EDUCATION DIALOGUE ACTION RESEARCH
REDA THE PUBLICATION OF THE DALLAS PEACE CENTER
NOVEMBER 2012
THE DALLAS PEACE CENTER works for peace through justice in North Texas and around the world.
The Dallas Peace Center 5910 Cedar Springs Rd. Dallas, TX 75235-6806 214-823-7793 www.dallaspeacecenter.org
RÉDA Cover Art Native Lady Justice, 2012 Digital, 11" x 14" Seminole/Choctaw artist Brian Larney’s cover piece contrasts the horrific history of Native Americans with a hope for a just future, using a figure reminiscent of Lady Justice.
DPC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & RÉDA EXECUTIVE EDITOR KELLI OBAZEE MANAGING EDITOR PATTY BATES-BALLARD ART EDITOR RHONDA VARSANE DPC PHOTOGRAPHERS WALID AJAJ TUNDE OBAZEE PATTY BATES-BALLARD
2012 BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT REV. RYAN KOCH VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER JOHN FULLINWIDER SECRETARY ZARA TARIQ DR. QAISAR ABBAS REV. DIANE BAKER MAVIS BELISLE SADDYNA BELMASHKAN LEN ELLIS SARA MOKURIA SAM NANCE ERIC REECE AFTAB SIDDIQUI REV. L.CHARLES STOVALL
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Contents Peacemaker Awards Dinner to honor extraordinary advocates ............................................................. 4 Civic Engagement The Coalition to Lift Every Voice and Vote – Su Voto Es Su Voz .............................................................. 7 Texas Voter Rights ................................................................................................................................... 9 Heritage Month Feature An American Indian perspective on peace and justice .......................................................................... 11 Direct Action Walking the talk: trading with peacemakers ......................................................................................... 17 Tar Sands Blockade heats up ................................................................................................................. 18 One Makes A Difference ........................................................................................................................ 19 Middle East Tensions between Syria and Turkey require diplomacy ........................................................................ 20 The US must end its longest war ........................................................................................................... 21 The threat of a war against Iran............................................................................................................. 23 Is the two states solution still possible in Palestine? ............................................................................. 25 Drone attacks: promise vs. reality ......................................................................................................... 26 The World European Union receives 2012 Nobel Peace Prize ................................................................................ 29 Winter Peace and Justice Calendar - Then and Now ............................................................................. 32
RÉDA (Research, Education, Dialogue, Action) is the quarterly publication of the Dallas Peace Center. RÉDA is published in September, November, February, and May. Please click here for submission deadlines. To submit content, please submit an inquiry to reda@dallaspeacecenter.org.
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The Dallas Peace Center
Celebrating 31 Years of Peacemaking in North Texas and Beyond
26th Annual Peacemaker Awards Dinner presents the
honoring
Richard Sambrano receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished career dedicated to protecting the rights and liberties of new immigrants and others living on the margins of American society. Lifetime Achievement Award
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Vivian Castleberry receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for her lifelong devotion to peace, in particular her passion for peaceful resolutions to conflict.
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Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Sambrano
Vivian Castleberry
Dr. Basheer Ahmed receives the Peacemaker of the Year Award for his extraordinary commitment to breaking the cycle of fear that many Americans experienced in the aftermath of 9/11 through creative use of human services, education and constructive dialogue.
Dr. Ahmed established the Muslim Community Center for Human Services and serves as its chairman. The Center provides medical and social services in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to people in need regardless of their religion, race, or country of origin.
Peacemaker of the Year
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Dr. Basheer Ahmed
Unity of Arlington spiritual community receives the Organization of the Year Award for their work in cultivating peace through education.
Peacemaking Organization of the Year
Unity of Arlington
Bob Ray Sanders receives the Media Peacemaker of the Year Award for his long history as a voice for the voiceless, for speaking truth to power, and for challenging the "conventional wisdom" that dominates local and national media. Media Peacemaker of the Year
Bob Ray Sanders
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Reception - 5:30PM • Dinner - 7:00PM • Doubletree Hotel • 4099 Valley View Lane, Dallas, TX 75244 For Tickets, go to www.DallasPeaceCenter.org or Call (214) 823-7793
Peacemaker Awards Dinner to honor extraordinary advocates By Patty Bates-Ballard
The Dallas Peace Center will recognize a diverse group of extraordinary advocates for peace and justice at our 26th Annual Peacemaker Awards Dinner. Emceed by attorney and former Dallas mayor pro tem Domingo Garcia, the event will take place on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel at 4099 Valley View Lane, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m., and dinner and program at 7:00 p.m. 2012 Peacemaker of the Year Dr. Basheer Ahmed Dr. Basheer Ahmed receives the PeacePeacemaker of the Year Award for his extraordinary commitment to breaking the cycle of fear that many Americans experienced in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks through creative use of human service, education and constructive dialogue. He defends the Islamic religion by explaining that Islam is against terrorist activities, emphasizing that the Holy Koran teaches that if you kill one innocent person, it is as if you kill the whole of humanity, and if you save one person, it is equivalent to saving all of humanity. After coming face to face with the horrors of war while seeing victims of conflict in Afghanistan and researching the effects of war on children of Palestine and Bosnia, Dr. Ahmed became convinced of the need to work for peace. As a board member of the Multi Cultural Alliance, Dr. Ahmed has spoken to seminary students about the need for respect and recognition of all religions, with the primary goal of living with each other in peace and harmony.
In 1995, Dr. Ahmed established the Muslim Community Center for Human Services and serves as its chairman. The Center provides medical and social services in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to people in need regardless of their religion, race, or country of origin. Lifetime Achievement Award Vivian Castleberry Vivian Castleberry receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for her lifelong devotion to peace, in particular her passion for peaceful resolutions to conflict. Ms. Castleberry is the founder of Peacemakers Incorporated, a local nonprofit focusing on peace education and cultural outreach programs. Peacemakers currently is planning the fourth International Women's Peace Conference. In 1988, Ms. Castleberry served as Chairwoman of Peacemakers' First International Women's Peace Conference, which was attended by over 2,000 women from 57 countries. Exposed through her work as a journalist to some of the most violent acts of humanity, including domestic violence and child abuse, she was inspired as a child by her father, a veteran of World War I, and her mother to seek out nonviolent solutions to problems and to include those who might feel excluded. Ms. Castleberry calls today’s youth the architects of the future, and says, “Our generation were citizens of a country, residents of a town or city. You are residents of a universe with all its complications and all its rewards.”
