The Day of Peace Was a Very Special Day!!

Citizens for Peace volunteers show up to talk to the participants of the ONE PEACE celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace at the Livonia Civic Center Library on Sat. Sept. 22nd.

What a fun day it was! The Gemini Concert had everyone from toddlers to seniors smiling, singing, clapping, laughing, and enjoying the great peace songs, stories, and folk songs. Music was sure the universal language of peace at this event.

Participants enjoyed viewing the Peace Pals International Art Display, browsing the peace tables, and creating peace art.

Thanks to everyone who attended and a special thank you to the Citizens for Peace members who helped make it such a successful, friendly, memorable day!

ONE PEACE Celebrates the UN International Day of Peace with a Family Event

The GEMINI SONGS OF PEACE CONCERT is the highlight of the fifth annual ONE PEACE celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace on Saturday September 22nd from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Livonia Civic Center Library Auditorium.

The family concert begins at 2:00 PM. and is a fun performance that will delight everyone from preschoolers to seniors. Gemini's twin brother musicians, Sandor and Laszlo, have been sharing their joy and musical talents for many years. They will engage the audience with a blend of memorable songs of peace, as well as folk songs from around the world. It will be an experience that will move our hearts, feet, and voices!

ONE PEACE began five years ago to bring people together to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace. The planning committee collaborated on the ONE PEACE mission: to inspire and motivate people to come together as ONE human family to generate inner peace and create a boundless world landscape of compassion, hope, love and PEACE.

Visitors will view the Peace Pals International Art Exhibit showing children's art from 65 countries. This colorful display expresses the vision "May Peace Prevail on Earth" from young people around the world.

There will be hands on activities for children including coloring a peace picture and decorating a peace sign.  Citizens for Peace members will be reading to children from the many books on peace from the Children’s Peace Collection donated to the library. 

Informational tables will be set up in the atrium.  The United Nations Association of Greater Detroit; The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; Swords into Plowshares Peace Gallery; and the Citizens for Peace will have displays and unique items for sale.

ONE PEACE 2012 will be an opportunity to celebrate peace through art, music, stories, activities, information sharing, and more!  There will be something for families, friends, neighbors, teachers, students, and everyone desiring a more peaceful world.

October 9, 2012 Meeting

Press Release

Contact:  Ann Abdoo

Organization: Citizens for Peace

Telephone: 734-748-8309

Email: arabdoo@earthlink.net

Blog: citizensforpeace11.blogspot.com

Forgiveness – the Path to Peace

Learn how to forgive yourself and others at the Citizens for Peace meeting on October 9, 2012 at 7 pm at Unity of Livonia, 26880 Five Mile Rd., Livonia, Michigan (east of Middlebelt).

  

Free yourself from the bonds of negativity at an experiential program conducted by Dr. David Connell. With over forty years of clinical practice, Dr. Connell will explain the psychological and spiritual aspects of forgiveness.  Using the teachings of native people and shamans, he will show you step by step how to achieve a state of forgiveness.  Come to this very special program to participate or observe. 

Dr. Connell is a clinical psychologist trained in and practitioner of Transpersonal Psychology,    a discipline which blends psychotherapy and spirituality.  His personal quest for spiritual growth includes seventeen years of formal Christian education, thirty-four years of training and practice in Siddha Yoga, utilizing meditation and Kundalini awakening. 

He has travelled to Europe, India and parts of the United States to study with Gurus, Mother Theresa, Ram Das, the Dali Lama and others who teach from a holistic perspective.  This perspective holds that we are all mind, body, spirit entities.  For the past fifteen years he has been training and practicing and incorporating the teachings of native peoples and Shamans.  

Come and experience your own forgiveness.   

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Colleen Mills on Body Mind Spirit Radio

It was fun talking to Annette on the radio about all of the great summer activities of the Citizens for Peace and the super events coming up! I'd love to hear your comments. Peace, Colleen
Click HERE to listen.

September 11th Meeting Highlights the Nonviolent Peace Collection!

