Des Moines Seeks Peace

September 21 was established as an International Day of Peace by the United Nations in 1981. It is an annual observance of non-violence and ceasefire, according to the U.N.’s web site. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a 24-hour cessation of hostilities and for a minute of silence at noon local time as part of the 2007 commemoration. In Des Moines. the day was acknowledged by a Peace Fair held on Saturday, September 22 on the Court Street bridge over the Des Moines River.

Several organizations, approaching peace from a variety of directions, were represented at the event. Code Pink DM was there to let the public know it now exists. Judee Barnes was attending a protest at the Federal Building in downtown Des Moines when she met Code Pink activists from outside of the area. That, in turn, led to the August 1, 2007, launch of Code Pink DM. The local chapter is still getting situated but it has a group list at code_pink_DM@yahoogroups.com.

The Iowa United Nations Association (UNA) staff member at the Peace Fair talked with me about organizational issues, humanitarian agencies, and other issues related to the U.N. In addition to promoting discussion on assorted topics and support for the U.N., Iowa UNA gives priority to youth programs. It encourages participation in the Model U.N. at the University of Northern Iowa and in the Youth Symposium on the U.N. at the state Capitol in Des Moines. Iowa UNA is based in Iowa City, but there are activities in the Des Moines area.

Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) were two other large organizations with people willing to talk about peace at the event. Amnesty International meets the third Thursday of each month in the basement of the Friends Meeting House at 42nd and Grand. (This is near the 42nd and Ingersoll stop of the #1 bus, but the meetings start at 7:00 p.m. by which time the bus route is quite limited.) The ACLU’s efforts resulted recently in Iowans being given the opportunity to identify a party affiliation other than Democratic or Republican on their voter registration forms.

Short-term, issue-specific campaigns were advocating their positions. Kelly Mitchell, with Greenpeace’s Project Hot Seat, was sharing a cell phone so attendees could leave a message for Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA) to encourage him to lend his support to the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590). The Iraq Campaign, formerly Iraq Summer, had yard signs recommending “Support the troops, end the war.” Des Moines for Darfur asked people to use the presidential caucus process to help end genocide in the Sudan.

There were many more organizations at the Peace Fair than there is room to identify, let alone discuss, them. Even the Des Moines Public Library had a table to promote its range of books on peace, particularly those written for young readers. In this context, peace was at a very personal level, such as being kind to your neighbor.

Guest Writer: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.