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Lifetime Achievement Award Richard Sambrano Richard Sambrano receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished career dedicated to protecting the rights and liberties of new immigrants and others living on the margins of American society. Mr. Sambrano is an esteemed retiree from the Department of Justice Dallas Community Relations Service (CRS) office and was involved in many high profile mediations throughout the country during his 30 year tenure. He was the lead CRS representative in a landmark dispute at an Amarillo beef packing plant involving an employee walkout and $70 million lawsuit. Through training demonstrators, facilitating mediation between the parties, and fashioning a memo of agreement, the dispute was resolved with demonstrators returning to work at higher pay and to fairer treatment. Today, the company enjoys broad community and employee support. Mr. Sambrano also gave valuable support to the community in Jasper, Texas, after the dragging death of James Byrd, Jr. by three white supremacists. The case generated worldwide publicity and resulted in the community coming together with Richard’s help to develop a plan to address the issue. Subsequently, the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act was passed. Mr. Sambrano currently serves as Chair of the LULAC National Civil Rights Commission where he continues to make lasting contributions to the expansion of education and civil rights for the historically under-served and under-represented people of Texas.
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2012 Peacemaking Organization of the Year
Unity of Arlington Unity of Arlington spiritual community receives the Organization of the Year Award for its work in cultivating peace through education. Beginning in 1998, Unity has sponsored ongoing classes in nonviolent compassionate communication, summer peace camps for children and youth, and "Be Peace" study groups to promote healing and unity among diverse peoples of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Compassionate Communications trainings and practice groups promote the idea that “Peace Begins with Me.” This concept helps individuals recognize any tendencies they may have to speak or act aggressively when they believe that something they value highly is being threatened, and provides them skills to choose peaceful responses instead. Participants in this program regularly inspire each other when they take responsibility for the peace they want to be and see in the world. Unity stresses to youth the importance of first loving themselves, and then extending the same empathy and compassion with everyone in their lives. The philosophy guiding Unity’s efforts is that peace and justice originate with the awareness that all creation is sacred, and that all creation is essential and equally valuable to the whole. While justice is the expression of the understanding that all of creation is equal, peace is the expression of the knowledge that we are one with all creation; therefore, when one is harmed, we are all harmed.
2012 Media Peacemaker of the Year Bob Ray Sanders Bob Ray Sanders receives the Media Peacemaker of the Year Award for his long history as a voice for the voiceless, for speaking truth to power, and for challenging the "conventional wisdom" that dominates local and national media.
columns at the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Mr. Sanders has demonstrated intellectual honesty and journalistic excellence throughout his distinguished career.
Mr. Sanders has been an outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, and has begun to sound the alert about the potential costs of a war with Iran, citing the human cost of the suffering and death of veterans and their families not only during their active duty, but after they return home.
Peacemaker Awards Evening Sponsors To Date
An opponent of the death penalty and a defender of Planned Parenthood, Mr. Sanders has vigorously condemned recent voter intimidation, suppression, and dilution of poor, Latino, and African American communities, vowing to die fighting to preserve the right to vote for all. From his earliest days at KERA radio to his most recent
Last year’s dinner, pictured below, was attended by over 400 DFW residents committed to a peaceful and just Metroplex, state, nation, and world. Join us this year at the 26th Annual Peacemaker Awards Dinner and you will be inspired. Please purchase your tickets online from the DPC website.
VIP Peacemaker Unity of Arlington Drs. Basheer and Shakila Ahmed Rev. Bill and Fran McElvaney Peacemaker Peace Mennonite Church of Dallas University of North Texas Castleberry Peace Institute United Nations Association of Dallas Peacemakers Inc. Mr. Larry Paschall Social Action Council of First Unitarian Church Muslim Democratic Caucus Richland College Peace Studies Peace Sponsor Dr. David and Cherry Haymes Charles Scurry
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The Coalition to Lift Every Voice and Vote – Su Voto Es Su Voz By Patty Bates-Ballard, Kelli Obazee, and Melody White
The Coalition to Lift Every Voice and Vote – Su Voto Es Su Voz is a collaborative coalition focused on engaging underrepresented communities in civic participation. Coalition members are the Dallas Peace Center, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and CitySquare. The Coalition effort engages North Texans by leveraging the leadership of faith based organizations, educational institutions, community centers, and other communities of influence. The Rising American Electorate – those who are aged 18-35; Hispanic/Latino; African American; or single women – are underrepresented by elected officials. As a result, these groups suffer from social injustice in areas such as financial stress and employment, health, education, criminal justice, law enforcement, immigration, and voting rights. On September 29-30, St. Mark AME Zion Church, in partnership with the Dallas Peace Center, held a grant Women’s Day Celebration (pictured below) that included a voter’s registration drive and voter education on the Dream Act, healthcare, and voter rights. In all, the coalition
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and our partners conducted more than 15 educational seminars this fall that provided an overview of the political landscape, the Affordable Care Act, and immigration, especially the Dream Act.
John Missionary Baptist Church, Kelli Obazee, Director of the Dallas Peace Center, Allecia Pottinger of Project VOTE, and Elizabeth Walley and Claudette Brown of GOTV all made radio appearances.
Coalition members knocked on more than 3,000 doors in South Dallas and Oak Cliff this summer. An amazing 96% of the people we reached committed to vote, and 16% of them committed to vote early. The top issues reported by residents were economy/jobs-35%, crime-25%, healthcare-23%, and education-11%.
Imam Shaheed spoke about living in Mississippi decades ago and working with the local NAACP president to secure voting rights. His colleague’s house was firebombed, and as he and his family escaped from the house, someone shot at them. This incident is just one of the many reasons that the right to vote is precious and must be preserved and exercised.
