Racism in the Military Justice System: The GAO Responds

By:  Kathleen Gilberd; reprinted with permission; originally printed for Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft newsletter, Jan.- Mar. 2020 

The military portrays itself as an equal opportunity employer, prohibiting racial discrimination, punishing racist behavior and offering strong careers to people of color. The reality is far different: African-Americans and other people of color serve predominantly in the lower ranks and perform less glamorous jobs.

Letter to the Editor: What We Can Do About Gun Violence in Iowa

We applaud the Iowa Nurses Association in its recent issue of Iowa Nurse Reporter for taking a firm, evidence-based stance on gun violence: it is a public health crisis. We are two retired RNs who have been working in Decorah to educate our citizens about safe gun ownership and sensible gun legislation.

He’s Got Eight Numbers, Just Like Everybody Else

by Kathy Kelly, reprinted with permission; first published electronically for a Voices for a Creative Nonviolence (VCNV) email April 3, 2020

On April 4, 2020, my friend Steve Kelly will begin a third year of imprisonment in Georgia’s Glynn County jail. He turned 70 while in prison, and while he has served multiple prison sentences for protesting nuclear weapons, spending two years in a county jail is unusual even for him.

Book Review: Just Mercy, A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

By Christine Sheller

Just Mercy is a weaving of personal narrative, storytelling, and reasons to hope in the midst of a criminal justice system that’s broken.  Stevenson begins with some facts about incarceration and execution, along with his story about how he came to be founder and director of EJI- Equal Justice Initiative.

Iowa Peace Network Endorses Int'l. Conference "Stop the New Nuclear Arms Race"

By Christine Sheller

"Those who say a world without nuclear weapons is impossible need to get out of the way of those who are making it happen.” - Beatrice Fihn, ICAN

Iowa Peace Network recently endorsed the “Stop the New Nuclear Arms Race” scheduled for May 22-25, 2020 in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Nukewatch, the Nuclear Resister, and the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA), were planners for the event. 

Why are we talking about trauma? Is that the right word?

By Katie Mansfield, reprinted with permission; first published electronically from STAR/ Center for Justice and Rebuilding partnered with EMU (Eastern Mennonite University) based in Virginia.  A partner in St. Paul, MN as well.  Go to www.emu.edu/star to see more.

Harm is a word that can represent the impact of actions that create pain and stress. These actions may be intentional or unintentional.
In some cases, the creator/originator of the harm is unaware of actions’ impact or unavailable to be accountable for the impact. Not all harms lead to a trauma response, though many harmful situations can contribute to daily stress.

Using My Teaspoon to Make a Difference

By Susan Brogden, first published electronically by Churches for Middle East Peace, reprinted with permission

Just a little over one year ago, I returned from a three-month term of service with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). I lived in Bethlehem, experienced daily life in this Palestinian city, saw both its beauty and its devastation, witnessed both the warmth and the despair of the Palestinian people. Hardly a day passes when I don’t long to return.

Great Turn out for Climate Crisis Parade Feb. 1

By Christine Sheller

The Climate Crisis Parade held Saturday noon Feb. 1, organized by Bold Iowa along with cosponsoring organizations (numbering approximately 50) was amazing to see.  Bold Iowa reported approximately 1000 were present.  Unfortunately, there was not a lot of media attention, although there were reporters and photographers present!

As Trump escalates tension with Iran, 2020 candidates need clear vision for peace

By Arnie Alpert and Jon Krieg, American Friends Service Committee; reprinted with permission, first printed in the Des Moines Register and Concord Monitor

Just (less than a week) before votes are cast in Iowa and New Hampshire, the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani and Iraqi militia members has at last put matters of foreign and military policy at the center of the presidential campaign agenda.

Book Review: The Opposite of Hate by Sally Kohn

By:  Jess Hoffert

Hate: It’s a word that gets tossed around all-too-freely these days, from “I hate brussels

sprouts” to “I hate that person.” In her all-too-timely 2018 book The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing our Humanity,” CNN political commentator Sally Kohn digs deep into the roots of hate, identifying what true hate is before using case studies, interviews and personal experience to identify how and why we hate others.