PeaceGeek Musings 

"...the passion of Ms. Macaulay and her fellow advocates was what swayed my opinion in favor of the cause, ... [she] loved when people participated and worked together."

Commissioner Barnes noted one of the things he found gratifying was the bill had been around for so long, the fact that the idea was not a brand new one. Both Mayor Moseley and Vice Mayor Garth expressed their thanks to the speakers for pointing out that the DOP legislation is not specifically about U.S. war policy, but that it icludes provisions for dealing with issues of violence within the U.S. as well as abroad.

The topic of funding the new Department of Peace was also discussed at some length. Initially, the concern was raised that, especially under the current economic climate, the cost of funding a new department would be low on the priority list. However, after discussing the ecomonic benefits of addressing the root causes of violence so that we don't have to pay for the aftermath of violence, the council agreed that:

"The longer the wait, the bigger the problem will become"

The commission concluded by unanimously passing the resolution to send a letter in support of H.R. 808 to Congress. With this resolution, Miramar joins 38 other governing bodies across the U.S. - including Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles - that have formally supported of the Department of Peace legislation. These 39 entities represent over 13 million people!

This story is a great example of engaged civic activism! Congratulations to activists Maggie McCauley and Ana Campos for making this happen!

For more on the Department of Peace legislation visit The Peace Alliance web site. The Peace Alliance also has tips and toolsfor working with your own city government on a resolution in support of H.R. 808. Get active! Make Peace! Make History!