For a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just and Sustainable World

Sally with Elaine, Sarah, and Mark Klein
The International Conference for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just, and Sustainable World has begun at the Riverside Church, New York City. Suddenly I was re-energized as I stood in line with Mark, Elaine, and Sarah Klein who got us to sing Down by the Riverside -- with an extra chorus sang for the benefit of a Japanese video. Doretta and Lucille marked the beginning of the Green Line and we got in and I found myself seated by Sr. Eileen Storey's friend Anne Montgomery and Catholic Worker Kathy Boylan as the First Plenary began.

Vinie Burrows at the Conference

Vinie Burrows gave a dramatic rendition of Martin Luther King Jr.'s words, Terumi Tanaka gave a Hibakusha Testimony, and my old FOR friend Ibrahim Ramey, now of Washington DC, spoke On Martin Luther King's Dream and Ours. I tweeted comments (as PeaceHugs) through the evening, but Ibrahim's closing remarks were apt but a little long for a tweet, almost a poem:

We have dreams to dream
We have work to do
We have a world to transform
Let's get busy....

Zia Mian impressed me in his talk. He said it isn't just nukes, it is the war mentality -- the use of force, violence, weapons -- and who decides. How we relate to nature and the planet. Profitability: who makes it and who takes it. Another quotation, I tweeted: Keeping some nuclear weapons in case someone cheats is not our vision of abolishing nukes.

I also tweeted on John Burroughs remarks: Hearing John Burroughs I see Obama's nuclear policy is abominable - obamanable? Peace means NO nukes.

Catherine Lecoq sang and Natalia Mironova spoke. We ended with Tomas Magnusson, Vision of a Nuclear Free World which made me tweet: Language is devalued. Despite the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty the US proliferates.

Ami and Ibrahim Ramey

Despite the serious topics, it was good to be with people of peace -- old friends and new. And yes, as Ibrahim said, Let's get busy. (For those who care to stream or download them, the plenary sessions are available both live and later via the Riverside Church website.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Peace Action this weekend -- and Everyday

There's a peace and nuclear disarmament conference at Riverside Church this weekend culminating in an interfaith convocation on Sunday at the United Nations church center -- 777 UN Plaza at 44th St. and First Ave, Noon to 1 PM, then a Rally and March at Time Square area (7th Ave, South of 41st), and a Peace and Music Festival at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (47th St. between 1st and 2nd Ave.) 4-6 pm. BECAUSE

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?" -- Eleanor Roosevelt

We must remind President Obama (and Congress) of that, and remind him of the vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. who called for peace and for ending war so as to spend money on HELPING people. Let us remind President Obama/Congress that ...

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." -- MLK, Jr.

Out into the streets Sunday -- and everyday -- for peace and justice and a better world.

(And yes, I wear peace buttons and actions buttons as I walk in mid-town Manhattan amidst the tourists -- not just on rally days.)

We must be the change we wish to see in the world, Gandhi said. Be peace. Be as positive as we can be to bring some much needed light to this world. Do what we can to change the world this weekend and every day.

I am trying. Please join me.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

The 10 Commandments of Mother Earth

Shared by HumanityHealing on YouTube [excellent for meditation] --

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MOTHER EARTH
by Ernest Callenbach

I. Thou shall love and honor the Earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.
II. Thou shall keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons.
III. Thou shall not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.
IV. Thou shall give thanks for thy food, to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.
V. Thou shall educate thy offspring for multitudes of people are a blessing unto the Earth when we live in harmony.
VI. Thou shall not kill, nor waste Earth's riches upon weapons of war.
VII. Thou shall not pursue profit at the Earth's expense but strive to restore its damaged majesty.
VIII. Thou shall not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth.
IX. Thou shall not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.
X. Thou shall consume material goods in moderation so all may share the Earth's bounty.

Shared, too, and sending you...

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

Disarm Now! For Peace and Human Needs

I've been quietly seeking peace, de-stressing and meditating. There is much more to be done on that front but I am also far enough along to reach out in a gentle way to get back into blogging peace. (I have been tweeting it as PeaceHugs, fyi -- and offering QuickTAKES on peace and various subjects.) I am looking forward now to the conference at the end of the month at Riverside Church which seeks to get the US and other nations to Disarm Now! For Peace and Human Needs - April 30-May 1st. There will also be a special May 2nd March - Rally - Peace Fair to promote awareness. Now is the time to talk up both of these events and what they represent: peace, justice and a nuclear free world. Please spread the news and the links. Thanks, and...

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne