Climate Change Community Summits are being held in cities all over on October 11.
We will learn about climate change--just how scary is it? And we'll discuss what we can do in our community.
The Earth Charter provides an ethical framework embracing the environment, economic and social justice, democracy, nonviolence and peace.
It helps us understand that we are part of the global community, and each of us can (and must) do our part to create a peaceful, just, sustainable world.

Please join us Saturday October 11, 2008 9:30am-1:00pm

22 August 2008
Mindanao
Mel Duncan

August 21, 2008

On August 8, a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) occupied 20 barangays (communities) in the North Cotabato province of Mindanao. Three days earlier the official signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which would have expanded areas in the autonomous Moro region was blocked by a temporary restraining order issued by the Philippine Supreme Court. The MOA had been negotiated by the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF for about three years.

As this news report says, the Nonviolent Peaceforce is one of only two NGOs
still working in the Mindanao area to help civilians.

Thousands flee war zones in North Cotabato; fighting now in 4 towns
Romy Elusfa and Sittie Sundang /MindaNews

Tuesday, 12 August 2008 00:02

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/11 August) -- At least 4,000 families have been forced
to leave their homes and farmlands due to renewed hostilities in the towns of
Midsayap, Aleosan and Pigcawayan, North Cotabato between government forces and
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Nonviolent Peaceforce Executive Director, Mel Duncan, speaks about creating a civilian nonviolent peaceforce on Chicago Public Radio. Click here to go to the Chicago Public Radio website and listen to Mel along with Ann Frisch, a former Nonviolent Peaceforce - Guatemala field team member.

UNITED NATIONS (July 7, 2008) – Members of Nonviolent Peaceforce last month made an historic presentation here to members of the United Nations outlining the political, economic and social impact of unarmed civilian peacekeeping practices.

Nonviolent Peaceforce (www.nvpf.org) is an unarmed, professional peacekeeping force composed of trained civilians who not only work to establish dialogue among conflicting groups, but also incorporate innovative strategies to ensure lasting peace. It is the world’s only paid and trained unarmed civilian peacekeeping force.

On July 3rd, American Public Radio aired an interview with Atif Hameed of Nonviolent Peaceforce -Philippines project. Click on this link to go their website and download the MP3 to hear the 30-minute story. His story is interesting and uplifting. He discusses the strategies used in helping retrieve 26 children abducted by the Tamil Tigers.

In this time of religion based violent conflict, people of diverse faith chanting together is a profound act of peace.

At Great Vow Zen Monastery’s annual 24-HOUR INTERFAITH CHANT FOR PEACE, on August 1 -2, from 6 PM Friday to 6 PM Saturday, chanters from many diverse religious traditions - Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Sikh, Buddhist and more - will lead 24-hours of continual chanting, providing opportunity for people of different faiths to enter sacred space together.

Getting There
By Car

The Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA) is pleased to announce that its annual conference will be hosted at Portland State University (and in collaboration with the Peace and Conflict Studies Consortium) from September 11-14, 2008 at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.