As a follow up to the door-to-door canvass, we hosted phone banking sessions at Friendship West Baptist Church and Dallas Masjid of AL-Islam, with strong participation from Church Women United. The calls reminded those who committed to vote that the time to make your voice heard is now, providing the polling location and an offer of transportation. Coalition members also have spoken on local radio shows about what is at stake in this fall’s election. Imam Khalid Shaheed of Dallas Masjid AL Islam, Rev. Deneen Robinson of Living Faith Covenant Church, Director External Ministries, Rev. James Larry Sr. Pastor of Bullock Chapel CME Church, Rev. Holsey Hickman Pastoral Care of St.
Our message to the Rising American Electorate is: It is vital to cast your vote and hold your elected officials accountable. No special ID is required to vote this year. Do not be intimidated at the polls – you have a constitutional right to vote. Stay engaged. Voting is just the first step to creating the change we want to see. Volunteers are still needed for Election Day! Call 214-823-7793 or email us at vote@dallaspeacecenter.org. The civic engagement efforts will continue next year, focusing on the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Join us!
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Texas Voter Rights Elected officials make decisions about our lives every day, so voting is vital to our civil society. Your vote matters. Please be informed about your rights. In 2012, the voting rules have NOT changed in Texas. Types of ID accepted 1. Voter registration card (okay if expired)
Yes, Voters Can
2. Driver’s license or identification card issued by
voter’s guide, or your own notes on how
the Texas DPS or other state (okay if expired) 3. A form of photo ID that establishes the person’s
Bring this flier, a sample ballot, printed
you want to vote into the voting booth.
Bring someone with you into the voting
identity (example – military ID, employee badge,
booth to help you read or understand
student ID, Sam’s card)
the ballot.
4. Birth certificate 5. U.S. citizenship papers 6. U.S. passport (okay if expired)
ballot (but not tell you how to vote).
7. Official mail addressed to the person by name
well enough to understand the ballot.
government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name & address
Bring your own interpreter or ask for an interpreter if you do not read English
from a governmental agency 8. A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement,
Ask a poll worker to help you read the
Bring your minor child with you into the voting booth.
of the voter
Ask a poll worker to help you get to the voting booth if you have a mobility restriction.
General Assistance Voters are allowed to bring notes and guides for
Vote from your vehicle or at the curb or
personal use into the polling place and voting
entrance to the building if you have a
booth. Minors and helpers can accompany vot-
mobility restriction.
ers. Voters can ask officials for assistance. Poll
Bring a service animal into the polling place if you have a disability.
workers cannot give voting advice.
Voters, Please Do Not
Language
All Texas polling places must have an official
(cell phone, camera, etc.) within 100
fluent in both English and Spanish.
If you have a complaint, contact 1-800-252VOTE (8683) or http://votetexas.gov/your-rights/
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feet of the polling place.
Complaints
November 2012
Use a wireless communication device
Wear campaign paraphernalia (t-shirts, buttons, etc.) into the polling place.
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An American Indian perspective on peace and justice By Peggy Larney, citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and retired director of the American Indian Education Program of the Dallas ISD
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “National Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”) have been issued each year since 1994.1 As a full blood American Indian, my perspective on the subjects of peace and justice is quite different from the mainstream society in USA. American Indians, as dependent wards of the United State government, have a limited-sovereign status. There is a long history of traumatic relations between the tribal nations and the federal government. Throughout that history, Indigenous people have sought redress to injustice. One effort to seek redress that all Texans can support is a bill that will be introduced at the 2013 Texas Legislative Session declaring an “American Indian Heritage Day” in the State of Texas on the last Friday in September. The bill states, “It is inappropriate for Indian children and children of America to celebrate a day honoring a person for discovering a nation of people and not having a holiday/day paying tribute to the people of those nations.” In the United States, there are 565 federally recognized nations and 34 staterecognized tribes.
1
The terms American Indian, Indian, Native American, Native, first American, first people, and Indigenous people are used interchangeably throughout this article.
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Prior to the admission of Texas as a state in the union, most of the populations of American Indians in Texas were either eradicated or removed. In the 1950s, the Relocation Program of the Bureau of the Indian Affairs was instrumental in bringing Indians back to Texas. Now there are approximately 110 tribal nations represented by citizens from throughout the United States residing in Texas. Today, Texas has the fourth largest population of Indians in the United States. While the majority of American Indians in Texas live in urban centers, there are three Indian reservations in Texas: The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas at Livingston, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas at Eagle Pass, and the Tigua Tribe of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo at El Paso. On March 18, 2009, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas became the only state-recognized tribe.
Many non-Indian school children are surprised to know that there are close to 30,000 American Indians living in Dallas County today. While millions of Indians died as Europeans established themselves in the United States, Indians have played a pivotal role in American History and will continue to do so. For example, most schoolchildren know that the first European immigrants would not have survived long enough to form the 13 colonies. They learned from observation and sharing of information how the Natives survived, especially the usage of the planting fields and storage of the food. Yet most Americans are completely unaware that Indians contributed much more than food knowledge to the U.S. Indeed, the U.S. Constitution itself has an Indian foundation. Ben Franklin, one of the America’s ‘founding fathers,’ modeled much of the constitution after the Iroquois Confederacy. What?! -- no Indian on the cover of the U.S. History text book above? Correction – In the lower left hand corner, is Ira Hayes. A Pima Indian and a Marine, Ira Hayes is one of the six men immortalized in the iconic statue of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima during World War II. Most textbooks in public schools gloss over the holocaust and the genocide conducted against American Indians, yet somehow most schoolchildren get the idea that American Indians are a historical phenomenon. I worked for many years with Native children in Dallas ISD schools, as director of American Indian Education Program (AIEP) of the Dallas Independent School District. They often told me that they felt invisible.
Even today, the way the Congressional House of Representatives works with the Senate is rooted in how the Iroquois Confederacy functioned. In 1988, Congress formally recognized the Iroquois influence on with the concepts of freedom of speech, the separation of governmental powers, and the system of checks and balances between the branches of government. To help increase understanding of the contributions of Native Americans, the online resource Teaching Respect for Native Peoples by Cynthia Leitich Smith is a valuable and very much-needed resource. It addresses the many stereotypes that still abound about American Indians.
