More about the Department of Peace

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Peace
The Department of Peace and Non-violence is a proposed cabinet-level department of the executive branch of the U.S. government. The original idea of a Peace Department in the United States dates back to the administration of George Washington, but has been most recently reinitiated by Rep. Dennis Kucinich beginning in 2001 and formed a part of Kucinich's presidential campaign platform in 2004 and 2008. A bill for this purpose, HR 3760, was previously introduced in the House of Representatives on September 14, 2005. It has most recently been re-introduced via HR 808 on February 5, 2007 and 65 co-sponsors have since quickly signed on.
The Peace Alliance organization supports the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace and Non-violence. It is an independent grassroots political movement that operates autonomously. The ongoing movement is supported by Kucinich and the author and popular motivational speaker Marianne Williamson. This movement actively lobbies for the endorsements of congressional leaders. It has local grassroots chapters in over 264 congressional districts…
Example anti-violence or anti-war language from HR 808 includes:
The formal title is the "Department of Peace and Nonviolence"
The department is partly designed to "work to...divert from armed conflict"
The department is to:
"…monitor and analyze causative principles of conflict"
"…develop policies that address domestic violence, including spousal abuse, child abuse, and mistreatment of the elderly"
"…develop policies to address violence against animals"
"…develop new approaches for dealing with the implements of violence, including gun-related violence and the overwhelming presence of handguns"
"…develop new programs that relate to the societal challenges of school violence, gangs, racial or ethnic violence, violence against gays and lesbians, and police-community relations disputes"
"…advise the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State on all matters relating to national security, including the protection of human rights and the prevention of, amelioration of, and de-escalation of unarmed and armed international conflict"
"…help with the enforcement of international arms embargoes"
"…submit to the President recommendations for reductions in weapons of mass destruction"
"…make annual reports to the President on the sale of arms from the United States to other nations"
"…study the role of the media in the escalation and de-escalation of conflict"
Proposed additional positions include: "Assistant Secretary for Arms Control and Disarmament"
Proposed transfers include: "Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control, and the International Security Affairs of the Department of State"

External Links:

Establish a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence - The Peace Alliance Campaign
Text of House Resolution 808: To establish a Department of Peace and Nonviolence
The Propeace community
U.S. Department of Peace on MySpace
Americans For a Department of Peace (AFDOP.org) San Diego County, California
Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace Los Angeles
Florida Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence
Maine State campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
Maryland State campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
Massachusetts Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
International People's Initiative for Departments of Peace
NPR: Peace Department Proposal Rattles Small Town
United States Institute of Peace
Representative Dennis Kucinich's Personal Site Discussing this Legislation
New Mexico Dept. of Peace and Non-Violence Campaign
Idaho Department of Peace Campaign
Arizona Dept. of Peace Campaign
New Hampshire Dept. of Peace Campaign
COLORADO Department of Peace Campaign
Colorado DoP MySpace
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