On this solemn day, Citizens for Peace members will share their readings and reports from a variety of the books donated to the Library Network. The Nonviolent Peace Bibliography contains over 630 titles! The books can be found at the Livonia Civic Center Library. The adult collection has its separate space on the second floor of the library. There are also many children's books in the Children's section of the library.
We have also donated books to the Commerce Township, Redford and Westland Libraries. It is one way the Citizens for Peace are contributing to making a shift from the focus on war to the many aspects of peace. Join us for an inspiring meeting at 7 o'clock at Unity of Livonia.

The Citizens for Peace Dedicate a Peace Pole!

George & Colleen were happy to share their Peace Poll with the Citizens for Peace!
Citizens for Peace members read their favorite quotes as part of the dedication.
Peace Troubadour, Cecilia St. King, concluded the dedication ceremony with her beautiful songs.
We not only dedicated the Peace Pole, but we committed ourselves to continue
our work for peace!

We joined the 200,000 Peace Poles in over 200 countries with the wish "May Peace Prevail on Earth". Our Peace Pole expresses that sentiment in 8 languages: Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Bantu (South African), Indian, English, and Lakota Sioux.

Thanks to everyone who participated!
Peace,
George & Colleen

Great Article in the Observer!

Click Here to read.

Thanks to Lynda Herman, Sharon Brand, George Mills, Maryanne McCallister, Dottie Ochala, Linda Lieder, Paul Castillo and Janice Allen for their contribution to a fun day!

Peace,
Colleen

Dottie, Janice, Linda & George preparing lunch for the participants in PEACE, LOVE & YOGA Day

PEACE, LOVE & YOGA Day was a big success!!

The peace and love energy was palpable at the Peace, Love and Yoga Day sponsored by the Yoga Association of Greater Detroit (YAGD) and the Citizens for Peace on Saturday, August 25^th at the Livonia Senior Center. Lynda Herman, president of the YAGD, Sharon Brand, yoga instructor at the Senior Center and other locations, and Colleen Mills, president of the Citizens for Peace planned and hosted the all day celebration.

Lynda Herman put out requests for yoga and meditation teachers to volunteer their talents for the special day. Karen Farkas, Lynda and Sharon’s yoga teacher, was asked to be the keynote speaker. Karen shared her story of how discovering the practice of yoga saved her life. After a very difficult time in her life, she responded to a notice about a yoga class. It was the inspiration she needed to turn her life around. As a yoga teacher for 40 years, Karen has influenced countless others to live mindfully through the practice of yoga and meditation. She encouraged the attendees to take the practice off their mats and into their daily lives by looking at all they see as if for the first time; really hearing as if it’s the first sound; noticing the taste of food before swallowing; appreciating the smells of the earth; being aware of the whole body in space; walking, sitting, moving with awareness; and paying attention to the wonder and beauty of the world.

The day, (8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.), included classes for all levels of yoga practice, from beginners to advanced practitioners. There was Mindful Yoga with Mimi Holland-Moritz; Sun Salutations with June McCarthy; Chair Yoga with Christine Walbridge; The Five Tibetans with Diane Siegel-Divita; and Flow with Peace, Love and Yoga with Sharon Brand.

Kathy Bindu Henning led a session on Present Moment Meditation. A devotee of meditation for 35 years, Kathy teaches classes at various places around the metro area, including the Livonia Senior Center and Schoolcraft College.

Lunch was prepared by George Mills and volunteers from the Citizens for Peace. After lunch, Colleen Mills shared some thoughts on her practice of yoga and meditation.

“Besides the obvious effect of keeping our bodies fit, flexible and balanced, yoga and meditation helps us to focus; reduce stress; block out the world; enrich one’s spirit; turn off the chatter in our brain; go to an experiential peace zone; and open the heart chakra – the seat of peace, harmony, laughter and love.” Colleen congratulated everyone on choosing love. She discussed the four needs of the heart: attention; affection; appreciation and acceptance. “Developing a yoga and meditation practice fulfills these four needs” she said.