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For example, with Thanksgiving approaching, students may be asked to dress up as “Indians,” with paper-bag “costumes” or paper-feather “headdresses” or “coloredheaddresses.” Yet it is much more educational to model accurate portrayals of the east coast tribes who interacted with early European immigrants. I, together with the American Indian Education Program staff, the AIEP parent/student advisory committee, and several DISD administrators were able to convince DISD in 1999 to eliminate American Indian mascots and logos from ten DISD schools, internally and peacefully. Yet Indian mascots and logos are still prevalent nationally. Native American stereotyping in the sports world offers one of
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the most blatant and overt expressions of racism allowed to exist unchecked in the United States, i.e. the Washington Redskins. The term ‘redskin’ is an ethnic slur for American Indians that should never be used by anyone, much less a professional sports team. Unfortunately, American Indians protests against the team name have been no match for the powerful NFL team. From insult to genocide, Native Americans have, for over 500 years, endured physical, emotional, social, and spiritual genocide from Europeans, Euro-Americans, and government policies. Our nations have seen countless acts of bodily violence perpetuated on our people, as well as the violent removals from their land bases and the emotionally violent attempts to wipe out our traditional cultures.
This massive group trauma has resulted in emotional and psychological wounding over lifespans and generations; the historical trauma is cumulative. The adverse effects of historical trauma and grief include unsettled anger, rage and shame, depression, high mortality rates and suicide, high rates of substance abuse, significant problems of child abuse and domestic violence, and extreme poverty.
had started, and regional movements grew into national efforts. With the progressive reforms of the New Deal, an explosion of activism among Native Americans came to national attention. Many groups advocated non-violent activities. Others took a more demonstrative approach and occupied federal land as a gesture of defiance.
Yet in the face of all of this trauma, American Indians have been guided by the many aspects of their cultures that are infused with the ideals of peace and justice. From a traditional and historical perspective, the majority of the first peoples of this land lived in communities that were governed by strong values such as an honor system and respect. These values encouraged ethical behavior with a strong sense of right and wrong. Yet many have questioned whether their traditional value of respect has much relevance, as they consider the rampant injustice that exists on many fronts, ranging from blatant human rights violations to alarming environmental justice issues. Still, as American Indians suffered extreme hardship and death from the policies and practices of Euro-American and governments of the United States, they developed a strong desire to redress these historic wrongs, and have developed a range of proposals for corrective justice. These mechanisms include apology, reparations, criminal prosecution, and truth and reconciliation commissions. It has been through political activism that Native Americans gained their greatest victories. Progress has moved slowly, but each generation built on what the previous one
Hannah Galli inner i art
Despite the disparity in methodology, the objective of all these organizations was the same – Native American self-
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There are many notable individuals who have worked tirelessly and nonviolently for justice for American Indians. Oren R. Lyons, Jr., (pictured left) is a Native American Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga and Seneca Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy and an advocate of Indigenous rights.
determination and to make America aware of the ongoing struggles that exist.
Wilma Mankiller (pictured below) was the first female Cherokee Chief and an advocate for Native American rights and women’s rights.
Many American Indian organizations and individuals have worked for justice nonviolently. The Four Mothers Society was formed in 1890 as an opposition movement to the allotment policies of the Dawes Commission because dividing tribal lands broke up tribal communities and resulted in "surplus" lands being seized and made available to non-Natives. The Society of American Indians, formed in 1911, urged assimilation and argued that Native Americans should be granted the same protections under the law as American citizens. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 was brought about by years of collective effort by this organization. It was not until Utah guaranteed voting rights to its Native American citizens in 1957 that suffrage became universally recognized in the continental United States. The National Congress of American Indians was founded in 1944, and continues today to protect Native American heritage, secure equal employment opportunities, and protect tribal lands. Individual tribes also made efforts to protect their remaining lands from greedy developers.
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Yet the challenges facing American Indian communities continue. American Indians are the most researched but most misunderstood Americans. Racial profiling, lack of knowledge of American Indians, prejudice, hate groups, racism, stereotyping are some of the challenges that American Indians face every day. I am hopeful because the introduction of Native American Studies in colleges and universities has educated and empowered a new generation of young Native people to take up a different form of activism.
On September 13-14, 2012, the Dallas Indian community had the honor of welcoming a group of young Indigenous runners representing the Peace and Dignity Journey. Every four years since 1992, spiritual runners from Indigenous Nations have carried the sacred staffs of the Eagle and the Condor to thousands of Indigenous communities throughout the western hemisphere (from the northernmost end of North America and the southernmost end of South America) en route to the ancient ceremonial center at Teotihuacan, Mexico. There, they symbolically and spiritually join all Indigenous Peoples together to manifest the prophecy of the Eagle and Con-
dor, the foundation of the Peace and Dignity Journey. As these young runners passed through many Indian communities, they shared the purpose of their prayer run with dignity, for peace, tradition, pride, the importance of the bundle of staffs, and the beginning-ofthe-day and the end-of-the-day blessings. They shared the importance of the 2012 theme of Water, the sacredness of water and the impending scarcity of water. As we look ahead, let us take guidance again from the Iroquois Confederacy. Let us make sure that every decision that we make relates to the welfare and well-being of the seventh generation to come by asking, "What about the seventh generation? Where are you taking them? What will they have?� I will close with this prayer by Bill Matthews: "We give grateful thanks to the higher power, the ground of our being, the one God of many names, for the plenteous abundance of life we have received: For Knowledge, for Understanding and Enlightenment, for Insight and Wisdom, for Money and Compassion, and for the Acceptance of Forgiveness for ourselves and for our neighbors, whom we are created to love. We humbly ask that we be given more - the Will to Serve, Courage to Act, and Strength of Character, that we may perform with Honesty, preserve Integrity, and comprehend with Coherence, to put it all together.
Bruce McKay Yellow Snow Photography
Let us petition the most high, to so transform us in mind, body and spirit, that we may establish Islands of calm in the midst of monstrous seas, to make real the strong relationship with the Source of Life, today and for ages unto ages. In the beauty of holiness, Amen."
