Charter for Compassion Presentation

Here's an Introduction to the Charter for Compassion.

Click on this link to view a YouTube intro to the Charter for Compassion.

 http://www.youtube.com/charterforcompassion

See you at our meeting at Unity of Livonia at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12th!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" is Gandhi's encouragement to us all!

Maybe YOU are the one to start the "compassionate" change we need in our city, state, & country!

Join us for our February events!

Citizens for Peace Hosts Three Events in February in Three Locations! Mark Your Calendars!

The “Commonalities within World Religions” is the topic of the first session of the 2013 Peace and Conflict Discussion Series. This is the second annual discussion series hosted by the Citizens for Peace to celebrate the Season for Nonviolence.

Henry Ford Community College professor Dr. Grant Shafer, PhD, will lead the discussion; and will share two short videos featuring a Rabbi, a Pastor and an Imam who call themselves the “Interfaith Amigos”. They will present their views on the “Truths and Untruths” in their three religions. The free event is at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 7 at the Livonia Civic Center Library ((32777 Five Mile Rd.). 

The “Charter for Compassion” is the topic of the Tuesday, February 12^th Citizens for Peace meeting. Colleen Mills, president of the Citizens for Peace, will share information about Karen Armstrong’s award winning idea of a “Charter for Compassion”.  Kalamazoo’s Fetzer Institute provided $100,000 to implement it.  Come to the meeting to find out about the impact this great idea has had in our country and around the world. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Unity of Livonia (28660 Five Mile Rd.).

The encore presentation of the film “I AM” will be shown at the Livonia Senior Center (15218 Farmington Rd.) on Wednesday, February 13^th at 11 a.m. Successful director (Liar, Liar, Bruce Almighty), Tom Shadyac, explores answers to the root causes of our world problems in his film. He asks two questions – “What’s wrong with the world?” and “What can we do to fix it?” Shadyac interviews thought leaders including Desmond Tutu, Howard Zinn, and Lynne McTaggart. Shadyac presents scientific evidence that we are hardwired for connection and compassion; and our power comes by being able to cooperate, rather than compete. In the process, he discovers what is right with our world.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information call Colleen at 734-425-0079.

Nancy Brown Peace Carillon Belle Isle

So often we see symbols of war in our communities. For example a tank or an artilliary piece is placed in front of a veteran's club house. But in Detroit there is carillon to commemorate peace. Perhaps it is not well known more because it is on Belle Isle. However the blog Detroit Video Daily has told it's story in words, images and sound.

While you're at the blog click on home and see what this blogger has to say about Detroit. Oh what you will read and see is a side of Detroit that is not found in the mainstream media because the DVD blogger looks at Detroit's positive side.

What symbols of peace and justice in and about Detroit do you see?

Peace and Conflict Discussion Series

               

 THE LIVONIA CIVIC CENTER LIBRARY  

32777 Five Mile Road – Livonia, MI 48154 - 734-466-2490

The Citizens for Peace is sponsoring their second annual Peace and Conflict Discussion Series to celebrate the Season for Nonviolence*.  The discussion group will meet on the first Thursday of February, March, and April 2013 in the MICHIGAN ROOM in the Livonia Civic Center Library Atrium from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.  It is FREE and open to the public.  PLEASE read the selected books prior to the session.  Books may be purchased or borrowed through your local library network or through MelCat.  You may have to ask your librarian for assistance.

__________________________________________________________________

Thursday, February 7 – COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS,  a discussion led by Henry Ford Community College professor Grant Shafer, Ph.D., Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan; M.A, Theological Studies,

Harvard University; B.A., History, Wayne State University.

DISCUSSION FOCUS:  The commonalities within world religions.

Thursday, March 7: – MUHAMMAD: A PROPHET FOR OUR

TIME, by Karen Armstrong, publisher: HarperCollins, 2006.  Armstrong, an author, scholar, and journalist, is among the world’s foremost commentators on religious history and culture. Facilitator:   Suzanne Kaplan, Schoolcraft College Professor Emeritus.

DISCUSSION FOCUS:  What made Muhammad a prophet nearly

1400 years ago?

