. . . featuring the latest on upcoming events, breaking news, and spotlights on people and organizations who are living and demonstrating a culture of peace. So come back and check often!
SPOTLIGHT ON . . .
. . . our latest product partner! Click on the Peace Blanket to the left and find out how Affirmagy is supporting our work.
National Peace Academy Update - June 2008
Our National Peace Academy initiative is not quite two months old yet and already the task teams set up at the April Vision Meeting in Cleveland are hard at work developing a list of stakeholders to be invited to the Global Stakeholders Summit next April, researching peace training and education programs and curricula already out there as part of a needs assessment for the National Peace Academy, and developing a case statement and other materials to support outreach and fundraising.
Student Peace Alliance Third National Coordinating Committee Retreat
Student Peace Alliance came together for its Third National Coordinating Committee Retreat on Wednesday June 4th in Washington D.C. All seven members of the Committee, Student Peace Alliance's national staff, were present at the Retreat for the first time in SPA's history.
At the Retreat, we discussed proposals and plans for the upcoming year.
On Friday June 6th, the Coordinating Committee was joined by nine state
organizers, bringing the retreat total to 18.
African delegates to the Global Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace in Japan in September 2007 founded the African Alliance for Peace. May 2008 provided three opportunities for Peace Partnership International to assist the African Alliance for Peace to develop its capacity to grow and thrive:
• First AAP Regional Summit
• Intensive training in nonviolent communication (NVC)
• Public outreach and training for the ministry for peace campaign in Nigeria.
Culture of Peace Program Planned for October 21 at UN
Anne Creter, Peace Partnership International's liaison to the United Nations, reports that "the Culture of Peace Working Group of the United Nation's NGO Committee
on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC) has been diligently
putting together an event to be held October 21 at UN Headquarters as
part of the second annual week of Spirituality, Values and Global
Concerns. Co-chairing this effort has been my focus the last few
months."
Ben & Jerry's, the Vermont-based socially conscious ice-cream maker, announced that Aaron Voldman, Executive Director of the Student Peace Alliance (SPA) and a member of the Board of Directors of The Peace Alliance, is one of two nationwide winners of its "Peace Pioneer" contest.
The announcement was made on May 27, 2008, at its New York City Times Square Scoop Shop. The ceremony was part of Ben & Jerry's joint effort with The Lennon Estate and Peace One Day, a nonprofit global peace organization, to encourage people to work for peace every day.
Click here to learn more about the award and the award ceremony.
A NATIONAL PEACE ACADEMY Is On Its Way!
"Change" is the big buzz word in the United States this year. Why? Because Americans recognize the need for a serious rethink in the way this country operates, both domestically and internationally. Troubled with a trillion dollar war, a homicide rate 10 times that of other leading industrial nations, and a prison population that includes 1 in every 100 citizens, Americans are seeking solutions that are less costly and more sustainable.
That is why, in 2009, the first-ever National Peace Academy will be formally launched in the United States.
Peace Partnership International along with Case Western Reserve
University and The Biosophical Institute comprise the consortium that
is convening a National Peace Academy design process.
Peace Partnership International has just issued its March 2008 e-newsletter. It contains articles about Dot Maver taking the reins as President & CEO of Peace Partnership International; a new initiative to establish a National Peace Academy; exciting developments with the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace regarding youth, Africa, and the Israel/Palestine situation; a movement for a UN General Assembly resolution calling for structures in government supporting a culture of peace; a speech by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that seems to be calling for such structures, as well, a public service announcement for Youth Violence Prevention week; inspiring profiles of some amazing peacebuilders; and some thoughts to ponder about peace.
If you missed the email or just want to see it again, please click here. And to be sure that you receive future issues promptly, please subscribe .
World Spirit Youth Council 2008
The World Spirit Youth Council (WSYC) is an international youth project incubated by Children of the Earth. According to the meeting proposal, “The aim of the WSYC is to connect youth who live oceans apart by awakening the realization that we are all related to one another and the earth. Youth are inspired by other active people they meet and become spiritually activated themselves; they are called to be a moral force on the world's stage. The 2008 World Spirit Youth Council met February 12-22 in Thailand. Peace Partnership International provided travel scholarships for Aaron Voldman of the United States and Corina Simon of Romania to attend. Here are their stories.
Student Peace Alliance came together for its Third National Coordinating Committee Retreat on Wednesday June 4th in Washington D.C. All seven members of the Committee, Student Peace Alliance's national staff, were present at the Retreat for the first time in SPA's history.
At the Retreat, we discussed proposals and plans for the upcoming year.
On Friday June 6th, the Coordinating Committee was joined by nine state
organizers, bringing the retreat total to 18.
African delegates to the Global Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace in Japan in September 2007 founded the African Alliance for Peace. May 2008 provided three opportunities for Peace Partnership International to assist the African Alliance for Peace to develop its capacity to grow and thrive:
Anne Creter, Peace Partnership International's liaison to the United Nations, reports that "the Culture of Peace Working Group of the United Nation's NGO Committee
on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC) has been diligently
putting together an event to be held October 21 at UN Headquarters as
part of the second annual week of Spirituality, Values and Global
Concerns. Co-chairing this effort has been my focus the last few
months."
Ben & Jerry's, the Vermont-based socially conscious ice-cream maker, announced that Aaron Voldman, Executive Director of the Student Peace Alliance (SPA) and a member of the Board of Directors of The Peace Alliance, is one of two nationwide winners of its 
The World Spirit Youth Council (WSYC) is an international youth project incubated by