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Walking the talk: trading with peacemakers Support for local conscientious objector could be life changing By Patty Bates-Ballard
Matthew and his two brothers lost his mother this year to breast and brain cancer, leaving their father as the sole caretaker and provider for three boys. So Tewelde Teklegiorges, a professional driver, needs to increase his earnings to pay for childcare. Tewelde has all the necessary certifications and insurance, he has a spotless 21-year record: no tickets, no wrecks, no arrests, and lots of contributions to our community. Tewelde emigrated from Eritrea to the U.S. and became a citizen in 1998. He was a conscientious objector in the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Imprisoned and tortured for refusing to join the army, he sought and was granted political asylum in the U.S. He needs to make three trips to DFW Airport per day (or the equivalent) to keep his home and provide for his boys. Please view his webpage for more information or call (214) 597-4798 anytime to arrange your pickup. If you mention the DPC, we will receive 10% of proceeds.
Advertise in RÉDA! One horizontal half-page ad like this one 6.25 x 4.10 (jpeg format only)
Cost $100
One full page ad like our back page 8.5 x 9.55 (jpeg format or PDF format)
$200
Next ad deadline: January 10, 2013 Inquire at reda@dallaspeacecenter.org
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Tar Sands Blockade heats up By Ramsey Sprague, Tar Sands Blockade
Despite the Texas weather cool-down, the heat is on in East Texas to block the Keystone XL pipeline. Tar Sands Blockade has launched our largest direct action yet to defend our state from toxic tar sands pipelines that have a terrible record of dirty leaks.
where more than 60 people walked onto what TransCanada claims is their easement so that we could resupply our Winnsboro tree blockade. The tree blockade has sustained over a month now!
Tar Sands Blockade Tar Sands Blockade
TransCanada has worked hard to stifle coverage of our efforts, including arrest and detentions of New York Times journalists. Fortunately, Peter Gorman's profile of Tar Sands Blockade in the Fort Worth Weekly signaled a turning point in our ability to transmit our story accurately in the press.
Tar Sands Blockade
It's been an extremely busy month for us, full of critical support by strong women. Actress Daryl Hannah was arrested with area landowner Eleanor Fairchild (pictured above). Morale was further boosted by visits from Julia Butterfly Hill and Colonel Ann Wright, as well as an inspiring action by Gulf Coast activist-mom and offshore oil wife Cherri Foytlin. We also launched the largest mass action around Keystone XL construction yet,
Also last month, TransCanada launched a second Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), which named as defendants every single individual who has participated in our actions thus far except Daryl Hannah, plus one of our spokespersons, Ron Seifert. We are not deterred by the legal and police threats. In fact, we're growing stronger and more focused than ever before, boosted by food drives from Unitarian Universalist churches, and rallies, benefits, and other creative support. We have a list of needs, and folks can support us by visiting our online Wish List.
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One Makes A Difference The Dallas Peace Center’s Peace Education Program The Dallas Peace Center’s “ONE MAKES A DIFFERENCE” youth curriculum provides a strong intellectual and ethical foundation that encourages academic excellence, enhances selfesteem, increases community understanding and civic engagement, and inspires future global leaders. The curriculum is inspired by the simple and profound belief that ONE MAKES A DIFFERENCE. The goal of the program is to encourage participants to piece together their personal stories and histories in a way that deepens their understanding of interconnectedness and peace. When young people have the opportunity to share their knowledge in a group, they can teach each other a lot. Each person in the group is a teacher, learner, and listener creating new knowledge and relationships built on trust. The twelve two-hour sessions included in the ONE MAKES A DIFFERENCE program incorporate heart/mind coherence, self awareness, conflict resolution, non-violent communication, and civic engagement. Join us as we launch a program that empowers our youth to charter their destiny for success. The ONE MAKES A DIFFERENCE program currently needs additional funding. You can be the ONE who MAKES A DIFFERENCE for young people in our community by making a donation today. To donate, click here, or for more information, email us or call 214-823-7793.
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Tensions between Syria and Turkey require diplomacy By Hadi Jawad, DPC Middle East Peace Committee Chair
Escalating tensions between Turkey and Syria indicate the crisis in Syria could easily spiral out of control and engulf the entire region. As civilian death tolls in Syria rise dramatically, a torrent of refugees, fleeing horrific violence, is gathering in the border regions. All of Syria's neighbors have been affected by the civil war, particularly Turkey and Lebanon. Retaliatory strikes by Turkey in response to Syrian shelling have created an entirely new dimension to a civil war that now threatens to become a full-fledged regional conflict in the Middle East. Notwithstanding the ominous situation, opportunities exist for the United States and its allies to help end the violence and bring about a political solution to the crisis. Current policy debates in Washington and European capitals are focused primarily either on providing more sophisticated weapons to the forces fighting the Syrian government or implementing a safe zone. Both scenarios are fraught with risks of worsening an already volatile situation on the ground and pouring more fuel on the fire of a terrible civil war. The Syrian resistance continues to be fractured and key supporters such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar remain divided on goals. Differences among Syria's various armed opposition groups, not to mention between Arabs and Kurds, could erupt into open hostilities in Syria's mounting chaos. Meanwhile, jihadist elements appear to be gaining influence. US planners must consider recent experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan where the arming process went terribly wrong and weapons fell in the hands of those who seek to harm US national security interests.
The establishment of a safe zone will require a significant US and NATO commitment to dismantle a very complex Syrian air defense system. Even if US involvement is limited to air strikes, an increase in civilian casualties will jump- start jihadist involvement, pulling more foreign fighters into an area already saturated with heavily armed rival factions and militias. It will be indeed a great folly for the United States to choose sides in a sectarian war. Within heightened risks of a regional war, opportunities exist to reduce sectarian tensions across the region. Rather than pursue military options, the United States needs to build a broad-based coalition for a peaceful transition in Syria. It should seek to create conditions that will alter the dynamic from militarization to diplomacy. It is obvious to the most casual observer that we are witnessing a proxy war between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some Western powers on one hand and Iran, Syria, and Russia on the other. The United States is uniquely positioned to shepherd most of the countries, except perhaps Iran, towards a diplomatic and peaceful resolution of the crisis.
