Peace Building

2nd Annual Peace in Power Giant Puppet Parade

New Orleans youth are crying out for a stop to violence! Our response to this outcry is “The Second Annual Peace is Power Giant Puppet Parade” organized by The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in partnership with The Leona Tate Foundation, O. Perry Walker High School, Be Creative Studios and Skookum Productions. The parade was held on Saturday September 17, 2011 from 5-8pm at Duncan Plaza across from New Orleans City Hall.

Azad Yousif

Azad Yousif, an intern with AFSC Iowa in the summer of 2011, researched various costs of war.

By Jon Krieg, AFSC Senior Administrative Associate

An engaging young man with an irrepressible smile, Azad Yousif knows firsthand the costs of war. This summer, during an internship with AFSC, Azad took a closer look at various ways in which the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are draining our human and fiscal resources.

MFSA march in Des Moines 6-6-11

Supporters of peace march on June 6, 2011 in downtown Des Moines in an event organized by the Iowa Methodist Federation for Social Action. Kathleen McQuillen, AFSC Iowa Program Coordinator, holds the second "e" on the right.

By Rodger Routh, Des Moines area peace and justice videographer

Iowa Methodists and friends speak out for peace at their second annual peace and justice event. Bishop Julius Trimble helped gather these good people to say loud and clear that war is not the way to peace. End war now. Now is the time to speak out to government officials and tell them Bring the Troops Home. End the support of endless war. Use the dollars for the good of people and the earth, NOT destruction and violence!

Chinese Scholars' Study Tour Peacekeeping Peacebuilding Burundi DRC

Senior BNUB staff walks China delegation out after post-briefing at United Nations offices in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Six of China’s leading researchers participated in a recent study tour in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), supported by AFSC’s Asia and Africa programs and the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in New York.   Their interest in broadening their studies on the United Nations and Africa to explore civil societies meshes with AFSC’s decades-old support for similar work both in China and Africa.

Annie Frundle and Matt Burton

Annie Frundle and Matt Burton, AFSC Interns, made significant contributions to AFSC KC’s work for peace over the past year.

This week I have reflected on the work of two AFSC interns in Kansas City who have completed their work with us over the past school year. I have also wished them well in their next endeavor and know they will be doing good things! Annie Frundle, our social work intern from Avila University, and Matthew Burton, our Campus Peace Intern from Park University, have each significantly contributed to our work for peace.

James Zogby

James Zogby

Pollster James Zogby spoke at Drake University in Des Moines recently at an event sponsored by AFSC and several other organizations. Zogby encouraged Americans to listen to what people in the Arab world are saying.

Des Moines videographer Rodger Routh created this 15-minute video featuring snippets from Zogby's talk:

 http://www.youtube.com/user/soundslikesouth1#p/u/6/-Ad0_7LylI8.

volunteers in DC

Chicago AFSC volunteers are living out the motto made famous by anthropologist Margaret Meade: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”