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CODEPINK’s Jodie Evans spoke at the PJC as part of her Local Peace Economy Book Tour on Friday, August 30. It was a chance to get informed, and leave feeling inspired to grow our local peace economy.
The aim is to make connections, inspire empowerment, and so much more. These concepts are expressed in Jodie’s workbook, making and honoring interconnections and affirming that we all have the capacity to make a difference in our communities by simple acts of giving and sharing, and even with our spending. Jodie shared insights, resources and ways to engage further during the presentation. If you missed the talk, don’t worry, because this work is personal and you and your efforts can continue and grow. Below are links to local peace economy resources you can use to learn more on your own and as part of the ongoing conversation.
the conflicts and differences lately, and have been ruminating on the importance of being inclusive, kind, compassionate and non-reactionary – while I try to do my best activist work. I know to some that is what you may strive to do all the time and to others that may not sound simple, especially in this moment. Around us the craziness of the election consumes us, our friends, and our families. The wars taking place, and the horrible loss of life, and the inhumanity, can make one want to stay home and cry, or watch distracting things online or on TV. It is easy to want to compartmentalize and become numb to the polarization, indifference, cruelty of war, ongoing war crimes, terrorism, social breakdown – the list is long. Pivots to Peace (from the CODEPINK website) “Pivoting away from the war economy begins with the recognition of how it pulls and pushes us into isolation and away from interdependence, how it demands we act with urgency and without care and how it makes us choose convenience over the health of the planet. We have created a list of 23 pivots. You might come up with more, and we hope you will share them with us.’ Can our investment in humanity, and our actions to make a difference even in small ways in our daily life, be part of building the Local Peace Economy? According to Jodie Evans, that answer is yes. How can we see all people as human and valued, and if we do will that stop the perpetual spirit of war. If we form community and look for connection vs. noticing all our differences, let ourselves become reactionary to the words of and actions of others, pundits, etc., will that wake us to the wrongs we have all culturally participated in, the colonialism, classism privilege and racism that we all too often fail to acknowledge? Can we be humble? I was struck when Jodie said, “We didn’t start the war and we can’t end it”. She went on to say that the military industrial complex is pulling the strings in our country, our government and around the world. We have to dismantle the war economy and build a peace economy before war will end. She encouraged us to not see it as impossible, but to work simply in our daily lives, in our own local communities to make the changes we can. We can simplify, and live in our local economy, and support peace and justice, and create a right livelihood. Our actions reflect a strategy if we think about what we do. For me, it goes beyond voting with our dollars, which is an important step we can take, but the way we interact with others, work to see another’s reality, make peace with others. This will help us see other ways to divest or disconnect from the system that profits from war, and wants to control us, limit us, make us feel powerless. Surely there is something simple you can do today or this week to honor community, to broaden your view of humanity? So much divisiveness and polarization all around us. Fear mongering is winning when we don’t strengthen our values about compassion and care for others, focusing on connections and simple needs. Of course, the election can feed the fire of “us against them,” or make us strident in our desire to win. But the election will end, hopefully peacefully, and with democracy working as it was intended. But the change is what we are after, and we know that our vision of a better government will only happen if we make it happen. Please know that we are all the Peace & Justice Center, join us while we seek out truth, work together to form coalitions and serve the community. We want our members to be as active as they want. I hope in the near future we can create time to talk together with you, our members, about personalizing the way that we create a better world. The saying “Be the Change” comes to mind. There are many ways to love and care for the world, many paths towards peace and justice. Choose the path that you can walk best and walk it – and if you have it in you, run. .
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