Award Winning Documentary Gandhi’s Children Featured

The film Gandhi’s Children will be shown at the Citizens for Peace meeting at 7 pm. on Tuesday, October 8^th at Unity of Livonia.  This film focuses on the lives of several groups of modern day untouchables in India.  “The untouchables are forced to lead a heartrending life.  They are not allowed to drink from the same wells, attend the same temples, and wear shoes in the presence of the upper caste, or fall in love with a member of another caste”, said Vishnu Vasu, the film’s director.  “After realizing the untouchables are socially and physically excluded, I decided it was high time that someone spoke about it at an international level”.  The film has played at over thirty film festivals and has won eight awards for Best Documentary Cinematography.

The public is invited to view and discuss this powerful film about the powerless in India.

ONE PEACE Celebration of the UN International Day of Peace

Join the Citizens for Peace as we observer the Day of Peace!

The annual ONE PEACE celebration of the UN International Day of Peace will be September 21st at the Livonia Civic Center Library located at 32777 Five Mile Road, from 1 – 4 P.M. The film With One Voice will be shown at 2 P.M. This film shares the wisdom and personal experiences of inspirational leaders from fourteen spiritual traditions. Their voices highlight the unity of humanity, and share the beauty of our essential oneness

Father Thomas Keating, Rabbi David A. Cooper, Dr. Mohammad Faghfoory, Gangaji, Joan Halifax, Swami Karunananda, Joseph Goldstein, Dr. Malidoma Patrice Some’, Brother David Steindl-Rast and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev are several of the mystics interviewed in With One Voice.

The Peace Pals International Art Display will be available for viewing. The art of children from sixty four countries with the message May Peace Prevail On Earth is a colorful and hopeful reminder of their desire for peace. Come and browse the tables of peace groups working to create a more peaceful world. 

Meet the Producers and View Film "Globalized Soul"

"Globalized Soul" Film and Discussion With Producers 
Kell Kearns and Cynthia Lucas

The film “Globalized Soul” will be featured at the September 10^th Citizens for Peace meeting at Unity of Livonia 28660 Five Mile Rd.) at 7 pm. The film focuses on the need for love and nonviolence for our survival. It is beautifully filmed in Israel, India, Turkey, Morocco, Australia, Mexico, and the United States. 

There are interviews with global spiritual leaders including Rabbi Michael Learner, Sister Joan Chittister, Reverand James Trapp, and Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari.

The stories of the peace-builders in India and Israel are the highlights of this inspiring film. In India, the poorest and most physically challenged are provided with medical help while the Dalai Lama holds interreligious dialogues with Jain scholars.  In Israel, courageous Muslim, Jewish and Christian peacemakers come together to affirm their oneness at a dinner celebrating the end of Ramadan.

“Globalized Soul is a sensitively made film on peace.  It leaves you with a positive feeling that peace is possible if we know how to build it” said Gandhi's grandson, Arun Gandhi after seeing the film.

Producers, Kell Kearns and Cynthia Lewis will be discussing the making of this film and will be available for questions after the viewing  of “Globalized Soul”.

All are welcome.

Vegetarian Potluck August 13th at Unity of Livonia

Our Annual Vegetarian Potluck is August 13th!
Bring your favorite vegetarian dish to share as we celebrate our work to create a culture of peace. We start at 6:30 pm.
As we enjoy a delicious dinner together, we will discuss the
connection between our food choices and climate change, world hunger, our health, compassion to animals and how "Meatless Mondays" can help us contribute to a more equitable, kind, healthy and safer world. Come and bring a friend. 

PEACE, LOVE & YOGA DAY

Register for the 2nd Annual Peace, Love & Yoga Day!

The Citizens for Peace and the Yoga Association of Greater Detroit are offering a special day for you to relax, rejuvenate and have fun at our second annual summer Peace, Love & Yoga Day!

It will be held on Saturday, August 24th at the Livonia Senior Center from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  The day includes lunch (prepared by our own George T. Mills.)

The schedule provides a variety of yoga sessions for beginners and advanced students, including Sun Salutations; Yoga for All; Chair Yoga; Laughing Yoga and Flowing Yoga.

There will be meditation with Kathy Henning; Mandala Coloring; words from Diana Kinascuk and the 10 Keys to Happiness practices - a film by Deepak Chopra.

Click HERE to download your registration form.

We're Not Broke!

