At a time when people are suffering from the economic downturn, political battles are still raging over how to cut the budget and the nation is still involved in several wars, we believe our nation’s priorities need to change. FY 2011’s military budget is the largest since the end of World War II, even though the Cold War is over and there is no longer the threat of aggression from a major power. The purpose of the “Move the Money” conference is to help change our nation’s priorities by promoting the reduction of military spending by at least 25% and “Moving the Money” from nuclear weapons, their support systems and unnecessary defense items to humanitarian, social and environmental needs. Ultimately all nations will need to greatly reduce their military spending and eliminate nuclear weapons in order to address human needs and make the world safe for our children. Here’s the info:
MOVE THE MONEY: TURN SWORDS INTO
PLOWSHARES
Saturday, June 4, 2011
From 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Hosted by:
The Jam-e-Masjid Islamic Center in Boonton
110 Harrison Street
Boonton, N.J. 07005
To help achieve these goals, at the conference we will also promote the advancement of the Global Marshall Plan, a key element to a sustainable just world based on our shared human values of compassion and justice, which our keynote speaker, Jonathan Granoff, will talk about.
Speakers in the morning session will address these spending priorities, followed by lunch, where attendees will be encouraged to intermingle and socialize. (1) A panel discussion and planning for action will take place in the afternoon. Our speakers so far include (2):
1. Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Granoff, currently President of the Global Security Institute,Senior Advisor of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Arms Control and National Security, advisory board member of Tikkun; previously served as V.P. of the NGO Committee on Disarmament at the United Nations.
2. Rev. Wayne Lavender, Ph.D., United Methodist pastor and Executive Director of Passing the Peace
3. Paul Kawika Martin, Policy and Organizing Director – Peace Action
4. Daniela Jorge, Co-chairwoman of N.J. US (New Jersey United Students), President of the Young Democratic Socialists at William Paterson University, Co-Student Coordinator of the Living Wage Campaign and member of the Take Back Trenton organization.
5. Mohamed El Filali, Outreach Director – Islamic Center of Passaic County
6. Lynne Bruger, Development Director of CUMAC (Center of United Methodist Aid to the Community)
Organized by:
August 9 Saving Lives Task Force
Church and Society Committee, Sparta United Methodist Church
Islamic Center of Morris County
Network of Spiritual Progressives Chapter–Morris County (Northern New Jersey)
New Jersey Peace Action
Peacemaking Committee of the Presbytery of Newton
Seeds of Peace Committee of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship
Co-Sponsored by (4):
Essex/Passaic County GreenParty
Genesis Farm
Morris County NOW,
Multifaith Peace and Justice Alliance
Network of Spiritual Progressives Chapter–Central New Jersey
Northwest New Jersey Peace Fellowship
Social Action Team of the Central Unitarian Church, Paramus
Social Action Committeeof the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex County
Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Somerset Hills
Social Justice Council, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship
Spiritual Unity Network
Taskforce for Humanity Coalition
Tikkun and the Network of Spiritual Progressives
Veterans For Peace, Chapter 21, New Jersey
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
For more information and to RSVP, please contact one of the following individuals: David Mortensen at dmortnj@hotmail.com or 862 812-2324; Madelyn Hoffman at nj_peaceaction@yahoo.com or973 259-1126
David Muyskens at muyskens@ptd.net or 973 726-9704;Teresa Guyton at teresguyton@yahoo.com or 973-989-9098
(1) Lunch to be provided by the Jam-e-Masjid Islamic Center
(2) Additional speakers to be added and shown on updated versions of the flier.
(3) There is no admission charge.However optional, free-will donations will be gladly accepted to help cover costs.
(4)List of co-sponsors is in formation. More will be added & shown on updated versions of the flier. Version 051911-A
I recommend we all take and compare and contrast A COURSE IN MIRACLES with a landmark forum basic course experience. How we THINK about everything will be critical to positive clear sighted outcomes. We can’t predict the future but we can ensure we are seeing the current situation with like minds even if we disagree on how to move forward. I have always endorsed and believed in what Rabbi Lerner is trying to achieve in the areas of morality and how we consider and treat each other but the huge efforts it takes to justify our past will never result in consensus since the past should not be the filter for going forward. Realistically we need to include the past as prologue, but we can agree to drop it as much as possible and move forward with a loving mind and agenda. How love became such a squishy, undervalued word is beyond me. (It can also take a lot of money to love something properly) It now seems like the only sane way to be. And of all the philosophers who have addressed being human, living LIFE, what is our purpose on earth and ‘how do we know.’, there has to have been some kind of agreement at some basic level. Not to get bogged down in blogs about it, the TIME on earth is in jeopardy for everyone. We are at many crossroads. We need a better way of SEEING the problems that confront us. I believe WAR is not in anyone’s interest except a financial one to willing participants. We will never be able to defend all the fears of this world but there will always be many ways to love each other. Our children deserve to be taught about what they are and how they operate. We always claim in cute innocent that our babies don’t come with manuals. Well, have you ever read a manual for a camcorder, or a printer? EXPERIENCE is the best teacher but wisdom is the best guide.k We need both aspects of enlightenment (maybe even more than two) to get the big picture and stop the insanity on earth re how we conduct ourselves. Our species IS at stake. There will be fallout from the fallout and not to speak about something will not make it go away.
Very enlightening bless you, It looks like your trusty followers will likely want a good deal more items like that keep up the good effort.