Recognizing the links: U.S. violence at home, U.S.
violence abroad
Seeking change in ethos and action: violence to
nonviolence
Editing, re-reporting by
Carolyn Bennett
Department of Peace to Department of Peace building
This week U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, carrying the torch
for peace launched two years ago by former U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich
with 63 cosponsors (H.R.808 “Department of Peace Act of 2011”), introduced H.R.
808, the “Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2013”
The term “peacebuilding,” in the context of this bill,
refers to “activities that target root causes of violence and broad measures
used to prevent violent conflict and create sustainable peace.”
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| U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee |
latest action
Department
of Peace building
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I
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n introducing the “Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2013,”
Representative Barbara Lee said, “The Department of Peacebuilding advances the
good work of my friend and former colleague Congressman Kucinich and has the
potential ─
To reduce suffering on a national and global scale while saving
billions of dollars through violence reduction and increased economic
productivity
“This culture of violence that we live in is unacceptable,”
the congresswoman said. “On our streets and across the globe, the pervasive
presence of violence has infected the lives of millions, and it is far past
time we address it as a nation.
“We invest hundreds of billions each year in the Pentagon,
in war colleges, military academies, and our national defense universities all
to develop war tactics and strategies.
“Now we need that kind of investment in peace and
nonviolence here at home.”
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| Congresswomen Lee & Woolsey |
This proposed Department of Peacebuilding and its Secretary,
says the congresswoman’s press release, will have the responsibilities of ─
Developing national strategies and
programs for violence reduction both domestically and internationally
Working across agencies
Sponsoring conflict prevention and
dispute resolution initiatives
Facilitating peace summits between
conflicting parties
Encouraging community policing
Supporting efforts by local
community and religious groups to reduce gun violence, racial and ethnic
violence and prevent violence against women and LGBT Americans
Among the bill’s sponsors are U.S. Representatives Robert
Andrews, Yvette Clarke, John Conyers Jr., Janice Hahn, James McGovern, Chellie
Pingree, and Jared Polis.
previous action
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| Dennis Kucinich |
Department
of Peace
H.R.808: Department of Peace Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] (introduced
2/18/2011) Cosponsors (63)
Major Status Action: 3/18/2011 Referred to House
subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Organization,
Efficiency, and Financial Management.
Congressional Research Service reports
Bill (introduced) Summary February 18, 2011
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T
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he Department of Peace Act of 2011 would have established a
Department of Peace headed by a Secretary of Peace (Secretary); its mission the ─
Cultivation of peace as a national
policy objective
Development of policies that
promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent
intervention, mediation, peaceful conflict resolution, and structured conflict
mediation
The Department of Peace Act of 2011 proposal would have established
within the Department of Peace the offices of:
Peace Education and Training
Domestic Peace Activities
International Peace Activities
Technology for Peace
Arms Control and Disarmament
Peaceful Coexistence and Nonviolent
Conflict Resolution
Human Rights and Economic Rights
Intergovernmental Advisory Council
on Peace
The original proposal “directs the Secretary of Defense
(DOD) and Secretary of State to consult with Secretary [Secretary of Peace] concerning
nonviolent means of conflict resolution
when a conflict between the United States and any other government or entity is
imminent or occurring.”
It “transfers to the Department [of Peace] the functions,
assets, and personnel of various federal agencies; establishes the Federal Interagency
Committee on Peace; and directs the Secretary [of Peace] to encourage citizens
to celebrate the blessings of peace and endeavor to create peace on a Peace
Day.”
Supporters of H.R.808: Department of Peace Act of 2011 (63
cosponsors)
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 7/28/2011; Rep Baldwin,
Tammy [WI-2] - 2/18/2011; Rep Bass, Karen [CA-33] - 8/2/2012; Rep Brown,
Corrine [FL-3] - 2/18/2011; Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 4/19/2012 ; Rep
Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 7/21/2011; Rep Chu, Judy [CA-32] - 8/2/2012 ; Rep
Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 4/19/2012; Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 7/28/2011; Rep
Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 4/19/2012; Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 2/18/2011;
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 7/28/2011; Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] -
4/19/2012; Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 5/26/2011; Rep DeFazio, Peter A.
