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  1. Nancy Main

     I would like to see Non Violent Communication also called Compassionate Communication (as Marshall Rosenberg teaches)become a required class in all levels of school, government employees, child care workers and offered for parents and family's (& everyone else) free of charge. When learned, this type of communication allows each of us to become responsible for empowering peace in our own lives. As I become truly more peaceful, my family becomes more peaceful, my community becomes more peaceful etc...  CNVC.org

    Suggested by Nancy Main on 01/17/2009 @ 04:50PM PT

  2. Janet Chisholm

    Offer training in active nonviolence (or active peacemaking) in communities across the country --- to ground people in a common language and principles, learn skills, help them build trust and plan projects that will change the current culture in constructive ways to promote justice and peace.  It is empowering!  CREATING A CULTURE OF PEACE -- NONVIOLENCE TRAINING FOR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE is such a program.  It's not expensive. It liberates us and celebrates diversity. Contact: 845-641-3648 OR janetc@kirkridge.org  

    Suggested by Janet Chisholm on 01/17/2009 @ 03:00PM PT

  3. Matt Knoll-WIlliams

    Here are a few suggestions that I think would be wonderful: 

    1.  Appoint a secretary of peace who is personally committed to the path of nonviolence and well schooled in its history.

    2.  Have all the members of the Department of Peace trained and personally committed to nonviolence.

    3.  Educate!  Educate!  Educate!  Members of the dept. could develop and teach courses offered to government officials, members of the media, and at nonviolence centers in communities across the country.

    The Department could also work to create public campaigns designed to bring the tradition of nonviolence to the general population and advertise the nonviolence centers. 

    4.  Provide funding for nonviolence teaching at universitites and nonviolence chairs in university departments across the country.  Attend national and international nonviolence conferences and engage with the current scholarship.

    Advocate for the creation of peace studies major at public universities.

    Provide interships at the Department of Peace for graduate students in Peace Studies. 

    5.  Develop curriculum for elementary, junior and senior high school classes.  Develop curriculum for parents and children and places of worship.  Offer this curriculum for free on the internet.

    I hope this is useful!

    Suggested by Matt Knoll-WIlli... on 01/17/2009 @ 02:38PM PT

  4. Susyn Reeve

    Suggestions for a National Campaign for a Secretary of Peace in Department of Peace and Non-Violence:
    - Use September 21, 2009 as a focus for the unveiling of this department.
    - Leading up to September 21, 2009 Nationwide Airing of the film One Day Peace (starting on Independence Day 7/4/09) with events in cities throughout the US hosted by celebrities...in theatres, churches, arenas and locally in living rooms - to introduce the idea of what world wide day of peace means - and facilitated discussions.  What is peace?  What prevents you fro embodyng peace in your life?  What skills do you have to learn to be a peacemaker? (communication, conflict resolution, stress management, etc..) What commitments are you making today to be a peacemaker in your home, community, world?
    - Use a viral internet campaign to highlight the amazing results that are being implemented by the The Tariq Khamisa Foundation dedicated to Breaking the Cycle of Youth Violence by Empowering Kids, Saving Lives, and Teaching Peace (www.tkf.org).
    - Create a national contest implemented in all educational institutions (grade school thru university) to create works of art that explore the gifts of forgiveness and peace.  (There will be an art exhibit March 28, 2009 at the Sedona Art Center in Sedona, AZ - exhibiting the art of Camp Verde, AZ Middle School Students who have been participating in a project:  Exploring the Gifts of Forgiveness through the Creative Arts)
    - Coordinate Dept of Peace with Dept of Education to teach peace - not simply the concept -- but what it means to be peace in our daily lives - in our homes, our schools, our workplace, our communities and in the world.
    - Use the online networks to have access, beginning this year, to programs that are going on this year during The Season of Non-Violence January 30 - April 4, 2009 - throught the New Thought Community.
    - Invite the InterFaith Community to commit to exploring peace within their congregations.
    Rev. Susyn Reeve
    www.withforgiveness.com
    www.self-esteem-experts.com

    Suggested by Susyn Reeve on 01/17/2009 @ 02:32PM PT

  5. Lakshmi Hannah Kerner

    I have for a long time supported Dennis Kucinich and his proposed Department of Peace. What an incredible thing it would be to have Peace be a ongoing part of the conversation of the American government. Peace is long overdue. War has run its course. I am ecstatic at the possibility of a Department of Peace with Dennis Kucinich at its helm. Please, please do this, President Obama. You are a loving person and I know you want to raise your beautiful daughters in a peaceful world...where our children live in peace and are not raised to kill their cousins around the world. How great it will be to live in a world where people support each other's magnificence! Thank you!