                         

Thursday, April 4, – THE THIRD SIDE: WHY WE FIGHT

AND HOW WE CAN STOP by William Ury, publisher:   Penguin

Group, 2000.  Dr. Ury is co-founder of The Program on Negotiation at    Harvard Law School where he directs a research project on the prevention

of destructive conflict.  Facilitators:  Carole Kersten and Rosemary Doyle, Citizens for Peace.

DISCUSSION FOCUS:  It takes two sides to fight but a third to

stop—how does one get to the third side?

__________________________________________________________________

* To honor the 2013 Season for Nonviolence, co-founded by the M.K. Gandhi Institute for

Nonviolence and The Association for Global New Thought which focuses attention on the philosophy of attaining peace through nonviolent action as demonstrated by Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.  It was launched in 1998.

SPONSORED BY THE CITIZENS FOR PEACE

www.citizensforpeace11.blogspot.com

A nonprofit nonpartisan community organization whose mission is to create a culture of peace.

For further questions contact 248-476-0791 or rdoyle@cheerful.com

"I AM" Film starts the new year

Citizens for Peace Show Film “I AM” at Jan. 8^th Meeting

The public is invited to view the 2011 film “I AM” at the Jan. 8th Citizens for Peace meeting at Unity of Livonia at 7 p.m. The film asks two central questions: “What’s wrong with the world?” and “What can we do to fix it?” Successful Hollywood director Tom Shadyac wrote, directed and narrated the film after a bicycle accident changed his life. His journey from materialism to purpose took him from living in a 17,000 square foot mansion to happily living in a trailer.

On his quest for answers to the root causes of the problems in our world, Shadyac interviews scientists, psychologists, authors, philosophers, and others, including Desmond Tutu, Howard Zinn, Lynne McTaggert, Thom Hartman and Noam Chomsky. He discovers scientific evidence that we are hardwired for connection and compassion; and that our power comes by being able to cooperate rather than compete. Join us in viewing this thoughtful and uplifting film!

AMAZING PEACE by Maya Angelou

It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war.  But true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season to wait awhile with us.
We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace.
Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.

We, the Jew and Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you to stay while with us
So we may learn by your shimmering light
How to look behond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language
To traanslate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious tongues the coming of hope.
All the earth's tribes loosen their voices
To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace.  We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace.  We look at each other, then into ourselves,
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:
           Peace, My Brother
           Peace, My Sister
           Peace, My Soul

Rosemary Doyle

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

                       May the spirit of peace fill your home 
                                       this holiday season!

                 Let's dedicate ourselves to work for peace 
                                       in the new year!

                     Thank you for being a soldier of peace! 

                                      George and Colleen 

Citizens for Peace on the Radio

What an Exiting Year of Peace We Our Planning!!

It was fun talking to Annette at Body Mind Spirit Radio yesterday morning.
I got to talk about all of the great plans the Citizens for Peace have coming up!
I'm very excited about sharing another year of peacemaking with you!
Click here to listen:
http://bodymindspiritradio.com/events/peace-plan

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

PEACE!

Colleen

Kim Redigan Talk on Her Visit to Haiti

 Kim Redigan and a Book Exchange at our Dec. 11th Meeting!

An educator, activist, mother, writer and advocate of active nonviolence, discusses her passion for peace with the Citizens for Peace as well as the public at Unity of Livonia Tuesday, December 11^th at 7 p.m.

Kim Redigan, of Dearborn Heights, who teaches at U of D High School, will tell of her recent trip to Haiti where she participated in a Peace Camp for the children living in Cite Soleil, a shantytown outside of Port-au-Prince. Her first trip to Haiti took her to the mountainous area for a celebration of the first college graduating class in rural Haiti.

With the two different perspectives of education in Haiti, Kim will share her experiences and impressions of education in Haiti.

Kim also teaches Social Justice at a two week Peace Camp every summer in Detroit. Her passion for peace has taken her to the Middle East with the Michigan Peace team three times in the last ten years. She is a nonviolence trainer with the Michigan Peace Team and writes for their newsletter. Kim serves on the board of Pax Christi MI; the Michigan Coalition of Human Rights; Southeastern MI Jobs with Justice; and is on the Coordinating Committee of the Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network. She is a peace ambassador with an extensive background of peace activism and will give a dynamic presentation on education in Haiti.

