You may or may not know that a bill is before the U.S. House and Senate to create a Department of Peace. The bill is asking for 2% of the budget allocated to the Department of Defense in order to study ways to cultivate conditions for peace.
This is a radically different approach – rather than targeting the symptom – the department would study the causes of conflict, both domestically and internationally. We know, for example, that poverty stricken communities who don’t feel supported by their local government frequently become breeding grounds for violence, and that helping these communities implement sustainable ways to support themselves redirects the violent energy toward positive change.
This is revolutionary. It is an opportunity to cultivate real peace in our neighborhoods, schools and the world. For more information visit www.thepeacealliance.org.