Happy Birthday, New America

Dear Friends of Peace,

I recently celebrated my 30th anniversary of being cancer free.  I am here

today (in spite of that near-death experience and against all odds) because

I chose peace as my life’s path and purpose.

I mention this because this nation, too, faces a critical moment of life and

death.  July 4th is the birthday of the United States of America.  We, as

its citizens, must choose whether to turn our personal and national purpose

to peace as a way of life, or to risk perishing in the flames of our own

ignorance and aggression.

Buckminster Fuller said, "You never change things by fighting the existing

reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing

model obsolete."

We at The Peace Company are dedicated to building that new model for society

– one in which peace, compassion, justice, and the right use of power form

the basis for our decisions and our actions, at home and around the world,

and where war, violence, fear, and oppression become obsolete.

We are entering a critical period in America’s history.  This coming

election will profoundly impact the shape of our future – as a nation and as

a human family.  Over 200 years ago we said ‘No!’ to tyranny, and ‘Yes!’ to

freedom.  Today, we can take the next step on the spiral of our evolution

and say ‘No!’ to the tyranny of the war path and all that goes with it, and

‘Yes!’ to the freedom of the peace path, and the values, norms, and

behaviors that support it.  Our leaders have shown that they will not do

this in our name –as Michael Moore’s film Fahrenheit 9/11 so starkly

demonstrates.  Rather, it is the job of each and every one of us to choose

peace, to live peace, and to hold our leaders accountable for peace.

Please join me in declaring Independence Day this year as the day we become

free from the glamour of violence and free to pursue our higher dream of

peace on earth, and consider what you can do to make it so.  Here are some

suggestions:

1.  Give The Peace Book: 108 Simple Ways to Create a More Peaceful World to

friends, neighbors, associates, and colleagues.  It is a blueprint for a

culture of peace, and a call to personal responsibility for making a

difference.  (See below for details).

2.  Support the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Peace in our

government.  We need a formal political presence at the highest levels of

decision-making to consider peace and nonviolent conflict resolution in all

our domestic and international relations.  (Visit www.dopcampaign.org or

www.house.gov/kucinich/issues/peace.htm  to learn more.)

3.  Get active politically for regime change at home.  Support the

candidates that support the peace path.  Use this season of political

conventions and electioneering to make your voice heard, to promote a peace

agenda, and to campaign for justice, inclusion, and dignity for all.

4.  See Fahrenheit 9/11 if you haven’t already, and let it spur you to

action.

I have recently returned from Cyprus and Ethiopia.  In Cyprus I witnessed

the victory of a citizen peacebuilding movement among the Turkish Cypriots.

Beginning over a dozen years ago with a few brave souls, it is now a major

social and political movement that managed to deliver a 65% vote in a

community-wide referendum in favor of a peace agreement in that troubled

island.  In Ethiopia, I witnessed the victory of a few brave women in

challenging and changing the centuries-old tradition of that form of

violence against women known as female genital circumcision (click here to

read the full and amazing story).

In both cases, I was inspired by the power of everyday people to shape the

destiny of their individual and collective lives.  We can do it here as

well.  Our re-birth-day is upon us.  May it be a glorious new beginning!

In peace,

Louise Diamond

CEO, The Peace Company

May Peace Prevail on Earth!

* * * * *

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There is no way to Peace; Peace is the way!

The Peace Book

by Louise Diamond

OVER 61,000 SOLD!

A perennial favorite with which to share the spirit of peace

Buy a box of 20 Peace Books for $80 (save $20)

That's just $4.00 per book!

View Table of Contents

View the Author's Prologue

Click to Order Now

Show your true colors!

Our Best Seller      Rainbow Peace Banner

These nine beautiful batik flags are hand-painted on rayon and strung on a

black string. Made in Bali by a group of family businesses. Each flag is

approximately 10" (28 cm) square with a total length of ~10 feet. Perfect

for home, garden or office.

Includes the following nine panels:

English 'Peace on Earth' • Arabic 'As-Salaam' • Chinese 'Huh Ping' • Dove of

Peace • Sanscrit 'Shanti' • Russian 'Mir' • Hebrew 'Shalom' • Latin 'Pax' •

Rainbow Peace Sign

$29.95

NEW!   'May Peace Prevail on Earth' Banner

This exquisite, brilliantly colored banner features the logo of the World

Peace Prayer Society. Hand painted batik on white rayon by a family business

in Bali. The banner is 24” tall x 28” wide. It has a top edge pocket for use

with a dowel or rod to hang the banner or use as a flag (dowel/rod not

included). Suitable for home or garden. Made in Indonesia. A portion of the

proceeds from the sale of this banner go to support the work of the World

Peace Prayer Society.

$24.95

Many more items are available at The Peace Company Store...

THE PEACE COMPANY

www.thepeacecompany.com

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