By: Shana Hanson - Counselor, blueberry producer, and member of Peace Action Maine.
We are a mailing list of about 60 handwritten addresses, plus area churches and schools, here in Somerset County, Maine. We plan events that help to build bridges in our community. We look for common concern among our neighbors with varied political views. We try to foster community members' proactive ideas towards peace on every level: "world peace, neighborhood peace, school peace, home peace, and inner peace."
That is the motto on a sign in a little peace garden we planted in Coburn Park, Skowhegan on June 5, instigated by the high school art and Spanish teacher and with the support of the town, the Park Commission, and area businesses.
The idea of peace on every level means we can be participating in community forums on school violence; in work against family violence (coordinated by other organizations in our communities); and joining with others to meet needs and oppose conflict. We work together on community projects and publicize our events in community listings.
Working closely with War Tax Resisters, we have a tax day event that compares the dollars each family pays into the national military budget with the dollars each family puts into local education. It is very effective.
Our next public event will be "Circle Round the Peace Garden" on the fall equinox, September 23. We have sent out a request to teachers in area schools to give their students a creative writing assignment on "school peace" and to encourage students to participate on the 23rd with readings and music in Coburn Park. Attendees will be asked to bring a container of water from their personal and sacred places of peace for a ceremonial watering of our peace garden.
from Peace Talk, September, 1999Back to Peace Talk Index, September 1999