A coalition of Native American activists halted a pipeline as their protests drew national attention. The U.S. Government has halted the construction of the pipeline at least temporarily that was slated to go through land considered sacred to the Standing Rock Sioux. The pipeline was to bring crude oil from North Dakota, Montana and parts… Read more »
Transforming Initiatives
Colombia Peace Process–Backstory and Update
To update our post about the backstory of the Colombia Peace Process, the Colombian electorate narrowly voted down the signed peace accord. Now the parties have to return either to negotiation or war. The rejection highlighted the tension between four principles that John Paul Lederach discussed in his “Journey Toward Peacemaking.” In Psalm 85:10 Truth… Read more »
Kidnapping Foiled by Nonviolent Intervention
17-year old Malyk Bonnet in Quebec, Canada thwarted a kidnapping by befriending the kidnapper and staying in public places with him and the woman being kidnapped. He noticed the fear in the woman’s eyes and decided to stay engaged to protect and help her. Eventually he was able to call the police, and the kidnapping… Read more »
Flags of Solidarity
When a lesbian couple in Natick, Massachusetts had their home egged and a rainbow peace flag stolen following the Orlando shooting, neighbors mobilized to cover most of the neighborhood in rainbow flags of solidarity. https://www.facebook.com/pinknews/videos/10154483211906518/
New Bike for Palestinian Girl
An Israeli peace activist Lonny Basqin bought a bike for Anwar Burqan, a Palestinian girl whose bicycle was seized by Israeli border guards and thrown away. The connections made are expanding and shining a transforming light into a long, ugly conflict. The new bike originally came from Sam Jolles, a U.S./Israeli businessman. Jolles’ father had… Read more »