Being
Peace in the World
By
Debbie Ellison
Being peace in the world through writing is my promise to the
world. I believe that what's missing in the world is honoring
– people honoring themselves, each other, and the universe.
My job as a writer is to create the language through which honoring
is present in the world. This is the access to peace. Honoring
is a conversation of the heart that cries to be heard, such that
the listening to it brings a new dimension to life itself. This
article is about peace and the organizations dedicated to it.
 “We
can hardly even imagine a world in which all of us were in love
all the time, with everyone. There would be no war because we
wouldn't fight. There would be no hunger because we would
feed each other. There would be no environmental breakdown because
we would love ourselves, our children, and our planet too much
to destroy it. There would be no prejudice, oppression, or violence
of any kind. There would be no sorrow. There would only be peace.”
– (Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love).
Talking about, reading about, or wishing for peace will not bring
it about. It can only happen through BEING peace. Peace begins
within each individual. Only when the heart of every human being
is peaceful and filled with love will peace prevail on Earth.
What follows are just a few peace organizations; there are many
more, but it's a start.
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we
belong to each other. – Mother Teresa
Local
Organizations:
Global
Abundance Alliance (GAA)
Jack Albertson, 770-998-7654,
jalson@bellsouth.net
Non-profit association committed to the economic well being of all people
and fulfillment of the United Nations Millennium Goals. The Millennium
Development Goals (www.un.org/millenniumgoals) were created by world
leaders at the 2000 Millennium Summit and address issues of poverty;
primary education; gender equality; child mortality and maternal health;
combating disease; and environmental sustainability (see website for
detailed goals).
American Friends Service Committee
www.afsc.org/southeast/atlanta.htm
Peace and service organization based on the Quaker belief in the worth
of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence
and injustice.
Peacewriters:
Debbie
Ellison,
write-on@mindspring.com,
770-843-0940
Dedicated to “being peace in the world through writing,” using
the power of the written word to “change the world's conversations”
to ones of compassion, love, peace, and honoring. Peacewriters is a
network of writers who are moved, touched, and inspired by the possibility
of peace in the world through writing.
If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry
on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children; and
if they will grow up in their natural innocence, we won't have to
struggle; we won't have to pass fruitless idle resolutions, but
we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all
the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which
consciously or unconsciously the whole world is hungering. – Mohandas
Ghandi
Dances of Universal Peace,
www.DancesofUniversalPeace.org
Akbar Eric Manolson,
ericakbar@manolson.net
The weekly dances incorporate songs, healing movements, and chants around
themes of peace (inner and outer) and healing (the Earth, individuals,
and the global family).
Atlanta Grassroots,
www.atlantagrassroots.org
Lists news items and events pertaining to Atlanta peace activism.
Foundation for Global Community/Atlanta,
www.fgcatlanta.org
Education on the threat of environmental degradation and overpopulation.
Kumandi Drums,
www.emersondrummers.tripod.com
Chuck Cogliandro,
mkdrum@mindspring.com
Committed to individual and world healing and peace through community
drumming. Offers workshops in voice, movement, rhythm drumming, creative
expression, balancing feminine-masculine energies, and healing.
The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes
within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their
oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize
that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that
this center is really everywhere; it is within each of us. – Black
Elk
Women in Black,
www.adot.com/green/peace/wib.html
International movement of women for peace, sponsoring vigils in Atlanta
and worldwide to protest violence.
Fellowship of Reconciliation,
www.forusa.org
Umbrella of interfaith organizations working for nonviolence, peace,
and justice.
Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF), Atlanta Chapter
www.episcopalpeacefellowship.org,
404-233-9893
Committed to peace, justice, reconciliation, and non-violence.
The Hunger Project,
www.thp.org
Diane Johnson,
770-887-7347,
diane77@bellsouth.net
Global movement committed to ending world hunger and empowering women.
If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower,
and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our
peace. – Thich Nhat Hanh
Sisters United In Human Service, Inc.,
www.sistersunited.org
Human service organization of Muslim women committed to advancing the
Oneness of God and the oneness of humanity.
Atlanta Community Food Bank,
www.acfb.org,
404-892-3333
Provides donated food and products to more than 700 not-for-profit partner
agencies that distribute food to low-income Georgians.
