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If war is not the answer, what is?
 The practical instruments of negotiation, aid, and development assistance, the psychological instrument of respect for human dignity and equality, and the political instruments of human, juridical, and civil rights provide a
more effective, just, and moral answer.
War Bill Includes Money for Peace
The massive war funding bill that President Bush signed on June 30 had one bright spot: $55 million to fund a civilian response corps.
This civilian effort strengthens the U.S. ability to prevent and resolve violent conflicts, creating teams that could be sent to crisis-torn countries to help provide basic services. FCNL has been lobbying for this effort as one of five things Congress can do now to build structures for peace.
Find out more.
Why Build Structures for Peace?
The United States has invested a great deal in fighting and winning wars but little in developing the resources necessary to prevent wars and deadly conflict.
Without these tools, the U.S. government will continue to resort to its massive war machine for solutions to all problems.
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Five Steps Congress Can Take Right Now to
Build Structures for Peace |
1. Fund Civilian Peacebuilders
Urge your representative to support funding for a civilian response corps in the 2009 State Department funding bill. Find out more.
2. Fund Reconciliation Programs
The U.S. government's "Reconciliation Program" supports projects such as a YMCA program in Jerusalem that brings together young Israelis and Palestinians to play sports and begin to establish bonds of understanding. |
3. Full Funding for U.S. Diplomacy
The State Department
has 1,100 empty desks at U.S. embassies. Urge your members of Congress to increase funding for diplomacy in the 2009 State Department funding bill. Find out more.
4. Fully Fund UN Peacekeeping and Pay $1.2 Billion in Arrears
Urge your representative to support appropriations to pay the $1.2 billion the United States owes for UN peacekeeping operations and to fully fund peacekeeping
operations the United States endorses and votes for. Find out more. |
5. Double Funding for Development Assistance
These programs address the poverty, lack of education, and hunger that are often root causes of conflict. Urge your representative to double funding for core development assistance from $1.2 billion to $2.4 billion.
Download FCNL's flyer (PDF) and share these steps with others. |
Reviewed:
07/10/2008
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