[OR-4] - 2/18/2011
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| Congresswoman Lee - left fmr Congressman Kucinich - 2nd from right |
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] - 8/2/2012; Rep Ellison, Keith
[MN-5] - 3/29/2011; Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 2/18/2011; Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51]
- 5/26/2011; Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 8/2/2012; Rep Green, Al [TX-9] -
4/19/2012; Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 5/17/2012; Rep Hahn, Janice [CA-36] -
12/1/2011; Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 5/17/2012; Rep Hinchey, Maurice D.
[NY-22] - 4/19/2012; Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 4/19/2012; Rep Holt, Rush
[NJ-12] - 7/28/2011; Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 3/1/2011; Rep Jackson Lee,
Sheila [TX-18] - 3/1/2011; Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 4/17/2012; Rep
Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 8/2/2012; Rep Johnson, Henry C.
"Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 7/20/2011; Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 7/28/2011;
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 7/28/2011; Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 4/19/2012
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 2/18/2011; Rep Lewis, John [GA-5]
- 2/18/2011; Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 8/2/2012; Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4]
- 6/1/2011; Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 7/28/2011; Rep McGovern, James P.
[MA-3] - 7/28/2011; Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 7/6/2011; Rep Moore, Gwen
[WI-4] - 2/18/2011; Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 8/2/2012
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 9/9/2011; Rep Norton, Eleanor
Holmes [DC] - 2/18/2011
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 2/18/2011; Rep Pingree, Chellie
[ME-1] - 5/5/2011; Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] - 2/18/2011; Rep Rangel, Charles B.
[NY-15] - 5/8/2012; Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] - 4/17/2012; Rep Richmond,
Cedric L. [LA-2] - 8/2/2012; Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 4/19/2012;
Rep
Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 8/2/2012; Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 4/19/2012
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 7/28/2011; Rep Serrano,
Jose E. [NY-16] - 9/20/2011; Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 2/18/2011; Rep Smith,
Adam [WA-9] - 8/2/2012; Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 3/29/2011; Rep
Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 8/2/2012; Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 2/18/2011; Rep
Wu, David [OR-1] - 3/2/2011
Sources and notes
Department of Peacebuilding Act 2013
“Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Create
Department of Peacebuilding” (Washington, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee
introduced H.R. 808, the “Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2013” to create a
cabinet-level Secretary and Department of Peacebuilding), February 15,
2013Issues: Global Peace & Security; Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and
Twitter @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.
http://lee.house.gov/press-release/congresswoman-barbara-lee-introduces-bill-create-department-peacebuilding
According to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, each life cut short by a homicide costs the
U.S. economy $1.65 million.
Worldwide, the Institute for
Economics and Peace estimates that violence and conflict cost the global
economy $9 trillion in 2011.
BARBARA LEE
U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-California) has been a
member of the U.S. House of Representatives since April 7, 1998, the 105th Congress.
Before entering the U.S. House, she was a member of the California state
assembly (1991-1997) and a member of the California State Senate (1997-1998). In
earlier years, she worked on the staff of former U. S. Representative Ron Dellums.
Congresswoman Lee took her academic credentials at Mills
College (B.A., Oakland) and University of California (Master’s, Berkeley). http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000551
Department of Peace Act 2011
Bill Summary & Status, 112th Congress (2011 - 2012), H.R.808,
CRS Summary
Co-sponsors of Department of Peace Act as introduced by
former U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich, http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d112:72:./temp/~bdIQok:@@@P
DENNIS KUCINICH
Former U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) was a
member of the U.S. Congress from January 3, 1997 until January 3, 2013 (the 105th
and seven succeeding Congresses). Before entering to the U.S. Congress, Congressman Kucinich was a member of the Cleveland City Council (1969-1973,
1983); Clerk of Courts (Cleveland, 1975); Cleveland Mayor (1977-1979); Member
of the Ohio State Senate (1995-1996). In 2008, he was a candidate in the
campaign for the U.S. presidency.
Kucinich took his academic baccalaureate and master’s credentials
at Case Western Reserve University. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000336
SEE ALSO:
http://www.thepeaceclinic.org/global_peace_partners.html
http://www.thepeacealliance.org/
http://www.thepeaceclinic.org/global_peace_partners.html
Peace Alliance (http://www.thepeacealliance.org/): We are
working to help create a significant cultural shift:
From punitive to restorative
War-making to peacebuilding
Incarceration to prevention &
intervention
Bullying to conflict resolution
education
Stress to inner peace
Bennett's books are available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY] • See also: World Pulse: Global Issues through the eyes of Women: http://www.worldpulse.com/ http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire http://www.facebook.com/#!/bennetts2ndstudy_______________________________________
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