The Peace Alliance of USA wrote to WTRF....!!!

Matthew, The Peace Alliance to me

A Nobel Prize for the President
Amidst Staggering New Youth Violence Statistics

Obama wins Nobel Peace prize: call the Whitehouse today

Major new study released shows a staggering 60% of children exposed to violence in past year, higher than ever suspected previously.

Dear Shan,

It is becoming more clear everyday that the work of peacebulding is charging into the mainstream. Both nationally and globally, the work of peace is becoming better understood and more of a political priority. The award of a Nobel Peace prize just this morning to President Obama is further evidence of a shift toward a culture that values diplomacy and peacemaking in the highest reaches of government, even if U.S. policies are still only at the cusp of the changes we need. We congratulate the president for this acknowledgement.

In the meantime, a major new study released this week shows even more clearly the daunting challenges we face. The Obama administration -- with the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General -- called for a "national conversation on values to address youth violence" after some highly discouraging news. Attorney general Eric Holder stated:
"The Department of Justice is releasing a new study today that measures the effects of youth violence in America, and the results are staggering. More than 60 percent of the children surveyed were exposed to violence in the past year, either directly or indirectly. Nearly half of children and adolescents were assaulted at least once, and more than one in ten were injured as a result. Nearly one-quarter were the victim of a robbery, vandalism or theft, and one in sixteen were victimized sexually. Those numbers are astonishing, and they are unacceptable. We simply cannot stand for an epidemic of violence that robs our youth of their childhood and perpetuates a cycle in which today's victims become tomorrow's criminals." ~ News Conference on Youth and School Violence. Chicago, Ill. Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Please call the whitehouse today to let the president know how you feel about peacemaking. Offer the president your congratulations on the Nobel Peace Prize, urging him to continue down this path of peace. Also, urge him to get behind The Youth PROMISE Act (H.R. 1064, S.435), as it offers one of the most compelling and powerful opportunities yet to address the prevention of youth violence, and has been written in conjunction with the people on the ground doing the work. His support could move it along faster than anyhting.

CALL THE WHITE HOUSE:
Comments: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
You can write the Whitehouse at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

We are hopeful and encouraged that the President will continue to move down a path of leadership in the realm of peacebuiding initiatives. Our work at The Peace Alliance -- and through many other organizations who work to make peacebuilding a priority -- are needed now as much as ever to continue to articulate its potential and great need. Given the current political climate, we have never had more potential for reaching mainstream precedence.
This is an opportune moment to invest even more of our resources, whether through our time or money, into making the work of peacebuilding a stronger priority. We are told time and again from members of congress and many others in the field, that our organization and grassroots network are making a tangible difference toward real change. Through our advocacy over the years for a U.S. Department of Peace, our work to educate thousands about the potential of the field of peacebuilding, and more recently our support for the Youth PROMISE Act, we are having an impact. We are set to grow into an even more powerful force for good in the months and years ahead. Thank you for continuing to work with us.

In Peace,

Matthew Albracht
Staff, The Peace Alliance

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