The following content is a report from Victoria by the People’s Initiative for Departments of Peace:

They came by plane, bus, car, ferry, and on foot. Sixty men and women, representing diverse cultures, nations, ages, and languages, traveled to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, for the Second People’s Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace held June 19–22, 2006. Speaking with one voice they called on countries around the world to establish government structures whose goal is to work hand-in-hand with civil society — reflecting, building, and sustaining a culture of peace. (more…)

The Working Group for Government Initiatives, under the banner of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace (MfP/DoPs), presented a International Panel of Parliamentarians Supporting Departments of Peace, on June 25, followed by a series of 5 workshops on moving towards departments of peace. The panel featured Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Marianne Williamson, moderator, of the Peace Alliance, the home of the US Department of Peace campaign, the most advanced of these initiatives, and 7 other panelists from Canada, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Liberia, Solomon Islands and the Netherlands. The Hon. Dr. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, MLC, represented Australia, and the Hon. Shokichi Kina, MP, Japan, was represented by a member of Japan United for a Ministry of Peace (JUMP). The audience was fascinated to learn that both the Solomon Islands and the Philippines have already created prototype departments of peace, in advance of developed countries. (more…)