We continue to make amazing progress on the construction of the Global
Nonviolent Peace Force (GNPF). Today, as we write this letter, people
are working on six continents to make this a reality.
During the last six months we have been learning from people in conflict
areas what nonviolent strategies work and what, if any, assistance they
might need from an international group of trained, unarmed civilians.
Members of our team have visited Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, the
Balkans, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.
David Grant is currently in Nigeria and will spend the rest of the month
in Central and Southern Africa. The lessons we learn on these trips
continue to shape the GNPF proposal.
Tim Wallis, our European coordinator, has been meeting with European civil
peace services as well as starting to build relationships with friendly
governments.
Global Nonviolent Peace Force-Canada is amidst a six-week nonviolent
training session. They are also in the midst of hiring a coordinator.
The Japanese-GNPF group held their first organizing meeting at the end of
April. 150 people showed up!
We are nearing the completion of the first phase of our research.
Christine Schweitzer and the rest of the research team will present their
findings to an expert review panel in July. The results will then go to
our steering committee later that month.
A volunteer team of public relations specialists are conducting a naming
process and constructing a marketing strategy.
We are also excited that veteran nonviolent activist and trainer, George
Lakey, has just received a grant from the United States Institute of Peace
to develop the training for a large-scale nonviolent peace force. George
has been a close friend and advisor of this project since the beginning.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you have e-mail addresses of people you know would
like to receive our newsletter, “Rumors of Peace,” please forward them to
us.
While much less expensive than running a military, the construction of the
Global Nonviolent Peace Force still costs money. We rely on people like
you to make this happen. We know that there are millions of people in the
world who want to contribute to creating a peace force. Please send a tax
deductible contribution to: Peaceworkers, 801 Front Ave., St. Paul, MN
55103, USA. Think of it as a VENTURE CAPITAL FUND FOR PEACE.
Also, please send us names and contact information of other people who you
think would be interesting in making the GNPF happen.