This film documents how U.S. corporations have been able to hide over a trillion dollars from Uncle Sam, and how a growing number of Americans are demanding that corporations pay their fair share.

Join us in our ongoing discussion of our national budget.

 Tuesday, June 11, 2013

7 p.m.

Unity of Livonia

28660 Five Mile Rd. (E. of Middlebelt)

Livonia, Michigan 48154

(Free & open to the public)

Becoming a Kinder Gentler Nation

Becoming A Kinder Gentler Nation: 

Putting Our Money Where Our Morals Are

Thank you Ann Abdoo for an informative, thoughtful talk!

Click on the link to listen.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXYumh9Ivac&feature=youtube

 

 

Mothers Day Peace Wants a Piece of the Pie Visit

Colleen Mills, President of the Citizens for Peace; Cal Matle, Office Manager for Congressman Bentivolio; Melanie Collinsworth, District Scheduler/Caseworker for the Congressman; Gloria Gonek, Citizens for Peace Board Member

Mothers Day Peace Pie Delivered to Kerry Bentivolio's Office

Thanks to Gloria Gonek for arranging our annual visit to our representatives requesting support of peace legislation!  We had a great visit with the congressman's office manager, Cal Matle. He generously gave us over an hour to discuss our priorities of supporting legislation that would reduce violence such as the Youth Promise Act and the Department of Peacebuilding (H.R. 808).
We shared our Political Action Guide for Peace and a large packet of materials including information on the U.S. Peace Index.
Gloria presented an all-American cherry pie and accompanying pie chart showing our federal budget with a small sliver (1%)  for peace. 

May 14th Meeting Focuses on a Moral Budget

Becoming a Kinder Gentler Nation:

Shifting our Money to Support our Morals

The United States defense budget is greater than the combined defense budgets of the next seventeen largest spenders.  Our over-reach takes away from the basic needs of people here at home.  It is time to shift our priorities.   Ann Abdoo demonstrates how this shift could bring a dramatic change in our economy.   Her presentation will be at the Citizens for Peace meeting on May 14, at 7 pm at Unity of Livonia, (26880 Five Mile Rd. east of Middlebelt.)

Join in a ground swell effort to contribute to a national discussion on the benefits of more socially just society and ultimately a more peaceful world. 

Ann Abdoo has been a member of Citizens for Peace and a board member since 2004.  Her work in public libraries for over thirty years resulted in her developing her own philosophy of social justice, which she will share with you on Tuesday night, May 14^th.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Robert Weir Shares the People of Calcutta

Joy in the Face of Poverty

What a beautiful presentation Robert Weir shared with us!
With the pictures and videos Robert shared, we experienced
being with colorful, beautiful people of the Calcutta slum.
Here's the link to view again!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V--73yFJdg

Michael Wickett Presents

Thanks to Michael Wickett we are focusing on the power of gratitude in creating our powerful life vision!

Here is the YouTube link from Michael Wickett's talk on "Creating a Powerful Life Vision" for you to put on the website:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAKIblsAb8g

Michael also shared these documents to guide us in asking the questions to help us change our lives and relationships. 

 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_xQX09SypdLa21SX1J0R2lsRmc/edit

Robert Weir Talk on India

Life Among the People in a Calcutta Slum with Robert Weir

Experience the colorful contrasts of the people of India as seen through the eyes of Michigan author Robert M. Weir at the 7 p.m. Citizens for Peace meeting Tuesday, April 9^th at Unity of Livonia.

Robert will share his experiences traveling Northern India by bus and train, then living among the people of a Calcutta slum.  An author, photographer, traveler and speaker, he spent 10 months in India recording the lives of those around him.

In story, video, and photographs, he captures joy in the face of poverty through scenes ranging from children playing simple games, participants in community celebrations to street vendors, shops and eateries.

A natural storyteller, Robert will provide enlightening commentary throughout his presentation.

Unity of Livonia is located at 28660 Five Mile Road.  The talk is free and open to the public.  All are welcome

Peace and Conflict Discussion Series

Join us for the final discussion of our Peace and Conflict Discussion Series!

 

If you haven't had time to read The Third Side: Why We Fight and How We Can Stop, by William Ury, don't let that stop you from coming to the discussion on Thursday, April 4th   at the Livonia 

Civic Center Library.  We will be giving an overview of the book and showing a short DVD of the authordiscussing, "The Third Side" to enhance our discussion.  Come and learn some new tools, so that you can take concrete steps to immediately put to use these principles in your own life.