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The US must end its longest war By Aftab Siddiqui, DPC board member
U.S. Army
The almost forgotten war against Afghanistan became a topic of the Vice Presidential and Presidential debates recently. It was good to know that Vice President Joe Biden insisted that the US combat forces will be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Even though his rival, Congressman Ryan, did not agree on pace of with drawl process, he agreed on withdrawing the US forces by the end of 2014. It was sort of good news for the peace community that the longest war in our history is finally winding down. The bill to the tax payer will be close to a trillion dollars eventually, if not more (if we stick to the 2014 deadline). According to The Christian Science Monitor of June 11, 2012, so far the Pentagon has spent more than $ 517 billion in military operations and the State Department has spent more than $57 billion in development aid in Afghanistan. More than 2,000 American soldiers
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have died in the combat operations. Hundreds more are injured and thousands of the returning soldiers face PTSD and long adjustment to non-combat life. It is a steep price for the country and especially, for those one percent of Americans who faced the deadly war and its consequences around them while the rest of the 99 percent went about their daily lives feeling no effects of war. The protagonists of continued war claim that Afghanistan will fall into the hands of Taliban once US troops leave. Let’s look at the demographics of the country; 44 percent Pashtuns, 25 percent Tajiks, 10 percent Hazaras, 8 percent Uzbeks, and 13 percent other groups. The Taliban come from the Pashtuns but not all Pashtuns are Taliban. President Karzai is a Pashtun and no friend of Taliban. The first Government by the Taliban was not liked
by the population-at-large including many Pashtuns. In the face of such opposition, it is unlikely that the Taliban will take over easily. Neighboring countries are investing in the country and will not welcome any chaos or take over by the Taliban. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are trying to bring the Taliban and US to the negotiating table to facilitate a peaceful process. China has signed a multi-billion dollar contract to develop mineral resources; Russia, along with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, do not want to see civil war or the emergence of a Taliban Government. The US supports the construction of a pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India via Afghanistan (known as TAPI). Next door neighbor Iran is dead against rise of the Taliban and has interest in protecting the Shiite Hazara. Turkey and India are also investing in the country. Afghans by nature are pragmatic and open to trade opportunities. However, if attacked and occupied, they always fight back as Alexander, British, Russians, and now US have learned. Yet with so many interests converging, it will be almost impossible for the Taliban to overthrow the Afghan Government. Many supporters of women’s rights and well-wishers of Afghanistan feel the need to have continual US military presence beyond 2014 because they want to see Afghanistan as a modern liberal society. It will take many generations to change the Afghan society to the ideals of Jeffersonian democracy. American people have neither the will to keep on fighting in Afghanistan nor the resources for continued presence there. Once, Afghanistan had a cadre of highly educated professionals including engineers, professors, teachers, physicians,
scientists, diplomats, and bureaucrats dedicated to making their country a modern state. These capable and liberal minded Afghans were trained and educated in the US, Soviet Union, France, Germany, and UK. There is a saying among Pashtuns: once elephants start fighting, frogs get crushed. The moment the US decided to arm the rural uneducated Afghans to fight a” jihad” against the “Godless Communists,” the first targets were the liberal and educated members of the society. Through no fault of their own, they became an endangered species in the so-called holy war. Many were killed for simply being in the Government, or being liberal, or perceived to be siding with the Soviet forces. The rest went into exile to be save their families and lives. By the time Soviets left, Afghanistan had lost its precious intellectual capital and the remaining population was made up mostly of uneducated and untrained Afghans with no expertise to run and manage a modern state. There is nothing that we can do in return to compensate for our policies and actions in Afghanistan. The only viable option left is to encourage the regional powers to help and assist the Afghans in developing and training a cadre of people who can manage the affairs of the state in an efficient and modern way. There is no shortcut to gain such expertise, but the good news is that the rest of the region is fed up with the instability of war, and wants to see a success story in Afghanistan. Of course, the US must keep on helping and assisting the Afghans in their efforts to rebuild their country and society. In conclusion, it is high time for US troops to come back home. It will be good for the US, Afghanistan, and the region to end the war as soon as possible.
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The threat of a war against Iran By Ed Thomas
Threats of war against Iran have been made now and then for quite a long time. In recent years the principal threat-maker has been Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. There have been enough of these threats by now that they bring to mind the old adage about someone who cried “fire” so often that no one believed him when there was a real fire, resulting in the death of the skeptics. The prospect of a real war against Iran is so troubling that no threat can be ignored. On September 16, 2012, Netanyahu made the rounds on the Sunday TV talk shows with the pronouncement that Iran was only 6-7 months from having 90% of what it needed to make an atomic bomb. He said the U.S. should draw a “red line.” Iran’s crossing of that line would trigger military intervention. Netanyahu even identified where the red line should be drawn: when Iran has produced one bomb’s worth of medium enriched uranium. On September 27, at the annual full meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, a meeting that draws many national leaders to New York City, both President Obama and Netanyahu gave speeches. Obama left right after his own speech, without staying for Netanyahu’s or even meeting him at all. Netanyahu made a dramatic address, illustrating it visually by drawing a red line somewhat below the top end of a drawing representing a bomb. But he acknowledged that Iran would not be able to cross his “red line” until next spring or summer. Since that time most media attention has gone to other important stories, including the killing of the American Ambassador to Libya and three staff members, the many demonstrations against the U.S in the pre-
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dominantly Muslim world protesting against an offensive film demeaning the Prophet Muhammad, the civil war in Syria, and of course innumerable stories on the ongoing election campaigns in the U.S., up to and including the presidential and vice presidential debates. Where does the topic of possible war against Iran figure in the U.S. presidential contest? It seems certain that President Obama opposes having any such war, especially before Election Day. Surely he won’t start one himself. After Election Day, he will probably continue his opposition to it, either as re-elected President or as a Lame Duck. As for Governor Romney, if he is elected, it seems improbable that he would want to begin his presidency with a new war while the war in Afghanistan is still winding down uncertainly and there are various other trouble spots, including Syria. So, we come back to Israel. Would Netanyahu launch a surprise attack on Iran on his own, without U.S. concurrence, rea-
“Shut the Door on War” Action 10/6/2012
soning that the U.S. would have no alternative but to support him? That seems doubtful to me, especially while Obama is President. Regarding Romney, it is true that on his last visit to Israel, he made a point of appearing to be a close friend of Netanyahu; he even said Israel had to make its own decisions and he would back them. That was clearly part of his campaigning at that stage. If he is elected, a President Romney may not be so blindly supportive. If war is provoked, Iran won’t be able to win it, but it can do a lot of damage, both to Israel and to American interests. There is also the question of whether Israel is capable of carrying out an effective attack without U.S. military aid. Can Israel get its war planes across unfriendly air spaces without losing some? Can Israel
refuel its planes so that they can make a round trip? On October 9 Netanyahu called for elections early next year instead of as scheduled in October 2013. The balloting could be as early as January 15, but there is speculation that it might be set for midFebruary, which would make Netanyahu’s government the first one in more than two decades to complete a four-year term. The campaign begins with the prime minister and his Likud Party in strong positions. Netanyahu mentioned Iran and other security matters repeatedly in his short speech announcing the elections. None of the above addresses the underlying problem: How to get Iran to give up its effort to produce a nuclear weapon – if indeed it has such an objective. But that is another subject for another article Stay tuned.
