With the New Year come new possibilities. The pending legislation to establish a Department of Peace and Nonviolence and a Secretary of Peace (HR 3760, S1756) is a clear mandate from pro-peace and anti-war activists who work on a daily basis for a peaceful and sane tomorrow. In Maine, none of our Representatives or Senators has agreed to co-sponsor this bill. If Sara Donnelly is correct in her statement that “Democrats rode a wave of anti-war discontent to gain control of the US House and Senate,” then maybe it is time for our Democratic Congressmen from Maine to support the mandate of peace on the floor of the House. When HR 3760 is reintroduced to the House in the early part of 2007, Congressmen Allen and Michaud will have the opportunity to co-sponsor this legislation. When this happens, I hope our Congressmen from Maine think of us back home and give peace a chance.
Shelley Schweizer
State Co-Coordinator for the Maine Campaign to Establish a Department of
Peace
On the Web:
For information on the state and national campaigns and to read the bill:www.mainedop.org, and www.thepeacealliance.org
Join the protest
I read Sara Donnelly's wonderful article “Does Peace Have A Chance?” in the December 29, 2006, issue of the Portland Phoenix.
The only thing I would add is the there is a second group of Women in Black who have been meeting every Friday from noon to 1 pm on the corner of Temple and Middle streets in Portland.
We are a small group of mostly older women and one man. Our numbers range from as few as two to as many as 15 on a very good day, with the average being approximately five people. We have been meeting for at least four and a half years.
All are welcome to join us for the full hour or just a few minutes.
Margaret Boulos
Cape Elizabeth
Related:
New Maine peace site is actually pretty cool, The Ninth Annual Muzzle Awards, Peace corps, More 
- New Maine peace site is actually pretty cool
A new Web site created by Maine peace activists could help make the statewide movement more effective.
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Nearly five years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, our political culture has been warped beyond recognition.
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In December 2004, 13 anti-war activists gathered in Senator Susan Collins’s office in Portland, Maine. They read the names of American soldiers who had died in the Iraq war, as well as an equal number of Iraqi civilians who had died.
- Freedom in a T-Shirt
At Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, Capitol police arrested antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, who had arrived as a guest, because she was wearing an antiwar shirt (displaying “2242,” the number of US troop fatalities in Iraq).
- Does peace have a chance?
Four weeks after Democrats rode a wave of anti-war discontent to gain control of the US House and Senate, only four protestors show up to the weekly “Bridges for Peace” demonstration on the Casco Bay Bridge.
- Iraq + surge = ???
Certain that the newly elected Democratic Congress will not end American involvement in the Iraq War, Rhode Island peace movement leaders are calling for additional demonstrations to bring US troops home.
- Kennebunkport protest expected to draw around 5000
Cindy Sheehan seems unable to stay away from the peace movement that she publicly cut ties with just over two months ago.
- Up in arms
Letters to the Boston editor, April 6, 2007
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Running as a Green Party member against seven-term incumbent US Representative Mike Castle (R-Delaware), Michael Berg faces a scant prospect of winning the November election.
- End of the beginning of all war?
- US Rep. Allen to protestors: go directly to jail
With Allen challenging Collins, Branson wondered aloud how long Anderson’s favors would continue.
- Less
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