3 minute read
Life Activists
Barbara’s Peace Garden
Honoring activists for a better world
Life Activists: Jane Fonda and Concepción Picciotto
Concepción Picciotto
With over 50 years of activism, Jane Fonda, 84, might have used a diagnosis of cancer to slow down. Instead she is full speed ahead with Fire Drill Fridays, the project she launched with Green Peace. She recently stated, "This diagnosis has only made me more determined than ever to continue to end the deadly effects of fossil fuels. While most of us know that fossil fuels are the primary cause of the climate crisis, many may not know that fossil fuel emissions also cause cancer as well as other major health problems like birth defects, childhood leukemia, heart attacks, strokes, lung disease and preterm birth. “We must find a way to come together to put an end to this deadly correlation. Too many families have suffered, too many What is your peace dream for 2022?communities have been forgotten, written off as ‘Sacrifice Zones,’ far too much pain has been endured. It does not have to be this way. We have it within our power to change this and I intend to do everything in my power to do so. This cancer will not deter me." While not as heralded by the news world, Concepción quietly carried on the longest continuous act of political protest in the United States. From 1981 until her death in 2016, she camped in front of the White House. Supporters nicknamed her camp "1601 Pennsylvania Avenue". When asked why she spent FireDrillFridays.org 30 years of her life camped on a sidewalk, she replied, ““to stop the world from being destroyed.” Her primary focus was ending nuclear proliferation and for that cause she endured hurricanes, heat waves and the constant pressure to “move on.” She and her camp appeared in Michael Moore’s movie, “Farenheit 9/11.”
Publisher’s Corner
Barbara Gaughen-Muller is a peace activist, educator, Peace Podcast host and Gratitude Ambassador.
What if Peace is possible and could start with each of us?
Impossible? I’ve interviewed peace builders, world leaders and everyday people. I’ve seen the power of a single word or a single person start a chain for peace. Here’s what I’ve learned: Peace is personal Peace is our choice Peace is do-able And each of us can contribute to peace in our own way. When I interviewed Jane Goodall, (peacepodcast.org) she said her work with the chimpanzees began by simply sitting near them, letting them see she was peaceful. As Jane said, “being peaceful may just be enough to share peace, wherever you are.”
– Gratefully,
– Mary Oliver
CONTENTS
2 Life Activists 3 Publisher’s Corner 4 Santa Barbara UNA Peace Prize 5 ShelterBoz 6 Featured podcast guests 10 Jennifer Jones, Rotary President 11 Finding Peace 12, 13 Yvon Chouinard’s Gift 14 Imagine: A World without Birdsong 15 There is no peace without Earth 16 The Honorable Harvest 17 My garden is my joy 18 Visioneers 19 12 Character Traits of Robert Muller 20 Robert Muller Book Club 22 In Celebration: Earth 23 Art: A Trojan Horse for Peace Back Dignity ******************************************************
The Team
Founder & Publisher Barbara Gaughen-Muller Editor Joyce Wycoff Technical Guru Tony Morrison
Barbara
“To encourage joy, creates joy; to promote peace brings peace.” – Robert Muller
