Join the Axis of Friendship: Light a candle for peace on September 12

A group of northern California peace activists, including several members of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (such as Rita Nakashima Brock of Faith Voices for the Common Good and the Rev. Patricia de Jong of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley), have recently organized a "festival of friendship" to take place this month on September 12th. The initiative has already sparked efforts in other local communities across the country -- the Columbus Peace Fellowship (an FOR chapter in Indiana) is one example of those who have also quickly signed on to "light a candle for peace" next Friday.

This effort will be held at the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. And at this time of intense presidential campaigning in the United States, with the news dominated by coverage of the political conventions where the language of fear and "security" are prevalant, it is indeed worthwhile for us to step back and create a space for peace.

For while we must indeed focus on addressing the big picture -- What are the foreign policy proposals of the two major parties? Are both the Republican and Democratic candidates committed to an aggressive, militaristic stance against Iran? (Read, watch, or listen to Amy Goodman's interview of Scott Ritter about vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, held yesterday on Democracy Now!) -- sometimes it is the small, simple actions we take for peace that can make the difference. As an example:

Yesterday, Iranian "bicyclist for peace" Nasim Yousefi sent me an email from Vancouver, Canada. Nasim and her husband Jafar Edrisi had spent the previous eight months in the U.S., biking around our nation to bring a message of environmental care and peace through simple conversations with U.S. citizens and by planting trees in our communities to express those commitments that we share across our cultures. Nasim expressed appreciation

"for all your help, time, kindness and friendship. FOR connections were like a bridge of peace for us to meet more people and [to] send this important message to them. thanks again for every thing, we hope to meet you this time in Iran."

Light a candle, plant a tree, make a simple act for peace to help grow this "axis of friendship." (You can keep connected to Nasim and Jafar's journey -- they are now headed to Japan and then mainland Asia -- by visiting their website and subscribing on it for regular updates.)