The World Beyond War website (https://worldbeyondwar.org/) is a goldmine for activists offered in many languages. I had been in touch previously. I sent these ideas this morning.
I offer some thoughts going forward.
1) Write your own encyclical or statement.
2) Send the final product to the war abolition groups, plus environmental groups, the New York Times, congressmen, America magazine, the National Catholic Reporter and everybody else.
3) The environmentalists have not covered the Pentagon’s footprint. Tell them to work on a budget reduction campaign to reduce the American nuclear arsenal to 1,000 and the overseas military bases to 100. Contact Naomi Klein, Al Gore, Greta Thunberg, David Wallace-Wells and others. Tell them to cover the military sector like they look at everything else.
4) Organize a press conference in Washington, D.C. with the peace groups, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Al Gore and environmental groups. Hopefully, you can recruit a friendly cardinal or bishop.
5) There are floods, droughts, hurricanes, wars and other tragedies causing property and human loss. I propose a type of insurance coverage for every man, woman and child. The United Nations would have the funds, equipment and manpower to respond to natural disasters and wars everywhere. The rich countries would have warehouses with food, water, clothes, medicine and tents ready to move to afflicted areas in rich or poor countries. They would also have resources to rebuild homes and infrastructure. The world’s armed forces would be trained to provide logistics and security. Soldiers would attend foreign language classes to learn the language, culture and history of other countries. When soldiers go anywhere from now on out, they must leave the country better than when they arrived. The transportation and communication would be better than before. Destroyed buildings are replaced. There is compensation for the dead and wounded. We would still need charities but not be totally dependent on fundraising for each disaster.
6) I am especially impressed with Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney. He is a good candidate for our cause.
7) Disclosure: I am a cafeteria Catholic. When I was a young fellow, in 1963-1966, I was preparing to be a priest with the Basilian Fathers who have their headquarters in Toronto.
8) Ask the poets, novelists and movie makers tell people what peace looks like. In 1952-1953 NBC made the Victory at Sea narrative. Television critics wondered how many people would want to watch war movies on Sunday afternoon. In two weeks they got their answer: just about everybody. They had examines 11,000 miles of film, composed magnificent music and wrote stirring narratives. Peacemakers must do the same. A favorite song that embodies peace on earth is Crystal Blue Persuasion.
Tommy James&the Shondell_Crytal Blue persuasion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN38vED24Eg
Maybe tomorrow
When he looks down
On every green field (ooh, ooh)
And every town
All of his children
And every nation
There’ll be peace and good brotherhood
9) It is seldom in life that you come to face with Absolute Evil and overcome it. We did it one time in defeating the Axis Powers. Now it is time to do it again. For life on our precious planet to survive, humans must restructure our economic, political and social lives. The Big Three did this in mobilizing resources to bring military victory over the Axis Powers. It is our turn now. This will be a world without poverty, war or global warming. Previously, life could go in the old-fashioned way disregarding religious or humanitarian considerations. Not anymore. Business as usual even with some major reforms are not enough.
We shall overcome,
Ed
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Preview YouTube video Tommy James&the Shondell_Crytal Blue persuasion
