Change.org

 

Ideas Home
»
Department of Peace
»
Suggestions

Suggestions for Action

What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

Approach this from the standpoint that people reading this forum already agree with you on the importance of the issue, and are asking "What can we do to help make this a reality?"

You can also comment on and rank the suggestions submitted by others.

  1. Daniel Robaldo

    Es muy importante la implementación de la metodología de la No-violencia, no solamente como estrategia de lucha contra todo tipo de violencia (Racial, Religiosa, Sexual, Moral, Psicológica y Fisica), sino también la profundización de la actitud humanista que acompaña esta conducta. Un programa de gobierno que analice el exito de esta metodología en el cono Sur, especialmente en los espacios Educativos, como las experiencias publicadas en http://www.lasherasnoviolenta.com.ar

    Suggested by Daniel Robaldo on 01/20/2009 @ 08:56PM PT

  2. Prof. Fani Bhusan Das

    President Obama has rightly said in his grand inaugural speech on January 20,2009 that all friends of Peace are friends of America.Building Peace leads to "creative construction".Violence results in "creative destruction".Peace, Humanitarian qualities and Human rights collectively generate appropriate policies to solve any problem in the world on sustainable basis.Yes,America can take the leadership under the captainship of Mr. Obama to change the world.This is the right time to bring THE CHANGE-WE NEED with Obama initiatives and culture.
    Prof.Fani Bhusan Das

    Suggested by Prof. Fani Bhusan Das on 01/20/2009 @ 08:12PM PT

  3. Jude Gladstone Cade

    Two systemic changes to evolve a better world   1.     Establish and fund the Department of Peace.  Transfer many projects, research and good work currently funded by Department of Defense to this new Department of Peace.  Empower the Department of Peace as a source of resources to further work that evolves a better world without the use of force, intimidation, weapon and within a philosophy of All Win. 2.     Immediately Stop the power of the United States President to take a lone decision for pre-emptive first strike.

    Suggested by Jude Gladstone Cade on 01/20/2009 @ 11:22AM PT

  4. Neci Marr

    Establishing a Dept of Peace within the US Government and appointing a Secretary of Peace...IS REAL CHANGE!!! This is a wonderful opportunity for the US to LEAD THE WORLD WITH PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENT CONFLICT.
    Suggestion: Establish an Academy of Peace. Teach students to become leaders of Peace, how to develop detailed programs that teach peace at all levels: within ourselves, our schools, our communities, our government and the world
    A NEW DAWN OF PEACE HAS ARRIVED!
    Neci Marr

    Suggested by Neci Marr on 01/19/2009 @ 07:43PM PT

  5. pansy Swinson

    As a Buddhist, a department of peace would represent one of the fast growing voices for peace and non violence in the United States.  We want a more compassionate United States and a reduction of our  Military influence  over other governments.  We want a government that is more for peaceful negotiations first and foremost. Pansy Swinson 

    Suggested by pansy Swinson on 01/19/2009 @ 11:48AM PT

  6. Meltem Narter

    Eleanor Roosevelt was the chairwoman of UN Human Right Commission (HRC) when Universal Declaration of Human Rights drafted and adopted 1948.     As of now we are not even member of UN HRC. 

    I believe, there have been a huge discord between the values we stand, and the conduct of our governments, since Roosevelt.     

    We have been blinded to that discord, because the second we hear our President address us “the American People” , we assume they know us and they will protect our integrity.  No, they know who put them in the office.    They know how to protect the special interest groups who financed their campaigns.   

    Our foreign policy since the end of the Second World War has led to countless human right abuses, and hundreds and thousands of deaths all around the world some of which are outlined by Harold Pinter’s 2005 Nobel Lecture.   Direct invasion of a sovereign state has not been America's favored method, until father and son Bush administrations.  George H.W. Bush was an experts at giving sugar coated names to his aggressive military invasions.  Who would think about wondering whether there were any civilians killed in an invasion code named Operation Just Cause?   Promoting war, and killing civilians must be a family value in Bush clan?   I refuse that they are a value of us, ordinary American people, we are the children of Roosevelt’s and Martin Luther King’s.   I feel ashamed for the representation we have gotten in the world’s eyes.   Reformation of our election process where special interest groups and lobbies cannot dictate our course from now on is one of my dreams.    

    I believe it is obligatory upon us to subject our history since Second World War to detailed scrutiny, without the benefit of which we would be distanced from who we yearn to be, protector of civil rights in a democracy run for the people, protector of human rights.   I submit that unless we have the courage to look at ourselves in the mirror, unless we fully document, and assume responsibility for our shadow in the world; we can not be the catalyst for change we wish to bring about.    Let’s face the Hitlers in us, and put them to sleep for good, before we can claim to be the Chrises.    

    Number One responsibility of Department of Peace should be to wake us, we the American people, up from the decades long brain washing.  Do we, the American people, deserve more than any other people on earth?   That sense of entitlement has blinded us to the abuses of human rights our government leaders have committed and/or enabled all around the world.   Other than everything Pinter listed, our military technology and tax dollar fueled the conflict between Israel and Palestinian for the past 60 years.  What do we hear from our government officials?  How Hama’s are bombing Southern Israel.   Since the Gaza conflict started 10 Israel soldiers died, and 1500 hundred Palestinian Civilians are killed, 5000 are injured, 60% are women and children.   These include a UN school, hospitals getting hit.   Yeah, Hama’s really had tremendous ability to bomb, did not they?   When UN Security council draws up a resolution to ask Israel to stop killing further civilians, and to stop blocking their access to medicine, clean water, electricity.  Who blocks the resolution?   We do.  One permanent member of UN security Council  who supply Israel with military technology, including White Phosphor.   My if they stop using all those war heads, bombs, where are we going to sell them to?    

