Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace

Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace

"Under the name of the People's Initiative for Departments of Peace, the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace was launched at the first People's Summit for Departments of Peace, held in London October 18-19, 2005, with the intention of supporting national-level campaigns to establish departments of peace in governments throughout the world. The following articles provide background information on the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace."

"In October 2005 three organisations, the US Peace Alliance, the Canadian Federal Working Group for a Department of Peace, and the UK ministry for peace, organised the first People’s Summit for Departments of Peace in London. This was done to share information and experience within existing groups and also to begin working with those considering setting up similar initiatives in other countries. Forty people from twelve countries attended the two day Summit. These countries were Australia, Canada, Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, Italy, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, the United Kingdom, Jordan, and the United States. Prominent supporters of the conference include UK John McDonnell MP, US Representative Dennis Kucinich and, from Australia, Dr. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MP and Senator Natasha Stott Despoja."

Report from London: The First People's Summit for Departments of Peace October 18-19, 2005
"Forty people from twelve countries took time from their busy lives and invested their energy and resources to attend. The countries represented included Australia, Canada, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Netherlands, Palestine, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States of America. In addition, written support was received from political leaders in Australia, Nepal, Nigeria, Japan, and Uganda, including:


 * Senator Lyn Allison, Leader of the Australian Democrats
 * Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for the Australian Democrats
 * Hon. Dr. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MP, MLC State Leader of the Australian Democrats
 * Hon. Oryem Henry Okello, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs/International Affairs of Uganda
 * Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor, City of Hiroshima, Japan
 * Homrajdahal, former MP and President, Center for Conflict Resolution, Peace, and Development, Nepal

"Presently, five of these countries have working groups conducting campaigns for ministries or departments of peace: Australia, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States.

"On the final day of the Summit, the participants launched an on-going partnership for global action, called the international People’s Initiative for Departments of Peace. The London Summit then concluded with a public meeting in the Grand Committee Room in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by John McDonnell MP and emceed by Diana Basterfield, co-founder of UK ministry for peace. The event opened with video greetings from U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich (author of the current legislation in Congress) and Marianne Williamson, and Dot Maver, executive director of The Peace Alliance, spoke on behalf of the U.S. campaign. Canada's representative, Saul Arbess, shared the Canadian working group's perspective. John McDonnell MP then articulated clearly the urgent need for departments and ministries of peace in order to provide a governmental infrastructure -- an institutional space -- for dialogue on peaceful resolution of conflict to take place...

"Other speakers included Yumi Kikuchi from Japan, Kai Brand-Jacobsen from Transcend in Romania (who provided the training and facilitated the Summit), Paul van Tongeren from the Netherlands, and Jo Berry, who has been a spokesperson for forgiveness and reconciliation ever since her father (a former Tory MP) was killed by IRA terrorists 20 years ago.

"Summit participants representing each country stood in the front of the room, and Zoughbi Zoughbi from Palestine and Shiri Barr from Israel stood side by side and spoke on behalf of the international initiative, both asking us to not give up hope and expressing their gratitude and joy to be standing together calling for peace."

Contact

 * Web: http://www.mfp-dop.org/