolent
Future.
For more information about NAPA, call Matthew Albracht at (707) 836-1284, or email to office@renaissancealliance.org
For related material on this story, please see the following sources:
http://www.dopcampaign.org
http://www.dopcampaign.org/emails/sanfraninvite.htm
http://www.renaissancealliance.org
http://www.dopcampaign.org/read_bill.htm
http://www.kucinich.us/issues/departmentpeace.php
# # # # #
TruthForPresident.org is a citizen-created news service that highlights important, under-reported stories, opinions, and
analyses for the national news media, political policy makers, and cultural thought leaders. TFP's purpose is to inform
and inspire the American public, influence coverage by the national media, and elevate the national political
consciousness and dialogue. Please visit http://www.truthforpresident.org for more information.