Peace cannot be achieved through violence; it can only be attained
through understanding. – Albert Einstein
Other
organizations:
Amnesty
International - Atlanta
www.amnestyusa.org/contact/groups/states.php?state=GA
The King Center,
www.thekingcenter.com
The Carter Center,
www.cartercenter.org
Physicians for Social Responsibility/Atlanta,
www.psratlanta.org
Atlanta Buddhist centers that teach meditation:
• Atlanta Shambhala Center www.atlantashambhalacenter.org
• Atlanta Soto Zen Center www.aszc.org
• Zen Space www.zenspace.org
• Drepung Loseling Institute www.drepung.org
• Dorje Ling Buddhist Center - www.jonang.org
• Rameshori Buddhist Center - www.rameshori.com
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens
can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has.
And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”
– Margaret Mead.
National/International
Organizations:
The
World Peace Prayer Society,
www.worldpeace.org
Nonprofit, non-sectarian organization dedicated to spreading the simple
prayer, May Peace Prevail on Earth.
“We who work for peace must not falter. We must continue to
pray for peace and to act for peace in whatever way we can, we must
continue to speak for peace and to live the way of peace; to inspire
others, we must continue to think of peace and to know that peace is
possible.” – Peace Pilgrim
International Peace Bureau,
www.ibp.org
Supports peace, disarmament, nuclear weapons abolition, conflict resolution,
human rights, humanitarian law, women, and peace education.
HOPE-HOWSE,
www.hope-howse.org
(Helping Other People Evolve Thru Honest, Open, Willing Self-Evaluation).
Encourages honesty, faith, love, discipline, respect for every
creature and human being, and individual and world peace.
Our purpose in the world is to help our fellow beings. And if you
can't help them, please don't hurt them. – Dalai Lama
A Bill Dedicated to Peace,
www.house.gov/kucinich/index.htm
Bill introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) to create a Cabinet-level
Department of Peace to promote non-violence, peace, peaceful conflict
resolution, and expansion of human rights.
More
Interfaith Peace Organizations:
Islamic
Human Rights Commission,
www.ihrc.org;
e-mail: info@ihrc.org
Coalition Of Women For Peace,
www.coalitionofwomen4peace.org
Muslim Peace Fellowship,
www.nonviolence.org/mpf/
Peacemaker Circle,
www.peacemakercircle.org
Shalom Center,
www.shalomctr.org
Tikkun (healing the world) Community,
www.tikkun.org
The Way of Peace: The World Community for Christian Meditation,
www.wccm.org
Coalition of Women for a Just Peace,
www.geocities.com/womancoalition/
“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it.
And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
What
You Can Do for Peace:
1.
Set aside a quiet time daily to meditate, hold peace in your thoughts
and prayers.
2. Hold community “Teach-Ins” on peace and non-violence.
3. Join or start an organization that promotes peace and human
rights.
4. Organize or attend a peace rally or booth at a local event,
library, or community center.
5. Begin a self-inquiry into your own prejudices and how they
influence your thoughts and actions.
6. Host a peace speaker at an event in your community or workplace.
7. Share conversations with people about peace. Listen, support,
and share.
8. Develop a strong sense of community. Peace begins in your
own backyard.
9. Run for elective office on a platform of non-violent conflict
resolution, peace, and human rights.
10. Write opinion editorials, letters, and articles in support
of peace and non-violence to the local media.
11. Practice patience, tolerance, and non-judgment.
12. Join an interfaith group. Honoring and embracing diversity
promotes peace.
13. Use music, art, stories, and drama to spread the message
of peace and nonviolence.
14. Sign a peace pledge. Go to www.peacepledge.org
15. Write letters to your Representative, Senator, or President
on peace-related issues.
16. Display a peace flag, poster, badge, bumper sticker, or sign
on your home. Plant “peace poles” (through World Peace Prayer
Society).
17. Join or start a study circle on developing compassion and
peace.
18. Express your opinions about peace on a radio talk show.
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy... Darkness cannot drive
out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only
love can do that. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hold peace in your heart. Cherish the possibility of peace and embrace
its light and warmth. Light a candle for peace so that its light shines
brightly, illuminating the world, honoring our diversity, and celebrating
our uniqueness.
Light a candle for peace, www.webshots.com/sp/peace_candle/
At this animated site, you can light a virtual candle for world peace.
When we finally know Peace, we will dance so vigorously, we will
sing so joyously, we will hug so passionately, we will evolve so rapidly,
the whirling wonder of spiritual rapture will elevate humankind to a
level only the Soul may know, as the Pure Light carries us collectively
to Eternal Bliss. – Debbie Ellison
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
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