For the holidays I’ve been asking for pretty basic things; peace on earth has been the big one. For those who think that’s a bit much to ask, I’ve said that donations to ICPJ (www.icpj.net) are a good start.

Beyond that, here at the office we have a few small requests that would make our work more productive or pleasant:

• CD player/boom box
• computer speakers
• flip chart paper
• conference table
• office chair
• Uninterrupted Power Supply for computer
• Laptop lock
• file folders in good condition
• button maker
• Subscription to Sojourners, Tikkun, Grassroots Fundraising Journal, Nonprofit Quarterly, or other progressive religious magazines

We also have some volunteer opportunities coming up. Whether you want to post flyers, distribute newsletters, do office work, write thank-you letters, work to get peace issues into the media, or help organize lobby days and other events, ICPJ can put your skills to work.  Contact volunteer@icpj.net or call 734-663-1870 for details. We also have volunteer opportunities posted online at http://www.icpj.net/volunteer-opportunities-at-icpj/

Time is running out! December 1 is the last day to fill out the ICPJ Survey online at

http://www.icpj.net/survey

This is a great way to share your thoughts for ICPJ’s future. As an added bonus, survey participants may enter a drawing to win a free 2007 Syracuse Cultural Workers Peace Calendar.

We also welcome you to give more in-depth feedback. We are organizing three public focus groups (I prefer to think of them as listening sessions).  These are chances for small groups to share and discuss their thoughts about where ICPJ should focus its energies.

We currently have these listening sessions scheduled for December 7 from 7:30 to 9, December 11 from 2 to 3:30, and January 8 from 7:30 to 9:00.  We’ll provide some food, you provide your thoughts!

Email chuck@icpj.net or call 734-663-1870 to RSVP for one of these listening sessions.

The following “Other Voices” piece ran in the Sunday, November 26, 2006 edition of the Ann Arbor News. It was written by ICPJ-members Jim Varani and Dick Brown.

The recent North Korean nuclear test has once again brought the issue of nuclear weapons to the public’s attention. Again, we face the question: Can the world truly be safe from nuclear war as long as nations possess these weapons? As members of the Disarmament Working Group at the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice (ICPJ), we believe that the time to end the nuclear weapons age is now. We feel, furthermore, that our religious communities should lead the way. Continue Reading »

Recently there have been numerous changes in ICPJ’s Middle East program, and several questions about them. To help provide background to for these changes, here are three documents that address the history of the challenges that we have addressed.

Continue Reading »

Please join us for a light dinner and film, with discussion afterwards. Set in a post 9/11 Los Angeles, Crash examines racial tolerance in contemporary America, highlighting the struggles and fears of people in their daily lives. With an all-star cast featuring Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and others, this film offers no easy answers… just the chance to reflect on ourselves and the impact of our actions and beliefs.

Thursday, December 14th at 6:00pm at Memorial Christian Church, 730 Tappan, Ann Arbor.

This movie is rated R for language, sexual content, and some violence.

Free and open to the public, donations accepted. RSVP requested. For more information or to RSVP: info@icpj.net or 734-663-1870

Sunday was the big day for me, the Detroit Marathon Run for Peace. I’m happy to report that I managed to run the full race, all 26.2 miles, and I was still able to walk the next day (though stairs did present a bit of a challenge). Continue Reading »