International Day of Peace, September 21

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date.  It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly.  The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all mankind to  work in cooperation for this goal.  During the discussion of the U.N. Resolution that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:

"Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. . .  This day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests of differences of any kind, is to peace."

Since its inception, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace.  It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day.  Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.

Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day.  It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation.  Or it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event.  The impact if millions of people in all parts of the world coming together for one day of peace, is immense.

International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire - personal or political.  Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time.  Imagine what a whole day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.

Learn more about International Day of Peace

PLEASE JOIN US AT A SILENT VIGIL FOR THE 4000 AMERICANS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE IRAQ WAR and OCCUPATION

DAY: The Day After U.S. Casualties Reach 4000
Watch the news - As of Sunday, March 23rd casualty count was 3996
WHERE: The Dimond Courthouse Square, Downtown Juneau
WHEN: 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Juneau Chapter of Veterans For Peace
and Juneau People for Peace and Justice
“Honor the Troops, Mourn the Dead, End the War”

Contact: Garland Walker - 586-5089

Wednesday, March 19th

A solemn gathering to mark the 5th anniversary of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Gather at the Capitol steps, 4th and Main Street
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Reading of the Names of US soldiers killed in the last year.

Sponsored by Veterans for Peace Chapter 100

Role for Alaskans in Ending Genocide in Darfur

Just received this information from Joyanne Bloom:

Alaska is seeking to play an important role in ending the genocide in Darfur. HB287 mandates that the Permanent Fund and state retirement funds divest any holdings they have that directly or indirectly finance the Sudanese government's military campaign against the people of Darfur. Many other states and our federal government have already done this.
The proposed targeted investment in HB287:

* Offers an opportunity for Alaskans to increase economic pressure on Sudan and stop the flow of money that funds the genocide:
* Tells our elected officials that we are concerned about the genocide and expect them to act; and
* Keeps Darfur on the political agenda and in the media.

Let our elected officials know Alaskans want to stop the genocide in Darfur now!
Joyanne Bloom

Our Juneau youth are engaged with this issue. The Juneau Chapter of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND) is planning to testify on this legislation. Help augment their voices.

UN Security Council Must Listen to Iraq's People and Parliament -- Take Action!

United for Peace and Justice Action Alert
November 20th, 2007

Anytime between now and the end of this year, the UN Security Council will be asked to consider a re-authorization of the U.S.-led occupation in Iraq. The background and details about this is included in the memo below, which is being sent to anti-war organizations around the world. United for Peace and Justice has signed on to this letter because we believe it is important to keep the pressure on the U.S. government from all angles.

We are asking that folks here in the U.S. take part in this effort by making two calls:

1) Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Call the U.S. Mission to the UN at 212-415-4000. Send faxes to 212-415-4443. (Khalilzad was the United States Ambassador to Iraq from 2005 to 2007.)

2) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Call her office at 202-647-5290, and/or the switchboard at the U.S. Dept of State: 202-647-4000.

Let them know that you do not support a re-authorization of the occupation of Iraq. It is time to end this war and occupation; it is time to bring all of the troops and contractors home!

Peace,

Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ

UfPJ Regional Rally in Seattle October 27th

United For Peace and Justice Regional Rallies!
October 27, 2007

Once again, members of Veterans For Peace will be taking to the streets to show their opposition to the war and occupation of Iraq, and to show their support to bring the troops home now!

There will be 11 cities around the nation holding rallies and marches and we encourage you to participate! You can learn more at the links below.

www.oct27.org

DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE HELD IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES

- Boston - New York - Jonesborough, TN - New Orleans - Orlando - Salt Lake City - Chicago - Los Angeles - San Francisco - Seattle - Philadelphia -

JPPJ Joins Fairbanks Phone Marathan Call for Peace

Juneau People for Peace and Justice will join with the Alaska Peace Center (Fairbanks) which issued the following CALL FOR PEACE

Alaska Phone Marathon to call for an end of the occupation of Iraq

Are you frustrated that nothing is being done to bring and end to the war in Iraq? That the illegality of the war is not being prosecuted? That the Administration is not being held accountable for torture and irresponsibility in the conduct of the war and occupation? That the Administration is rattling sabers toward Iran and neither Democrats nor Republicans seem opposed?

You CAN do something that can make a difference!

Every morning from 6 am to 9 am and from 4 to 7 pm (Sundays noon - 3pm) for the from now until October 27, the Alaska Peace Center is hosting a phone marathon to call Congress, call presidential candidates, call the media and call friends to do the same.

We want all congressional offices to be flooded with calls every day now to October 27th
We want all presidential candidates to be flooded with calls every day now to October 27th
We want all declared candidates for national office to be flooded with calls every day now to October 27th

Here in Juneau we will participate by asking each of you to:
(1) call our Alaska congressional delegation
Sen. Ted Stevens - (202) 224-3004
Sen. Lisa Murkowski - (202) 224-6665
Rep. Don Young - (202) 225-5765

(2) ask your Alaskan friends to call them

(3) ask your friends in other states to call their congressional delegation

What is the message?

