Posted: Mar. 11 2010,14:04 |
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Postal address of organization/institution
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Phil Stoltzfus, 206 N Orchard Street, Northfield, MN 55057
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E-mail address of organization/institution
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northfieldPPG@yahoogroups.com
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Website address of organization/institution
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Telephone of organization/institution
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507 663 1859
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PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE
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TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE
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PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?
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Friends for a Nonviolent World, Veterans for Peace, Red Wing Alliance for Peace, Every Church a Peace Church, Christian Peacemaker teams, Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, SE Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, Minnesota Fellowship of Reconciliation—Creating a Cutlure of Peace-Nonviolence Training, Northfielders for Justice in Palestine, Centro Campesinos (Owatonna, MN), Wheels of Justice Bus Tour
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ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.
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Northfield PPG is a sponsor of the annual community celebrations of Hiroshima Day (Aug 6) and The International Day of Peace and Justice Fair (Sept. 21), support of the weekly vigils for peace and non- violence on Bridge Square (Sat. noon) and at an intersection near 3 of our public schools Thursdays 8-8:30 a.m. during the highest level of traffic, movies and speakers and marches on topics relating to the wars (Afganistan, Iraq, human rights in Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, , global warming, immigration. PPG supports and members participate in the Marin Luther King Celbrations. We supported the non-violence training and actions at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis with followup area-wide panel discussions of the events: peaceful interactions and diffusion of building tensions; support of actions by college students (Carleton / St. Olaf) on campus and in the community. Members have had letters, op/ed pieces and articles on issues in the local newspaper.
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade? |
From some backlash during the Saturday vigils, we know have almost 100% favourable support from pedestrians and drivers. There was increased activism on National/international issues during the US elections in 2009 especially concerning the war and a Department of Peace. Increased support for the International Day of Peace and Justice Fair. Some increase in the use and acceptance of the language of non-violence in community discourse. Increase in groups working for justice and non-violence in the community (note the number of new Northfield groups mentioned in this report).
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OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?
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We are a group without a budget, so we have not been able to offer non-violence training at a price that would serve a wide economic group. There is still indifference to some problems. Affluence, distance from the fighting makes many complacent.
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PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?
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We will coninue to work to elect peace candidates. Continue to work for increasing participation in the community through Hiroshima Day, The International Day of Peace and Martin Luther King celebrations We hope to have more non-violent training programs. We will work to increase awareness of peaceful communication and continue to speak up for human rights, especially in immigration reform.
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GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??
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In the USA we must control arms sales, both internally and in exports. We need to spend more on schools and less on arming ourselves or others. We need a better press corps, sensitive to the consequences of what and how they report. We need to promote the native American concept of basing every decision on how it will affect the next 7 generations.
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