SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Rep. Barbara Lee
'Department of Peacebuilding' Aims to Fight US 'Culture of Violence'
Announcing legislation she sponsored, Rep. Barbara Lee says, 'It is far past time' we address 'the pervasive presence of violence that has infected the lives of millions'
Feb 26, 2013
This month House Democrats led by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to create a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding that would serve to "target the root causes of violence" as well as implement "broad measures used to prevent violent conflict and create sustainable peace."
The bill, H.R. 808, the "Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2013", would charge the new department with "developing national strategies and programs for violence reduction both domestically and internationally."
"This culture of violence that we live in is unacceptable," said Rep. Lee. "On our streets and across the globe, the pervasive presence of violence has infected the lives of millions, and it is far past time we address it as a nation. We invest hundreds of billions each year in the Pentagon, in war colleges, military academies, and our national defense universities all to develop war tactics and strategies. Now we need that kind of investment in peace and nonviolence here at home."
The head of the new department, the Secretary of Peacebuilding would create initiatives for "conflict prevention and dispute resolution," Lee adds. The department would "facilitate peace summits between conflicting parties, encourage community policing, and support efforts by local community and religious groups to reduce gun violence, racial and ethnic violence, and prevent violence against women and LGBT Americans."
The legislation also includes the establishment of a "peace academy," as opposed to the U.S. military service academies, as well as national "Peace Days."
The legislation follows in the footsteps of former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who introduced similar bills in past Congresses, calling for a national Department of Peace.
The full proposed legislation can be read here.
_______________________
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Jacob Chamberlain
Jacob Chamberlain is a former staff writer for Common Dreams. His website is www.jacobpchamberlain.com.
This month House Democrats led by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to create a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding that would serve to "target the root causes of violence" as well as implement "broad measures used to prevent violent conflict and create sustainable peace."
The bill, H.R. 808, the "Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2013", would charge the new department with "developing national strategies and programs for violence reduction both domestically and internationally."
"This culture of violence that we live in is unacceptable," said Rep. Lee. "On our streets and across the globe, the pervasive presence of violence has infected the lives of millions, and it is far past time we address it as a nation. We invest hundreds of billions each year in the Pentagon, in war colleges, military academies, and our national defense universities all to develop war tactics and strategies. Now we need that kind of investment in peace and nonviolence here at home."
The head of the new department, the Secretary of Peacebuilding would create initiatives for "conflict prevention and dispute resolution," Lee adds. The department would "facilitate peace summits between conflicting parties, encourage community policing, and support efforts by local community and religious groups to reduce gun violence, racial and ethnic violence, and prevent violence against women and LGBT Americans."
The legislation also includes the establishment of a "peace academy," as opposed to the U.S. military service academies, as well as national "Peace Days."
The legislation follows in the footsteps of former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who introduced similar bills in past Congresses, calling for a national Department of Peace.
The full proposed legislation can be read here.
_______________________
Jacob Chamberlain
Jacob Chamberlain is a former staff writer for Common Dreams. His website is www.jacobpchamberlain.com.
This month House Democrats led by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to create a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding that would serve to "target the root causes of violence" as well as implement "broad measures used to prevent violent conflict and create sustainable peace."
The bill, H.R. 808, the "Department of Peacebuilding Act of 2013", would charge the new department with "developing national strategies and programs for violence reduction both domestically and internationally."
"This culture of violence that we live in is unacceptable," said Rep. Lee. "On our streets and across the globe, the pervasive presence of violence has infected the lives of millions, and it is far past time we address it as a nation. We invest hundreds of billions each year in the Pentagon, in war colleges, military academies, and our national defense universities all to develop war tactics and strategies. Now we need that kind of investment in peace and nonviolence here at home."
The head of the new department, the Secretary of Peacebuilding would create initiatives for "conflict prevention and dispute resolution," Lee adds. The department would "facilitate peace summits between conflicting parties, encourage community policing, and support efforts by local community and religious groups to reduce gun violence, racial and ethnic violence, and prevent violence against women and LGBT Americans."
The legislation also includes the establishment of a "peace academy," as opposed to the U.S. military service academies, as well as national "Peace Days."
The legislation follows in the footsteps of former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who introduced similar bills in past Congresses, calling for a national Department of Peace.
The full proposed legislation can be read here.
_______________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.