After lunch, yoga teacher Jan Chekirda provided mandalas and markers to the participants. The result was a variety of colorful expressions, each as unique as snowflakes. It was a relaxing, artistic meditation. Also, The Happiness Prescription video was shown and viewers received the wisdom of Deepak Chopra on the keys to happiness. He shared the research that the happiest people are those who make others happy. Colleen Mills thanked everyone and encouraged participants to take the love and peace energy generated from Peace, Love and Yoga Day back to their families and communities and share some loving kindness with everyone they meet, starting with the easiest form of peace work: a smile!

For more information on yoga or meditation classes or the activities of the Citizens for Peace visit the websites www.yagd.org, www.livinginthepresentmoment.com

and www.citizensforpeace11.blogspot.com.

TED Mark Bittman "What's Wrong With What We Eat"

Colleen Mills, Citizens For Peace president showed the TED video by Mark Bittman "What's Wrong With What We Eat". Several attendees wanted to see it again so this post is for everyone who would like to see the video again or for the first time. While the presentation was made in 2007 it is still relevant today.

Optimist Creed in Memory of Gerry Trout

Tonight we honored Gerry Trout one of our members who passed away last week by all in attendance at the vegetarian annual meeting reciting The Optimist Creed.

Citizens for Peace Annual Vegetarian Potluck

Our Annual Vegetarian Potluck is Tuesday, August 14th at 6:30 p.m.
Every year we celebrate our summer bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables with
our vegetarian potluck. We consider the impact our food choices have on our
world. After our dinner, we will view a presentation by Mark Bittman on the
American Diet. Bring a dish to share. See you on Tuesday!

Peace,
Colleen Mills

Thank you to the committee for organizing a series of events around the annual Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day! The connection between our expenditures on maintaining and upgrading our nuclear arsenal and our current economic downturn was eloquently made by Rev. Bullock, Dr. Fred Pearson and Kae Halonan.

Here is the link to the Hiroshima press conference article in the Michigan Citizen.

http://michigancitizen.com/from-hiroshima-to-human-rights-p11513-74.htm

PEACE, LOVE & YOGA DAY AUGUST 25th!

Celebrate the Day!

The Yoga Association of Greater Detroit & The Citizens for Peace are presenting a special day of Movement, Mandala coloring, The Happiness Prescription Movie, Meditation, Guest Speakers Karen Farkas & Colleen Mills, Shopping & Lunch!

The day begins at 8:30 am with light refreshments & browsing the tables.
Karen Farkas will give a presentation at 9:00 am.
Session A, from 9:30 - 10:30 is a choice of Sun Salutation Variations or Mindful Yoga.
Session B, from 10:45 - 11:45 is a choice of Chair Yoga or Present Moment Meditation.

Lunch is included with the $35.00 fee. It is from 12:00 - 12:30 pm.
Colleen Mills will give a short talk at 12:30 pm.

Session C, from 12:45 - 1:45 is a choice of Mandela Coloring or Deepak Chopra's film
The Happiness Prescription.
Session D, from 2:00 - 3:00 is a choice of The Five Tibetans or Flow with Peace, Love & Yoga, followed by a 15 minute final relaxation.

To download a registration flyer click HERE.
After this special day, participants will be ready to share Love & Peace!!
For questions, call 734-425-0079.

Dr. Harsha Jayatilake, Mary Albertson, Dr. Ari, Colleen Mills, Rosemary Doyle, Dottie Ochala &
Tada Gunter are all smiles at the Birmingham Unitarian Church after Dr. Ari's great talk!

Wisdom from Gandhi Peace Prize winner Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne.

Citizens for Peace members had a table at Dr. Ari's talks during his visit to Michigan. We first met Dr. Ari five years ago when his former student, Dr. Harsha, brought him to Michigan for the first ONE PEACE celebration for the U.N. International Day of Peace.

It is not often we get to experience a leader for nonviolence who has dedicated his life to putting loving kindness into action for over 50 years!

Dr. Ari encouraged our work with these statements:
"Evil is so well organized in the world, we should organize goodness;" and
"Serve the world in the same way as a mother loves her only child."

What a joy it was to experience Dr. Ari's wisdom and beautiful energy!

Thank you Kevin 'Mr. Peace' Szawala for recording Mary Hanna's terrific talk on the Power of Nonviolence!