There will also be a Book Exchange after the presentation.  Anyone bringing a favorite book to trade can select another book to take home.  Unity of Livonia is located at 26880 Five Mile Road. All are welcome.

Steve Deasy Concert

Steve Deasy's  "Let Me Make Peace" Concert

Here's the link to our 9th Anniversary Concert with Steve Deasy!

Thanks Kevin 'Mr. Peace' Szawala for recording this fun evening!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwUz05H6QM4

(Steve Deasy Concert)

 

Peace,

Colleen

Compassionate Citizen Award

Caroline and Jerry Trout Receive the First Compassionate Citizen Award

What a wonderful evening it was giving the Compassionate Citizen Award to Caroline and Jerry Trout!

Here's the link (thanks to Kevin 'Mr. Peace' Szawala!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSa08l9BizE

(Compassionate Citizen Award Presentation)

 

Peace, 

Colleen

Thank You Steve Deasy!

What a great concert Steve performed for the Citizens for Peace 9th Anniversary!!

Our 9th Anniversary was a magical evening thanks to the wonderful music of Steve Deasy.
He designed the concert for the Citizens for Peace. He played the piano, guitar and harmonica;
and sang his own songs as well as songs from fellow songwriters. The concert was full of peace songs including his original song "Let Me Make Peace" and "Imagine". Steve sang some hilarious songs, as
well as songs that brought a few tears. If you would like to buy his CD, let me know.
Giving Caroline & Jerry Trout our first Compassionate Citizen Award was so special. Caroline was
surrounded by her family and friends. Let's hope we can follow Caroline & Jerry's example and be
more compassionate in 2013.
PEACE & HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Colleen

Steve Deasy Will Perform the Concert on Tuesday!

Steve Deasy will be singing the "Let Me Make Peace" Concert for the 9th Anniversary Celebration of the Citizens for Peace Tuesday, November 13th at Unity of Livonia at 7 p.m. Julie Beutel is too sick to sing on Tuesday. She suggested Steve might be able to do the concert; and luckily, he can!!  Steve plays the piano, guitar, and harmonica. He writes and sings funny, thought provoking, and inspiring music. His performance will both entertain and involve all of us.  Steve will have his CD's available for purchase at the concert. For a sampling of Steve's music, visit his website: www.stevedeasy.com.
See you Tuesday!

Julie Beutel Concert for Peace

Julie Beutel Concert for Peace Celebrates 9^th Anniversary of the Citizens for Peace

The public is invited to celebrate the 9^th anniversary of the Citizens for Peace and enjoy a Concert for Peace with local peace troubadour Julie Beutel on Tuesday, November 13^th at Unity of Livonia at 7 p.m.

Julie Beutel is a singer, guitarist, teacher, mother, and peace activist who spent many years living and working in several European and Central American countries.  She worked with Witness for Peace in Nicaragua during the war for almost two years. She has performed before 20,000 people in D.C.; and smaller audiences in her many concerts held in her home, coffee houses, schools, nursing homes, peace rallies, and numerous fund raisers for many charities. Julie has the ability to make you cry, laugh out loud, or squirm.  Her voice is beautiful and rich.  Her performances are personal, intimate and fun.  She tells stories, cracks jokes, and shares her passion for the truth. She loves to sing and perform more than almost anything else. Her audiences enjoy her and send the love back in a mutual exchange of joy.

The Citizens for Peace will present their first Compassionate Citizen Award honoring

Caroline and Jerry Trout.  When Caroline’s cousin and her husband were killed in an accident, they left five children including a toddler.  Caroline and Jerry adopted all five children to add to their family of two children. At Jerry Trout’s recent funeral service, their now adult children expressed their love, gratitude and admiration for both of their parents, showing that compassionate action is like a boomerang – it comes back to the sender. Telling stories of local heroes like Caroline and Jerry will hopefully inspire all of us to act compassionately in our own lives.

Following the concert, the celebration will end with participants enjoying an anniversary cake. 

All are welcome. 

Dr. David Connell Talk

Forgiveness: The Path to Peace

We enjoyed hearing Dr. David Connell's talk on forgiveness at our October meeting.
It is worth listening to again. Thanks to Kevin 'Mr. Peace' Szawala, we have the recording.
Enjoy!!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VagaifQv8SI

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.   

####

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.