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Is the two states solution still possible in Palestine? By Marilyn King
The settlement project has reached its goal: the situation on the ground is irreversible, and the two–state solution is no longer possible. When Israel and the Palestinians signed the 1993 Oslo Accords, there were 193,000 settlers living in the West Bank, on land confiscated from the Palestinians. Now the numbers have grown to more than 310,000 settlers; another 200,000 living in east Jerusalem; with no hope of stopping the settlements. The presence of these settlements breaks up the occupied territory into “Bantustans” making a viable Palestinian state unattainable. What we have on the ground is what many consider an apartheid state – one group dominating and controlling another group with walls and fences separating the two.
point, a new idea is taking ground; the idea of One State solution. The new state will encompass Israel and the Palestinian Territories and it will be a democratic, secular and a civic state in the historic Palestine. The One State solution will strip Israel from its Jewishness statute, as the Jewish population will no longer be the majority in Israel. With that concept in mind, the current Israeli administration is demanding that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. They allege that refusal of the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state suggests that the Palestinians do not really accept Israel.
“The door may be closing for good.”
Palestinians counter this argument by pointing out that the PLO has already agreed to Israel’s right to exist. If the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, it will jeopardize the negotiation over the right of return of the Palestinians refugees, the status of Jerusalem, and the civil rights of the nonJewish population in Israel, including the Christians.
-Ban Ki-Moon
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recently warned at the United Nation General Assembly, “The two-state solution is the only sustainable option. Yet the door may be closing for good,” two days before President Mahmud Abbas launched a bid to upgrade the Palestinian state status. Israel has been allowed to undermine the two-state solution; and they have missed the opportunity to have a sustainable peace. The peace process has been in a deadlock for two years. Reaching a critical
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For a real peace in the Holy Land, Jews, Muslims, and Christians have to live together democratically. The One State solution might not be deemed “fair” by the Israelis; on the other hand a Jewish state cannot claim to be a real democracy.
Drone attacks: promise vs. reality By Don Dillard
The use of drones to pursue U.S. foreign policy is oftentimes promoted as clean, easy, effective, selective, and without unintended consequences. Nothing could be further from reality. CLEAN Legal: The legality of the use of drones to target individuals has been sidestepped due to the novelty of the mechanism. Those targeted may indeed be guilty of waging war on the U.S. but no court has convicted them and they have had no due process. The targeting of individual leaders of political factions that the U.S. considers enemies has the distinct feel of assassination. These extrajudicial executions may be someday come to be considered as war crimes. Permission: The U.S. use of deadly force over foreign territory without the permission of the legitimate government is a violation of sovereignty. If this “permission” is obtained in secret with the purpose of later deniability then the U.S. may be colluding with that government against the will of its people. Anonymous: At the moment there is little doubt that it is the U.S. or its allies that are responsible and should be held fully accountable for all results of drone attacks. Any attempt at deniability is ludicrous. EASY Targeting: Finding and verifying that a proposed target is indeed the same person on a list to be executed is not likely an easy proposition. It is laughable that U.S. personnel are checking I.D.’s.
Therefore, clandestine operations with spies and informants are of necessity to be “trusted” to correctly finger the targets. After the targets are correctly identified, relaying highly specific and accurate information about place and time are critical. Room for mistakes is obvious. Cost: I’m certainly unfamiliar with the costs of drones, missiles, intelligence, personnel to launch, and to remotely guide these attacks. Nevertheless, accounting most certainly underestimates the support functions of bases, battle ships, risks to local indigenous sources, and loss of political allies and the moral high ground. EFFECTIVE Executing advisories: Of course there have been several high profile executions that have been touted to laude the effectiveness of drone attacks. However, evidence that these executions have been effective in lessening the capability or resolve of enemy organizations is unconvincing. We know they have to replace the leader, but so far only a brief interim has resulted.
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The Insider Brief
Precludes the capacity to negotiate: Very few wars end with the total abdication of one side and the total victory of the other. Short of annihilation, the U.S. will ultimately need to have a partner with whom to negotiate, begin the peace process, and the building of a civil society. Assassination complicates and extends the time before negotiations can begin.
Many of those killed by drones have been totally innocent civilians.
Assessing the outcome: Assessing the effectiveness of the outcome is complicated when a military operation is conducted
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from distance. We have to rely upon observers who are present. The aftermath of drone attacks regularly involves disputes as to the facts of who was killed and/or injured. We often distrust the assessment of those who were available to witness first-hand the consequences of the attack.
SELECTIVE Mistakes/accidents: Our experience is that much too often the supposed target is misidentified or the missile is misdirected and those hit are not a target. The argument that drones are super-selective or accurate is not born out by the evidence.
Pan Africa News Wire
We regularly learn that the target escaped or was not in the vehicle or house, and that he just minutes or possibly days before had been there.
of-nowhere emergence of a drone from the sky without notice no doubt creates trauma, fear, and anxiety in a population that the U.S. wants as an ally.
