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Students Call for Peace

Nationwide call-in to Congress Nets Over 1,500 Calls

Activists for peace from 47 states made calls to their senators and representatives in Washington, D.C. last week urging support for HR 808, proposed legislation to create a cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peace. The 68 co-sponsors of the bill were also called, with activists expressing thanks for their on-going support.

The calls were made over a five-day period beginning December 3. Long-time activists for peace as well as youth, some still in high school, stressed the need for such a Department given the current level of violence here in the United States and abroad. The Student Peace Alliance (SPA), a national youth movement working to promote HR 808 through education and grassroots action, sponsored the call-in.

'Many call-in participants had never contacted their congressional representatives, and they felt empowered by making that call,' said Andy Schramm, a Minnesota SPA State Organizer.

'The SPA is dedicated to empowering youth to actively engage in the political process and to understand their potential to affect change as constituents and activists,' said SPA Director Aaron Voldman. 'This was our first call-in, and we were tremendously successful. In all, our supporters made 1,568 calls from 47 states. Those numbers show how deep the youth support for this legislation truly is.'

'It's time for youth and students to join the political debate and make our voices heard,' said John Wamsley from Georgetown, TX, one of the students making the calls. 'We want new and practical methods for resolving conflict and the violence in our communities, schools and the world. With a Department of Peace, we can start proactively addressing the root causes of violence, as the only way of beginning to truly prevent it.'

The Department of Peace will augment our current problem solving options and provide practical, nonviolent solutions to the challenges of domestic and international conflict. According to the SPA, their generation must build a culture that supports not only a peaceful tomorrow, but a peaceful today.

Since the launch of the Student Peace Alliance one and one-half years ago, it has grown to include chapters on 64 college and high school campuses around the country. The great success of this action is testimony of the widespread demand for new and practical methods of resolving conflict, and the rising role of youth in the political process.

For more information about the national call-in and the SPA, visit our website at www.StudentPeaceAlliance.org.