There are many ways Action Week makes an impact, and this group of reports highlights quite a few of them. In person events show the community that there is strength in numbers to create change, whether focusing on city resolutions or immediately bettering a place by cleaning it up. Online events allow people to connect from all around the world with common goals, and include folks who may not have the ability to travel for in person events. Discussions and planning, movie nights and marches all build a culture of nonviolence. You can see the full list of this year’s actions here and share your post-action report if you’ve got one.

Brad Wolf of Peace Action Network of Lancaster, PA shares: “We held a virtual event interviewing Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug about her new book And Then Your Soul Is Gone: Moral Injury and U.S. War Culture. This was an educational forum designed to enlighten listeners and help change the culture of war currently existing in this country. Lancaster newspapers ran an article about the event and an Op-Ed I wrote regarding our organization and the international day of peace.”

Isaac Omondo of Nairobi, Kenya tells us: “On 9/18 we held a cleanup event with 26 people including classroom activities about rubbish breakdown, sustainable consumption and production.”

Cetta Smart of Nonviolent Joliet, IL writes: “Our second kickoff for Nonviolent Cities Project-Joliet was September 21,2021. We had speakers from many diverse and important organizations—BLM, Working Families, OneJoliet, Joliet Junior College (where we are hoping to reserve a room to meet once a month with stakeholders), pastors, board members, and a candidate for Illinois state Senator. We had previous peace gatherings in August to build relationships and share information, and we have a follow up meeting scheduled in October to work on a permanent meeting place so we can plant our peace pole and work on our mission statement to present as a resolution to Joliet Council members. One city at a time, if we build cities for peace, perhaps it will spread to nations and the world.”

Nick Rea of the Preemptive Love Coalition shares, “Members of the Preemptive Love team hosted a viewing of their short film “Love Anyway.” It was attended by 25+ people and after the viewing, we held a question/answer session for all in attendance. Following the session, we provided a few action items for all in attendance to take with them. We invited them to join our new workshop series, Stop the Spread of Violence, a 6-week nonviolence workshop training designed and facilitated by experts in the field of conflict, education, and nonviolence principles. The second action item was an invitation to attend our September 29, event with professionals sharing unique stories and insights on how we can advocate for those struggling with emotional stability, support those dealing with mental illness, and create healthy boundaries for ourselves to sustain our thoughts and emotions during such trying times. Thirdly, we invited attendees to bring the Preemptive Love Community to where they live. You are on the frontlines of your community and we believe in your voice and capacity for love. Our goal was for this film and time together to inspire and motivate people to be the change they wish to see and to do that by beginning in their own communities and relationships, because wars don't start on the battlefield. Wars start in our own hearts and minds, and in our posture towards each other.” You can see the meeting recording here with passcode Action2021!

And check out Twin Cities Nonviolent’s 10 Days Free From Violence Online Conference: https://www.facebook.com/TwinCitiesNonviolent/videos/381300953631600

Amy Morrison of the Backbone Campaign in Seattle, WA shares: “Salmon and orca loving activists in 10 locations across the Pacific Northwest showed up for World Rivers Day, in solidarity with tribes, calling for the removal of the 4 dams on the Lower Snake River. Banner actions happened in Spokane, Wenatchee, Boise, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, including at the Capitol, Portland, Walla Walla, Port Townsend, and Whidbey Island.
The Snake River is the #1 Most Endangered River in the US. Breaching of the 4 dams would be the largest river restoration project in the US. Removing (or breaching) those dams is inevitable—but it must happen before the salmon (and orca) go extinct. We are dangerously close to that happening.
@SenatorMurray, @MariaCantwell, and @JayInslee, this is on your watch—don't let your legacy be as the Extinction Trio. Bannering is a pretty easy way to reach tens of thousands of commuters on a busy day. When we hold banners on freeway overpasses we try and make eye contact with each driver, wave, smile, make heart shapes with hands, etc. Drivers share the love back, some flip us off or give us a thumbs down, but it's still cool to connect with folks one on one in this way. For those who held banners on sidewalks, they passed out info about the issue and did a fair amount of education about the Snake River dams.”