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

Michael Wickett Workshop April 6th at 10:30 AM!

Creating a Powerful Life Vision

The free workshop “Creating a Powerful Life Vision” will be presented at Unity of Livonia 

Saturday, April 6^th from 10:30 AM to noon. Highlights of the workshop include: 

1.  The essential step to a new life;    

2.  Turning obstacles into opportunities; 

3.  Using gratitude to empower your life; and 

4.  Stop settling for mundane results.  

It will be an opportunity for participants to create the life they dream of.

feels the two best speakers in America, are Zig Ziegler and Michael Wickett.

Michael Wickett has been a speaker and trainer for over twenty-five years. 

He conducts programs on leadership, selling skills, customer service and peak performance.   

He has developed and teaches life skills programs for recovering alcoholics and has hosted a 

documentary for Public Television titled “Michigan and The American Dream.”   

He has had many corporate clients and has spoken to numerous churches and spiritual centers. 

 Dan Strutzel, Vice President for Nightingale Concant, the world’s largest producer of audio success products, said that after fifteen years of hearing all the world’s major speakers… 

He feels the two best speakers in America, are Zig Ziegler and Michael Wickett.

 

Michael’s DVD’s including his best selling “It’s All Within Your Reach” will be available for purchase.

Love offerings will be shared by Citizens for Peace and Unity of Livonia.  
Come & bring your friends!  They will thank you for it!

Thank You Cecile Pineda!

Cecile Pineda Shares Lessons from Fukushima

What an informative talk we received from Cecile Pineda! Thank you to Cecile Pineda and all of the organizations supporting her Great Lakes tour. The Womens International League for Peace and Freedom helped with her travel expenses and deserve a big thank you! Thanks especially to Kay Cumbow and Laura Dewey for all of their work planning the tour. We were glad to help raise awareness on such an important issue. Here is the link to her talk on Fukushima:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsL0ofdjuLs&feature=youtu.be

Charter for Compassion Talk

Colleen Mills Presents Karen Armstrong's Charter for Compassion

Here's the link to view the information about the Charter for Compassion that was presented at our February meeting. If you haven't signed the Charter yet, to to the website and sign it.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pRlDLGsYYs

Lessons from Fukushima With Cecile Pineda

Award-Winning Author Offers Lessons from Fukushima

at Unity of Livonia

As part of her 10-day book tour of the Great Lakes region, author Cecile Pineda will share her stirring insight of the nuclear industry with metro Detroit audiences on Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at Unity of Livonia.  Ms. Pineda’s latest book, Devil’s Tango: How I Learned the Fukushima Step by Step, is a provocative and heart-wrenching exploration of the nuclear industry and the ongoing impact of the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility in Japan on March 11, 2011.  An update on the consequences of the tragic event will be a major focus of Pineda’s talk.  Her book tour coincides with the second anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. 

Published on the one-year anniversary of the disaster, the book, in Pineda’s own words, is “a crazy quilt of multiple voices, pieced together day-by-day.”  At times lyrical, meditative or even comical – yet always disturbing – it reflects her anguished attempt to come to terms with Fukishima’s catastrophic consequences to the entire planet.  “We are beyond the place where available technology can address what is ongoing and probably will be ongoing for many, many decades,” says Pineda. 

Published by WingsPress, copies of Ms. Pineda’s newest book will be available for signing and sale at the Unity of Livonia engagement. The Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, U.S. Chapter is sponsoring Cecile’s Great Lakes Tour.

Cecile Pineda has been an anti-war activist from early life.  Her novels, all available from WingsPress.com, have been critically acclaimed, with Face, winning the Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal – a record for first fiction, as well as the Sue Kaufman Prize and a National Book Award nomination.  Her picaresque novel, The Love Queen of the Amazon, written with an NEA Fiction Fellowship, was named a Notable Book of the Year by The New York Times.

The local group, Citizens for Peace, is sponsoring her stop in Livonia, along with the Alliance to Halt Fermi 3; Huntington Woods Peace, Citizenship & Education Project; IHM Justice, Peace and Sustainability Office; Nukewatch; Peace Action of MI; Sierra Club (Southeast MI); Swords Into Plow Shares Peace Center & Gallery; Women’s Action for New Directions (Southeast MI); and Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (Detroit).  Local activists invite the public to this free event.  For more information call Colleen at 734-425-0079.

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?