    Suggested by Lakshmi Hannah Kerner on 01/17/2009 @ 12:19PM PT

  6. Patty Harvey

    Within this Dept. of Peace, special steps should be taken to help rebuild infrastructure of nations that we have despoiled by our military adventures, particularly in the field of basic education.  One such organization that should be nationally recognized and supported and copied is the non-profit Central Asia Institute and particularly it's Pennies for Peace program created by Greg Mortenson that builds, maintains and supports teaching in schools in Pakistan & Afghanistan.  By bringing truly helpful educational programs like those of the CAI to beleagered countries we can begin to truly counteract the ignorance that fundamentalist ideology depends upon to control populations.  At the same time, schools, especially for girls, will foster growth and stability without which peace cannot grow.

    Suggested by Patty Harvey on 01/17/2009 @ 12:16PM PT

  7. John Wilwerding

    As a late in life patient and survivor of culturally accepted child rearing practices that are traumatizing and violent with corporal punisment I've learned much in therapy and self study about the origins the make a person a "Wounded Monster"  as is described and discussed in Dr. Ted Dorpat's book.   One pillar of cultural violence world wide and especially prevelent still in the U.S. is the use of corporal punishment of children tacitly welcomed under guise of good parenting by deeply rooted religious and family beliefs.    The trauma and violence is perceived by surviors now adult parents to be insignificant and healty not recognizing within themselves the emotional damage it's created.   Sadism and masochism being the greatest psychological damage done.

    Mankind can't lift itself out of the violence darkness as long as it sees specific infliction of it for child behavior trainning purposes as benefical.    The late Dr. Dorpat a 50 year psychotherapist of clinical practice describes the core orgin of violence emerging for the child who experienced this violent emotional damage to their person from loving parents in the name of care in character formation.   The psychotherapy profession through it's countless clinical experiences with patients can observe firsthand the life long damage this creates in victims of it induced with fear, pain,and deep dibilitating emotional shame.    We need to connect the voice of these psychoterapists with commanding access to the ear of the ignorant, superstitious, and denying parents who dont recognize the damage withinthemselves and let the professional share the knowledge of vast majority of victims of this abuse and not let simple statistical studies of science be easy targets of dissmissal for parents who advocate and practice spanking/paddling in various manners that in many ways are hidden forms of sexual abuse upon children with degrees of inapropriate touching and nudity exposure.    Abused children grow up to cycle abuse, become criminals or suffer lifelong psychological illnesses.   Our present practicing psychotherapists are sounding the alarm for this origin of violence but government officials are afraid to act to ban this for fear of voters who being damaged but self unaware of it demand this practice to children remain a key parental entitled right. 

    Suggested by John Wilwerding on 01/17/2009 @ 11:57AM PT

  8. Melvin Weiner

    The UN has a day that we should all know about; it is the International Day of Peace, every Sept. 21st.  This year for the first time ever this day will be listed on hundreds of millions of calendars worldwide, potentially reaching a billion people.  This 'calendar initiative' was a project of Pathways To Peace, the organization that first brought the idea for a day of peace to the UN 27 years ago, which was passed by unanimous resolution at that time.  Pathways is also the International Secretariat for the Culture of Peace Initiative, an official Peace Messenger Initiative of the UN, that includes over 3,000 NGO's worldwide supporting this day, and working to create a 'culture of peace' year round.  Last year there were over 10,000 observances worldwide on this day, ranging from ceasefires and educational programs to peace vigils and cultural celebrations, involving hundreds of millions of people.  Perhaps we can use this day to call attention to this cause; and, of course, to observe it in some manner.  Pathways To Peace has endorsed the idea to create a Dept. of Peace and Non-Violence and to appoint a Secretary of Peace.  For more information, we maintain the following 3 web sites.  Thank you.
    http://www.pathwaystopeace.org/
    http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/
    http://www.cultureofpeace.org/

    Suggested by Melvin Weiner on 01/17/2009 @ 10:37AM PT

  9. Geronimo Soto

    It has been stated, and it bears repeating, Dennis Kucinich should definitely be appointed the first Secretary of Peace.

    Suggested by Geronimo Soto on 01/17/2009 @ 10:18AM PT

  10. Gemma Tussy

    What a great idea to have a department in the United States of America that embraces peace. Under the chaotic circumstances that we are facing, we need a department of peace more than ever. A great candidate to run this wonderful department, is somebody I have admired  and still support, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and his wife Elizabeth Kucinich. Mr. Kucinich opposed to the war in Iraq from the very beginning, believes in restoring peace, respects the constitution, and will be diligent in following the international laws of the Geneva conventions. Thank you.  

    Suggested by Gemma Tussy on 01/17/2009 @ 10:00AM PT

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