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?"

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1. 

   Establish a peace tax fund as an alternative to the taxes that go to wartime expenses.  Allow taxpayers the choice to designate that they would like the portion of their taxes that would go to war to go to the peace tax fund.  This would fund this position as well as give you a concrete way of seeing the support for the position and the public's opposition to the war.
   
   Use these funds to both gather information on where peace efforts are needed, as well as to educate individuals within the office to the skills of mediation, conflict resolution, and peaceful resistance.  Establish a corps of peace workers to carry out the work of this office, much in the way of the Peaceworkers or Nonviolent Peace Force.

   Suggested by Linda Wilk on 01/16/2009 @ 05:11PM PT

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2. 

   who better to appoint thanRep. Dennis Kucinich!!

   Suggested by Andrew Liberman on 01/16/2009 @ 02:49PM PT

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3. 

   Support the Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence.
   
   JOIN THE PEACE ALLIANCE
   www.ThePeaceAlliance.org
   
   WATCH VIDEOS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACE
   http://www.youtube.com/user/DOPFloridaCampaign
   
   VISIT MYSPACE and FaceBook
   www.MySpace.com/DepartmentofPeaceFlorida
   
   About the National Movement:
   There is a nationwide pro-peace movement, that has recently been spearheaded by the Peace Alliance. In all 50 States there are Department of Peace groups, asking for support to help prevent violence in our own country and treat it as a national priority. This can be done in part by passing a Federal law about it. Bill HR-808 is a violence-prevention bill currently sitting in Congress with 70 co-sponsors. We want every American citizen to know about it, get involved and ask your Congressman or Congresswomen to cosponsor Federal Bill HR-808
   We aren't protesting. We are about Change. We’ve chosen to invest our energy into something positive, we can help create, that has practical solutions.
   
   This is your chance to ‘Stand up for Peace’in our own communities and our own country. Help by joining www.ThePeaceAlliance.org and taking one action to help pass this Federal ‘Peace Bill’. True change comes from a combined effort of citizens wanting it and then a government system or officials supporting it. All it takes is one person, taking an action and the rest becomes history.
   
   
   READ THE BILL CURRENTLY IN CONGRESSTO CREATE A US DEPARTMENT OF PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/278/23/
   The first bill created was introduced in 1935 by Senator Matthew Neely of West Virginia. It has been introduced over 85 times. The bill calls for the creation of a 'U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence' within the President’s Cabinet. Doing this would provide the political strength and resources needed to create a national shift in our culture towards a pro peace-building community. As a cabinet-level position, which means it would operate on the same levels as the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Agriculture, the Department of Peace and Nonviolence would research and develop the latest in violence prevention strategies. It would also advise the President on how to non-violently address domestic and international conflict before it results in large scale violence. Establishing a Federal Department dedicated solely towards peace building, conflict resolution and violence reduction policies and programs, provides the political strength needed to shift our focus from reacting to the aftermath of violence, to understanding and eliminating the root causes of violence.
   
    
    
   
   The Goals:
   * Teach violence prevention in schools, grades K through 12th; as well as develop new educational programs that promote conflict resolution among school children.
   
   * Focus on reducing the levels of domestic violence, gang violence, child abuse and drug and alcohol related violence by developing policies and providing funds for anti-violence educational programs.
   
   * Effectively treat gang violence and work to rehabilitate the prison population.
   
   * Focus on peace-making efforts among conflicting cultures within America and other countries.
   
   * Support our military with alternative, approaches to peace-building and cultural understanding.
   
   * Provide assistance to law officers and city, county, state governments by supporting, existing, community building programs within their own cities and local communities.
   
   * Create a U.S. Peace Studies Academy, on the same level as the U.S. Military Academy.
   
   * Dedicate January 1st as a National Peace Day
   
   * and much more…
   
   
   Over 300 US colleges and universities now give advanced degrees in Peacebuilding Studies including conflict resolution and non-violent communication). With the passage of this bill, grants and funding could be increased so schools could provide much needed classes in nonviolence education and programs like student/peer mediation. The benefits of giving schoolchildren the tools they need to express themselves and communicate their feelings while still in elementary, junior high and high school settings, goes without saying. Not only are these types of classes a life saving, life altering aide for students, teachers and schools but also for our local communities. Violence affects everyone.
   
   The Peace Alliance:
   This bill was reintroduced to Congress in February 2007 and already has 70 Representatives signed on as Co-Sponsors.    Get Active in your Community!
   Start a group in your City,
   Sign on to be a Volunteer
   or a Team Leader:
   Volunteer in your State here: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/organize/
   
   You’ll be connected with other volunteers in your State, receive important updates and calls to action. There are active groups in every State, that continue to build a local network of activists to work with congressional offices, interact with local media, and perform outreach and education in their areas. It's fun and fulfilling work to help foster positive, proactive change toward the creation of a less violent and more peaceful world. There is no more powerful role to play in moving the work of The Peace Alliance and the Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace forward than to commit to becoming a Volunteer or Team Leader in your own cities.
   
   www.ThePeaceAlliance.org

   Suggested by Ana Campos on 01/16/2009 @ 10:41AM PT

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4. 

   I'm glad to see that ALL ideas are being taken seriously, even if they didn't finish in the top ten. The fact that we have been restored our oportunity to participate in the government of our country is absolutely fantastic! This is a great time for America and the World!

   Suggested by c F on 01/16/2009 @ 09:01AM PT

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5. 

   We need major reform and democratization of our fish and wildlife agencies.  Set up at the turn of the century by hunters to provide game animals, they are outdated and completely co-opted as a killing business, funded by killing licenses.  They are designed to keep the 95% majority of citizens who do not kill wildife for recreation and trophy OUT of the process of decision-making.  We need an inclusive process that gives voice to the majority non-killing public to HELP biodiversity and wildlife.  The result of special interest control of wildlife agencies both state and federal is an overabundance of game animals (deer, turkey, ducks, geese, trout) and stocking of non-indigenous animals like pheasants, and the destruction of natural predators who are the guardians of biodiversity.  Reference Michael Soule's work in the Rewilding Project.  He says we need 3 main foci:  Large CORE areas of protection of biodiversity, CORRIDORS for migration, and TOP PREDATORS restored to the environment because they keep the balance of life in balance.  All citizens need to be informed and part of the process, not just the rod and gun clubs and hunting, trapping and exploiters of our commonwealth.  Nature includes wild LIFE and not just the land, and it is our most valuable heritage and should be managed for the silent sports afficionados and those who respect the life in wildlife, not just trophy and recreational killing special interests.  This is URGENT!

   Suggested by Patricia Randolph on 01/16/2009 @ 08:22AM PT

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