(1) No Iraq funding without a firm timetable for bringing our occupation to an end and bringing all our troops home and

(2) Ask your Senators to support Senate Resolution S759 - No military action in Iran without Congressional approval.

Also ask your friends in other communities, and in other states to make similar calls. Report by replying to this email when you make your calls. In Fairbanks they are organizing at the Alaska Peace Center to be sure that calls are made throughout those time periods and days. Let's see if we can help get at the very least 5 calls per hour during each calling period every day

Help spread this effort to other states by calling or emailing your family and friends around the country. Especially if you have friends or family or know groups in the smaller, rural communities of Alaska who can make calls too. It is fun and inspiring to talk to other groups around the country. It's a great chance to connect with old friends and family to motivate them to do something. It's a chance for us all to hike up the volume for peace.

JPPJ Plans for 4th of July

Plans are underway to prepare for JPPJ's annual 4th of July Parade. There will be two paper crane folding sessions - Tuesday, June 19th - 2:30 - 5:30 pm at Northern Light United Church, and Wednesday, June 20th - 3:00 - 7:00 pm at Mendenhall Public Library. We need people to help. Call Judith Maier at 789-9229 for details.

Also we are planning to initiate a Petition Calling for prompt and safe withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, transfer of control of all military bases to the Iraqi people, reallocation of military funds earmarked for Iraq to post-war reconstruction in Iraq and domestic needs in the U.S., and for Iraqi people to retain control of all decisions pertaining to their own oil and other natural resources.

We need at least 50 people to volunteer to circulate and collect signatures on the petition during the summer. We plan to publish the entire petition and list of signers in the Juneau Empire this fall, and to seek sponsorship of the Petition in Anchorage, Fairbanks and other Alaska towns and villages. Please contact Amy (586-4409) or plan to attend the next JPPJ meeting, Tuesday, June 12th at 5:15 pm.

Help find Effective Strategy

Hello friends,
There will be a meeting Thursday, May 3rd at 7 pm at Northern Light United Church (400 W. 11th Street) for JPPJ supporters, Veterans for Peace Chapter 100, and NOW-Juneau to seek consensus on a strategy for action. You are invited to join the conversation. If you cannot make the meeting but have ideas to contribute, you can post comments to this posting by registering first here at Blogspot.com (easy).

See also my posting for April 9th below

In Washington: Congress debates war funding

Today, the House Appropriations Committee, under new leadership, will complete their work on approving an additional $100 billion for war. Then the entire House of Representatives will have a floor debate. This is a moment for the country to take another step toward peace.

Many groups and people from many walks of life are united in a simple message:

We want no further spending that keeps Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops in harm’s way. Instead, the U.S. should invest in diplomatic strategies, multilateralism, compensation for losses and injuries, and an Iraqi-led reconstruction. These are the first steps on what will be a difficult road to peace and stability in Iraq and the entire region.

Next week begins year five of the war and occupation of Iraq. Right now, we have a big moment to stand up for peace.

Please call your Representative today to ask him or her to replace the violence of the occupation with reconstruction. Also, insist on language that prevents the Bush Administration from attacking Iran without explicit Congressional approval. If we get the language impeding the Administration’s aggression toward Iran into the bill before it makes it to the House floor, we have a good chance to make a big statement.

Call your Representative today

Action: Iran – Congress Can Stop the Slide to War

Your phone calls in the next 48 hours could stop the administration from rushing into military action against Iran.

Members of Congress from both major political parties are concerned that, given the administration’s track record leading up to the Iraq war, President Bush will authorize military action against Iran. Last week the House leadership designed a legislative provision to require the president to seek congressional authorization before launching a military attack against Iran. They attached that provision to the draft Iraq war supplemental spending bill. The provision would require the administration to make a full, public explanation of the need for war and gain congressional approval before launching new military action against Iran.

But, on Monday, the House leadership deleted the no war with Iran provision from the supplemental funding bill. The congressional leadership is counting votes. Apparently, they believe there is not sufficient support in Congress to approve a bar on military attacks on Iran without congressional approval.

Take Action - Call Your Representative Today

The first vote on the Iraq supplemental bill could happen as soon as this Thursday, March 15. Please call your representative today. Ask her or him to publicly ask the congressional leadership to include language in the Iraq supplemental bill that would require the president to seek congressional approval before going to war with Iran.

FCNL has set up a special, toll free number that you can use to reach the Capitol Hill switchboard: 1-800-903-0682. When you reach the switchboard, ask for Congressman Don Young

Read full action alert at http://www.fcnl.org/action/2007/lam0313.htm