Many of those killed by drones have Many consider the use of drones as bad been totally innocent civilians faith, and the governwithout the target even prements that do not opsent or they may have been pose the U.S. in drone No one knows traveling with the target, but usage will lose credibilnot guilty of any offense wority with their people. how many have thy of execution. This use of The picture of a foreign been killed. drones is not only a “misgovernment that retake;” it is the taking of innosorts to drones is one cent lives. that is weak, ineffectual and cowardly. The A recent report says that no one really U.S.’s use of drones may be used to leknows how many people have been gitimize future drone usage by others. killed by drone attacks. In the photo above, a US Drone attack in Somalia We have come to learn that the promise earlier this year killed 39. of the usage of drone attacks to pursue U.S. foreign policy is empty. Drone usUNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES age is not clean, easy, effective, selecThere are many possible unintended tive, or without unintended consequencconsequences of drone attacks. The outes.
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European Union receives 2012 Nobel Peace Prize By Patty Bates-Ballard
The Norwegian Nobel Committee surprised the world October 12 by bestowing the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 to the 27-member European Union. The committee said the award honored the decades of building mutual confidence in Europe, noting that countries admitted to the union must demonstrate advancements toward democracy and human rights. The committee acknowledged current grave economic difficulties and social unrest, but said it preferred to focus on the transformation since World War II of most of Europe from a continent of
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war to a continent of peace. Thorbjørn Jagland, Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman, said the prize recognizes the EU’s early role as a peace broker between Germany and France, as well as the EU’s recent progress in the Balkans. Twenty-three organizations have received the Nobel Peace Prize, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the American Friends Service Committee, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Still, journalists reportedly gasped audibly after the announcement in Oslo, Norway. Perhaps the social unrest in nations such as Greece and Spain were fresh on their minds. The Huffington Post reported that recently unemployed Athens beautician Chrisoula Panagiotidi asked "Is this a joke?" upon hearing that the European Union had won the Nobel Peace Prize. When she learned the news was factual, she said, "It mocks us and what we are going through right now," she said. "All it will do is infuriate people here." Others interviewed for the Huffington Post article were more understanding. “It's a good thing," said 48-year-old Howard Spilane in Ireland, where unemployment has tripled since the crisis hit. "Europe's in a crisis, but compared to the wars - even compared to the Cold War - Europe is in a better place. People are suffering, but they are not dying. On balance they have achieved a lot." Across the political spectrum, vocal critics of the award seemed to outweigh supporters. Many suggested that the Nobel committee has strayed
from the award’s original ideals. Blogger David Swanson wrote, “Europe is not a person. It has not during the past year -- which is the requirement -or even during the past several decades, done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations. Ask Libya. Ask Syria. Check with Afghanistan. See what Iraq thinks. Far from doing the best work to abolish or reduce standing armies, Europe has joined with the United States in developing an armed global force aggressively imposing its will on the world.” A commenter to the Washington Post spoke of his disbelief in “Awarding a Nobel Peace Prize (or any peace prize for that matter), to an oligarchy that watched a massacre in Yugoslavia for five years and did nothing. Well, nothing to help.” The committee considered 213 nominations this year, including 43 organizations. Other top contenders for the 2012 prize included American Gene Sharp, Egyptian Maggie Gobran, Burmese President Thein Sein, Tunisian Lin Ben Mhenni, Cuban Oscar Elias Biscet Gonzales, and Radio Echo Moscow.
Alfred Nobel’s will directs that the Nobel Peace Prize will be given “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
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Winter Peace and Justice Calendar - Then and Now November 1, 1872 Susan B. Anthony demanded the right and was registered to vote in Rochester, NY. She voted on November 5 and was arrested for voting illegally on November 18, 1872. November 1, 1995 - The first all-race local government elections took place in South Africa, marking the end of the apartheid system. November 3, 2012 Austin Pow wow, Toney Burger Center, Sunset Valley, Texas November 4, 2008 Barack Obama became the first African American to be elected president of the United States of America. November 6, 2012 GENERAL ELECTION DAY – GO VOTE!!! November 10, 2012 Richland College Pow wow, Noon-10pm November 27, 1095 A proclamation by Pope Urban II ushered in the First Crusade against Islam. November 23-24, 2012 Durant Pow wow, Choctaw Casino Resort, Durant, Oklahoma November 23-25, 2012 Thanksgiving Pow wow, Lawton, OK December 1, 1948 President José Figueres Ferrer of Costa Rica abolished the military of Costa Rica. December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. December 6, 2012 DPC Peacemaker Awards Dinner, 5:30-9:00 pm, Doubletree Hotel December 10, 1950 Ralph J. Bunche became the first Black American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. December 14, 1985 Wilma Mankiller became the first woman to lead a major American Indian tribe when she took office as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. December 29, 1890 Hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children were massacred by a detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. December 31, 2012 12th Annual New Year’s Eve Sobriety Pow wow, Tulsa Convention Center January 3, 1993 The START II Treaty between the U.S. and Russia eliminated land-based multiple nuclear warhead missiles and cut the number of total warheads in the two countries in half. January 15, 1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, GA. January 17, 1893 A group of American citizens, with the support of U.S. Marines, overthrew Queen Lili’uokalani of the independent kingdom of Hawai’I with the goal of U.S. annexation. January 18, 1962 The U.S. began spraying cancer-causing Agent Orange in Vietnam. January 20, 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday January 31, 1876 All Native Americans not living on reservations were declared hostile by the U.S. Historical Dates Source: PeaceButtons.info
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The Dallas Peace Center Mission The Dallas Peace Center, established in 1981, promotes a just and peaceful world through constructive action in education, dialogue, reconciliation, and advocacy. DPC Guiding Values Non-violent Action – action that compels us to construct systemic change in conflict by winning over hearts and minds. Constructive Conflict – a process that provides opportunities to attend to varied viewpoints, and serves as a mode of truthfinding and community building. Collaborative Strategies – the desire to join with others with similar goals and objectives to build mutual support; generate ideas and alternatives; take collective action and expand resources. Inter-connectedness – the discovery of the many reciprocal connections we have that move us towards a sustainable and just human presence.
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