Peace Caucus-III
This is the third in a series of linked sessions that will develop conversations about how citizens' groups working on issues of poverty, social inclusion, racism, sexism, opposition to militarism and violence, environment, and peace can unite more effectively to promote changes in U.S. domestic and international policies. Panelists will be selected from diverse social movements in the United States, and they will be asked to consider how their group(s) might work to build new ties to other groups opposing violence in all its forms. We will also extend the conversation to consider how peace and justice advocates in other parts of the world are responding to U.S. economic and military practices.

The Peace Caucus seeks to help build a large and forceful movement against U.S. militarism at home and abroad. A series of linked, peace caucus panels will move from identifying the major obstacles to peace (I), to outlining promising initiatives for advancing alternatives to current policies--including a citizens' peace initiative for Iraq and lessons from abroad (II), to developing a strategic plan and network of alliances to help advance peace and justice initiatives (III).

This third session aims to develop a Plan of Action for Peace, which identifies major initiatives around which USSF delegates will develop their own organizations' work. The Plan of Action for Peace will then be brought to leaders in the international World Social Forum movement to seek support from international movements to end U.S. militarism and unjust economic policies. We hope the caucus will agree to put forward a call for a follow-up to the massive global protest against war of February 15, 2003 on its fifth anniversary in mid-February 2008. Using the networks established through the World Social Forum process, we hope this call for public demonstrations will generate an even larger, worldwide public mobilization to call on the world's governments to end war, occupation, and economic injustice.

*Groups wishing to be part of a peace caucus panel, or part of discussions for planning panel sessions should contact ussfpeacecaucus@sbcglobal.net

LANGUAGE: English (volunteer translators will be present); Handouts (English and Spanish)