    Besides, we managed to create such a blind hatred against Muslims.  In America, Muslim and terrorist is used unanimously.   Yes, we suffered from terrorism greatly.  I believe that once our foreign policy becomes aligned with our values, there will not be any cause for terrorism. The civilian casualties we caused in Afganistan  right after the terrible 9/11 tragedy was twice as many deaths of civilians reported by University Professor Marc Herold at Univ of New Hampshire.  Two eyes for an eye?  Now Afganistan continuous to be a war zone claiming lives of many NATO military, and countless Afghani civilians.   Many reports of civilian killings and rapes by our military men arrive.   No one seems to demand that those cases be looked into.  Similar reports arrive from Iraq as well.   

    Unless we show leadership in prosecuting our personnel and leaders who commit crimes against humanity and war crimes.  We will not have any legs to stand on.    When I read “America has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good.”  I felt offended at first.  Now I am coming to see what a justified criticism it was.   

    Department of Peace have a lot at a stake when it comes educating us.  Let’s wipe out all the prejudice based on those Religious stereotypes.    I was hoping we graduated from Racial prejudice.   Yes, white-black prejudice has almost healed, except our failure helping Katrina survivors.   Now do we have a new racial target:   Middle Easterners?   

    Suggested by Meltem Narter on 01/19/2009 @ 01:18AM PT

  7. Carolynn Carson

    ****PEOPLE TO INCLUDE
    This is Dennis Kucinich's Baby, I would love to see him cultivate and lead it.

    I would, in addition to some I have already seen posted here, recommend consulting with former United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq, Denis Halliday of Ireland. 

    Certainly I must repeat that the folks at Democracy Now, especially Amy Goodman should be brought on board, as well as their many guests. 

    I must repeat also someone else's post:  Howard Zinn.

    Of course Noam Chomsky's input would be invaluable.

    ****VALUABLE CONCEPTS & ORGANIZATIONS TO INCLUDE

    Revisit Erich Fromm's concepts of developmental issues and consequential psychological orientations that can either lead to productive love or to destructive and exploitative behavior.  His ideas analyze and propose measures for preventing such phenomena as Hitler & Nazi Germany.  His perspective is both psychological and sociological.  Keys to developing social conscience also lie in his work.

    Take a look at the work of Ned Herrmann, for example in his book The Creative Brain, especially the chapter entitled "War or Peace."  I would also consult with Herrmann International in regard to Herrmann's formula for getting left and right to stop fighting like cats and dogs and instead work together to produce new and wonderful things. His work was initially sponsored by and applied to G.E., but his discovery really is for the world.

    I would also include Philip Zimbardo, who has written a book called The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil. Of the book he says: "In this book, I summarize more than 30 years of research on factors that can create a 'perfect storm' which leads good people to engage in evil actions."

    C.G. Jung's concept of "The Shadow" and tension of opposites is a key that can turn the lock opening the door to Peace.  There are many excellent Jungian analysts available who can bring the doctor and his ideas to life with their expertise, especially those from Zurich, many of whom knew him.  Information about Jungian analysts and organizations can be found on the Web at the C.G. Jung Page. 

    This is up my ally, when I am free from 40 hours of work at Duke, in my early retirement phase of life, I hope to work with these concepts as my contribution to society.  It will be out of free will and a deep social conscience, Native American values.  I am a left leaning libertarian.  I am also a freedom driven right brainer.

    Suggested by Carolynn Carson on 01/18/2009 @ 06:35PM PT

  8. Thomas Rowan

    A Department of Peace is long overdue.  The New Administration has the ability to propose such a department and support it for the future of thsi country and the world.  this Department could be charged with finding peaceful solutions to conflict in our world.  One thing it could do immediately is close the so-called 'School of America's' that trains foreign military to oppress their people.

    Suggested by Thomas Rowan on 01/18/2009 @ 05:31PM PT

  9. Heather Koelle

    There are also summer camps that provide opportunities for children of all cultures to get along through planned activities that encourage unity and critical thinking and decision skills.I can recommend such a camp,located in Maine,that operates now all year round: CAmp Kieve-Wavus in Nobleboro,Maine.BEsides  a summer camp for girls and boys they have "leadership decisions institute which has structured outdoor activities that are challenging and indoor games to promote trust and communication.Although tuition is expensive,there are scholarships available,especailly for the LDI which recruits poor students in Maine,and also conducts training sessions for teachers.I can provide more information if anyone is interrested,as my family has been involved with this camp for over 40 years.
    They call what they do "experiential learning"

    Suggested by Heather Koelle on 01/18/2009 @ 04:44PM PT

  10. Heather Koelle

    I would like to see "interpersonal communication"be part of the school cirriculum as early as pre school.I would like to see training centers that will provide this training to teachers of all schoolage kids and have it be a requirement for certification.

    Suggested by Heather Koelle on 01/18/2009 @ 04:38PM PT

Write a Suggestion

If you would like to leave a suggestion please sign in, or create an account

Endorsements for this Idea

Nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support. 105 current endorsements:


Endorse this Idea!

Nonprofits and bloggers can formally endorse an idea they support by completing the form below. If you represent a nonprofit, using an official organizational email address (e.g. "john@greenpeace.org" for Greenpeace) will expedite the process of confirming your organization's endorsement.

Nonprofit or Blogger?     
 
Name of Nonprofit / Blog
 
URL
 
Your First Name
 
Your Last Name
 
Your Email
 
close

This user's Profile page is not public. They have restricted it to only their friends.

Already a Member?

Create an Account

You must create a Change.org account to complete this action.
If you already have an account click here.