September 21, 2008 is International Day of Peace and the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative needs our help. This is an issue that we as Greens have been out in front of for 20 years and not given up on.
1988 Green Party policy on Peace and Security
B5- [The Canadian Greens] would establish a Ministry of Peace and Security. It would research and publicize peace programs; educate the public about non- violent social defense; conduct disarmament initiatives; and administer peace facilitation teams. The Ministry would work in close cooperation with appropriate United Nations' agencies.
From Vision Green
• Shift from a Department of Defence to a Department of Peace.
The Initiative needs help building new chapters and building relationships with new volunteers. We especially need help forming a chapter in Halifax and other east coast cities. There will be celebrations across Canada initiated by the CDPI and other peace advocates. I am on the organizing committee for our celebrations here in Toronto. Mayor David Miller has agreed to create a Proclamation declaring September 21st to be International Day of Peace and we are trying to steer through Toronto municipal council a resolution/motion declaring Toronto a city of peace and placing the International Day of Peace in the municipal calendar as an official municipal day of celebration. Montreal is way out in front on this and is celebrating their third year. The province of Quebec has also passed a resolution through the National Assembly declaring Quebec to be a province of peace. Toronto is also a member of Mayors for Peace which is an international organization of world mayors. http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/ 70 Canadian cities are members and you can check this link to see if your city is on the list. http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/membercity/northamerica.html
We have invited Mayor Miller to attend and read the Proclamation and are waiting to hear if he will attend. We have also applied for use of the grounds at Queen’s Park in Toronto for the celebration of unity with music, spoken word and a lot more. I would like to ask everyone to write their local city councilor and ask them to support or create a motion to recognize the International Day of Peace. This is a long standing Green issue and initiative and I think we should all embrace it.
To learn more about the Department of Peace initiative you can go to the national website here. Canadian Department of Peace Initiative - http://www.departmentofpeace.ca/
Join a Chapter
Below, please find the names of the members of the national board of the Society to Promote Departments of Peace (our legal name as a Society) who also act as chapter contacts. Contact the chapter nearest you for more information about meetings, local actions and events.
Victoria - Saul Arbess saul.arbess@departmentofpeace.ca
Vancouver - Deen Selwood deen.selwood@departmentofpeace.ca
Ottawa - Bill Bhaneja bill.bhaneja@departmentofpeace.ca / Theresa Dunn therdunn@sympatico.ca
Calgary - Sandi Smith sandi4smith@shaw.ca
London - Megan Walker mwalker@lawc.on.ca
Hamilton - Richard Preston prestonr@mcmaster.ca
Brampton - Anna Maria Bohus abohus460@rogers.com
Toronto - Rob Acheson robach@rogers.com
Montréal - Jean Trudel Citoyennnes pour un Ministère de la Paix / info@cmpaix.org
Edmonton - Zahra Ismail zismail3@gmail.com
Peter Stockdale (Ottawa) Our National Youth Coordinator globalbridge@rogers.com
Start a Chapter in Your Region
We encourage interested and motivated individuals to help expand our network by starting a chapter in your own city or town. Contact Saul Arbess.
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