July 30, 2008 > A World Beyond Violence A World Beyond Violence 2008 California Department of Peace Conference Submitted By Christine Elliot The 2008 Department of Peace Conference will educate attendees about specific options for nonviolent solutions to conflict and how to make those options more accessible to all, helping to transform our culture into "a world beyond violence." Conference segments and speakers will relate directly to the nationwide movement to pass House Resolution 808 now in Congress, to establish a cabinet level U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. A "Peace Innovation Award" will be presented to University of California, Berkeley, which has graduated more students from its Peace Studies department than any other university in the United States. The following people are scheduled to appear. Marianne Williamson, best-selling author and lecturer, founder of The Peace Alliance and host of XM Radio's Oprah & Friends, Friday evening, keynote speaker of "The Politics of Possibility" Dr. Megan Bair-Merritt, national family violence expert Albany Mayor Robert Lieber Sela Gaglia from "Challenge Day" Rev. Andre Schumake, Richmond Organizer Anne Symens-Bucher, nonviolent communications guru Mike Abkin of Peace Partnership International Aqeela Sherrills, Los Angeles gang mediator, (Saturday keynote speaker) Wendy Greene, Peace Alliance Managing Director Lynn McMullen, National Department of Peace Campaign Consultant Matthew Albracht of Summer of Peace, the 2010 peace community model project Aeeshah and Kokomon Clottey of Oakland's Attitudinal Healing Center Samina Faheem Sundas, Executive Director of American Muslim Voice Swami Beyondananda, humorist The aim is to enlighten, inspire, educate, excite, entertain, invigorate and encourage attendees to support the creation and funding of a cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence, currently articulated in H.R. 808, in order to reduce and prevent violence in all its forms at local, national and international levels. The bill currently has 70 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Department of Peace will build and promote proven programs that prevent and reduce interpersonal violence in the U.S. (e.g., child and partner abuse, school shootings, gangs, criminal violence) that drains our economy of over $300 billion per year (2004 Report from the World Health Organization). For details and registration, visit our conference website: www.conference.afdop.org A World Beyond Violence 2008 California Department of Peace Conference University of California, Berkeley Friday, August 1, 7:00 p.m, to Sunday, August 3, 12:30 p.m www.conference.afdop.org