by Danny Muller, PAM Director
Recently, when Peace Action Maine
celebrated its 25th anniversary, it was a
time for reflection—moments of recognition
for recent victories, and recognition
of the work necessary for the kind
of change mandated in our mission: to
be a center for disarmament and creative
responses to conflict.
We have the physical center in our new home at the Meg Perry Center at 644 Congress in Portland, but we have also taken many steps to increase the resources available for residents and members throughout Maine to take action.
Our program for 2008, Reclaim Maine, can be summed up in three words: Educate, Act and Give. We are creating an Organizing Guide for Maine to educate ourselves and others.
We are forming groups for action around the campaign to ban cluster bombs, to stop nuclear proliferation, and to educate our fellow citizens about the costs of war.
We are, in conjunction with the Maine Peace Fund, encouraging all to donate to PAM and to the nine projects we support that work to aid victims of war.
The best way to get more information is to renew or become a member. We encourage you to visit www.peaceactionme. org. Building on the past work of Enid Sharp and Debbie Atwood, we have initiated a new membership program, and changed the starting date for membership to coincide with the calendar year. So, starting in 2008, we will move to annual membership, and we invite you to participate.
The reasons your membership is so essential are twofold. One, the most sustainable way for PAM to continue is through the support and expansion of its membership. The second is that becoming a member allows PAM to be more effective in its lobbying. By building a critical mass throughout the state we can impact change.
As elections take center stage in 2008, it is undeniable that civil society, not political parties, made the war a central issue. The strength of groups like Peace Action Maine is our consistent message and our persistent effort toward peace and justice. Whether Democrats or Republicans are in office, a participatory democracy must be influenced and affected by the will of the people. As the majority of Mainers call for an end to war, it is Peace Action Maine that puts the facts, events and tools in your hands and works to amplify that call. Become a member and be part of a 2008 that works to Reclaim Maine from legislators, corporations and war profiteers who continue to create an endless cycle of violence.
