Home Page: -- Citizens for Peace
|
Grassroots Citizens for Peace
Must the United States be continually at war? How can the U.S. become an international force for peace and human rights?
- bearing witness in support of peace and justice
- sponsoring educational programs promoting cultural understanding and nonviolence alternatives
- organizing intergenerational peace events
- offering inspiration from the global peace visions of people like Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Eleanor Roosevelt
Sun., August 7, 6:30 p.m. to dusk (Governor Dodge State Park at Twin Valley Lake) “LANTERNS FOR PEACE” EVENT.
Join us for this celebration of “Envisioning a Sustainable and Peaceful World” Dodgeville singer and guitarist Peter Thuli and Company will share songs for both children and adults. Events begin at 6:30 p.m. with lantern making, music, stories and presentations. The unforgettable floating of the lanterns is at dusk on Twin Valley Lake.
Please bring finger-food to share. A day pass or park sticker will be required. The event is co-sponsored by both Iowa County Citizens for Peace and Justice
and Sustain Iowa County.
Help us spread the word, download this poster and post it.
For more information contact Jane Kavaloski at [email protected]
Current Action Alerts from Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice:
Tell the USDA you Want Meat, Milk, Eggs from Authentically Organic Farms --- Not Livestock Factories To learn more, see the WNPJ website (click here)
Annual Event
Sun., August 7, 6:30 p.m. to dusk (Governor Dodge State Park at Twin Valley Lake) “LANTERNS FOR PEACE” EVENT. Join us for this celebration of “Envisioning a Sustainable and Peaceful World” Dodgeville singer and guitarist Peter Thuli and Company will share songs for both children and adults. Events begin at 6:30 p.m. with lantern making, music, stories and presentations. The unforgettable floating of the lanterns is at dusk on Twin Valley Lake. Please bring finger-food to share. A day pass or park sticker will be required. The event is co-sponsored by both Iowa County Citizens for Peace and Justice
and Sustain Iowa County. For more information contact Jane Hammatt Kavaloski: [email protected]
Wondering what the event is like, checkout this video on YouTube from last year's event. Thanks go out to Benjamin Wolkomir who produced this video!
Read the messages floated on the waters in 2012 to inspire hope for the world by clicking here.
We encourage you to Take Action! Remember the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that happened on Aug. 6th and 9th in 1945. Contact your members of Congress to urge them to work for a world free of nuclear weapons. Visit http://nuclearweaponsfree.org/act/hiroshima-and-nagasaki-days/ or http://1more4zero.org/ to learn more! The Congressional Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. A recent report released by Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) highlights how important this work is and what it means to the future of the planet (take a look at a video by Dadie Loh on the report at www.youtube.com/psrnational).
For more info, contact Jane Kavaloski, Grassroots Citizens for Peace, at [email protected].
Below are pictures from previous events and check out this youtube video:
Our Activities
Throughout the year “Grassroots Citizens for Peace” organizes forums and cultural events that promote dialogue about issues of peace and justice. Some examples are these from the past are:
- Children and adults throughout Iowa County were busy folding 1,000 origami paper cranes, which are now in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The crane folding is part of a national effort to send 70,000 cranes for peace to Los Alamos for the National Campaign on Nonviolence Conference, sponsored by the Pace e Bene Organization. The conference marks 70 years since atomic bombs were dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs were developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Read more in the Dodgeville Chronicle. To learn more about Nuclear Weapons, check out the WMD Awareness website at http://www.wmdawareness.org.uk/the-facts/nuclear-weapons/
- "Windows into Gaza" a display at the Dodgeville Public Library which gave a view into everyday life in Gaza through photographs by Skip Schiel. Also, speakers Dr. Joseph Elder presented "Spotlight on Gaza" and Dr. James L. Bailey presented "Conflicting Religious Perspectives on Israel/Palestine". Click here for the event flyer.
- Sponsored Los Vientos de Marzo (The Winds of March) at Mineral Point's wonderful outdoor Alley Stage, award-winning poet Lynn Werner performs an original solo theater piece with music, dance, poetry and prose based on her eight years documenting human rights abuses in Colombia until she fled in the early 90's.
- Community book discussions of War is the Force that Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
- Film discussions of “If Turtles Could Fly,” “Paradise Now”, “Iraq for Sale” and “Kite Runner”
- Art exhibits and discussions by David Giffey of his experience in Vietnam and his work with Cesar Chavez and the Migrant Movement in Wisconsin
- Commemoration of the dead as a result of the Iraq War through the “Eyes Wide Open” exhibit from the American Friends Service Committee
- Vigil and protests again the war in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Educational series on “The History and Philosophy of Nonviolence,” “Islam through History and Art,” “The History and Cultures of Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan
- Jointly sponsors “Great Decisions” series at the Dodgeville Public Library
- Annual “Lanterns for Peace” intergenerational event to commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Writing letters to the editor in local newspapers about issues of peace and justice
Letters to the Editor
Other Resources- Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice
- Friends Committee on National Legislation
- Stones into Schools
- Nonviolent Communication
- Peace Action Blog
Our History and Membership
There has been a peace group in the Dodgeville area for over 25 years. Originally called “The Iowa County Citizens for World Peace” it changed its name to “Grassroots Citizens for Peace” when it became affiliated with “Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin.” Members come from Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Spring Green and Barneveld and other rural communities – mainly within Iowa County.
Please consider becoming involved in this grassroots movement to create a more just, compassionate and peaceful society.
“Grassroots Citizens for Peace” meets the first Friday of each month from 4:00-5:30 p.m. (However this time could be changed if it is not convenient for prospective members.) For more information about the location of the meeting each month or about specific events or activities please contact:
Jane H. Kavaloski, 3817 Evans Quarry Road, Dodgeville, WI 53533
[email protected] - (608) 935-3007
NEXT MEETING: Fri., November 4th, 4 p.m. at Father Jim Murphy's place in Highland (1023 Dodgeville St)