Here is the link to Mary's talk from last month:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjp2SFd_c6M

This presentation engaged our brains and our hearts. I think we feel even more committed to our work to promote the practices and principles of nonviolence in our world after hearing Mary Hanna, the Operations Manager of our wonderful Michigan Peace Team!

Nonviolence takes courage but is so much more effective that the use of force!

PEACE!

Link to a great article in the Observer!

Reporter Sharon Dargay highlighted the Citizens for Peace in her article in Sunday's Community Life section. She intends to join us for our fundraiser "Peace, Love & Yoga Day" on Saturday, August 25th! Thanks Sharon!

Heres the link:
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20120708/LIFE/207080414/Give-peace-chance?odyssey=modnewswelltextLivoniap

PEACE!!

Nuclear Waste in Michigan Topic of July 10th Meeting

Keith Gunter and his "Fermi - 3 Wheel of Misfortune" Highlight of our Meeting!

The problem of what to do with the nuclear waste generated by current and

decommissioned nuclear plants in Michigan will be explored at the July 10^th

Citizens for Peace meeting.

Featured speaker will be Keith Gunter, member of Alliance to Halt Fermi – 3,

and founding partner of the nationally recognized group, Beyond Nuclear.

He is currently serving as co-chair of Peace Action of Michigan.  Keith’s informative

and entertaining presentation includes an instructional “Fermi – 3 Wheel of Misfortune”.

(Any Way You Spin, You Lose).  Members of the audience might be invited to try their

 luck spinning the wheel.

Active in educating the public on the danger of nuclear energy for more than 30 years,

Keith was a Metro Times contributing writer on nuclear power and weapons issues,

and a guest commentator on WDET public radio. “The storage and isolation of high

level nuclear waste is but one aspect of a technology that presents us with fundamentally

irresolvable problems” says Keith.

The program begins at 7 p.m. at Unity of Livonia, located at 28660 Five Mile Road.

All are welcome. 

Citizens for Peace have a booth at the Inner Peace Festival in Ann Arbor

What a warm, windy, wonderful day we spent at the Citizens for Peace booth at the 2nd Annual Inner Peace Festival on Sunday, June 24th from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor!
We had giant peace frisbees, peace snap bracelets, butterfly & lady bug masks for children. We had fliers for all of our upcoming events: Dr. Ari's talk & workshop on July 6 & 7; Keith Gunter's presentation on nuclear waste in MI at our July 10th meeting; our Peace, Love & Yoga fundraiser on August 25th; and the 5th annual ONE PEACE celebration of the UN International Day of Peace on Saturday, Sept. 22nd at the Livonia Civic Center Library Auditorium with a Gemini Concert! What a great line up of events!

Thanks to Linda, Gloria, Nancy Dottie, Colleen & George for working the booth, talking to people about peace & selling our books, puzzles, DVD's, yoga mats, peace art, peace pillows, heart necklaces, and other items. We were happy that the thunderstorms never materialized! We were especially happy to meet people appreciative of the work we do!

Carole Kersten, Rosemary Doyle, Colleen & George Mills at the Midwest Peacemaking Conference.

What a great time we had at the First Annual Midwest Peacemaking Conference hosted by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee!  A blend of Native Peacemaking, Restorative Practices and Mediation teachings presented in a beautiful setting. Click here for the article I wrote about the conference.  Oh The Stories They Told!

Peace,
Colleen

The Argument for Nonviolence: Speaking to the Heart AND the Head"

 Join us for our June 12, 2012 Citizens for Peace Meeting 7 o'clock at Unity of Livonia

Mary Hanna, Operations Manager for the Michigan Peace Team,  will present the case for nonviolence by offering the strategic and statistical contributions of nonviolent social action, as well as recounting individual, personal stories of successful nonviolent peacemakers. An engaging speaker, Mary is able to connect with people from all walks of life.  Her emphasis is on encouraging others to consider nonviolence as a way of life by appealing to both the heart and the head. Hearing the stories of  Sophie Scholl, Captain Mbaye Diagne, Badshah Khan, Julia Buttefly Hill and Chiune and Yukkiko Sugihara will touch our hearts.