Action Reports from Springfield, MA; Eugene, OR; Grand Isle, ME; and Chennai, India
In understanding nonviolent action, sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. In these reports from Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, see smiling faces from around the globe show up to build Beloved Community together, working to end violence and promote peace.
Vasanthi Ranganathan shares the latest from her September 24 action in Chennai, India. Called “Harmony of hearts,” this event was attended by about 120 people of all ages. She writes: “On World Peace Day, 45 students aged 5-10 from our school, St. Joseph's Primary School, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, presented a heartwarming show and dance focused on unity and peace. The event was attended by three of our teachers and the nuns from the convent, who inspired the children with messages about living in harmony and staying united. The program was inspired by the vision of Rtn. Vasanthi Ranganathan, a Rotary Peace Activator from the Asia cohort, whose dedication to promoting peace encouraged this meaningful celebration. Young children were involved along with their fellow students in working on intergenerational conflict through dance, drama and presentation. We believe that it will leave a good impression in developing personalities respecting older people. Coming from this segment, I thank the school for their consistent work.”
Check out more in the video below.
In Springfield, MA, Mike Moran with Greater Springfield (MA) Campaign Nonviolence says that about 100 people attended their event on September 22, writing, “Members and friends of about 20 local groups working for peace and justice gathered to share information about our work with each other and the general public, and to build our connections for future collaboration in the hope of growing the success of our mutual efforts.”
David Hazen of Eugene, OR, shared that they set up a table at the Nobel Peace Park Festival on September 21, where they saw about 200 people. He writes, “There was a free event for the whole community in celebration of the International Day of Peace. There were performances by various local youth groups, fun activities for all ages, community mural making, food trucks and more. At our table, people received free headbands stamped with a peace dove, CNV stickers and had their picture taken. A few took literature about the legislation for a U.S. Dept. of Peacebuilding. People had an opportunity to affirm their support for nonviolence.”
In Grand Isle, ME, Rivera Sun joined the Ash Protection Community—Seed Scouting, writing, “On September 25, 2024, Skylandia Farm stewards Rivera Sun and Leah Cook searched for fruiting ash trees along river acres in Northern Maine as part of a University of Maine effort to build a seed library for endangered ash trees threatened by emerald ash borer. This project has been organized at the invitation of Wabanaki communities, who use ash for traditional baskets and other important Indigenous cultural practices.
Ella McDonald of Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) and a coordinator for the state-wide seed collection effort wrote, "As of now, most ash in Maine has not been impacted by Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and our state has the last healthy population of ash in the county. Thus we are in a critical place—before overstory ash is lost to EAB—in which we can collect seed for long term preservation of ash genetic diversity. Seeds collected now can be used for future research in partnership with Tribal Nations, university researchers, and the state and federal Forest Service. Currently, wild ash seeds from the region of Wabanakik are understocked in long-term storage facilities, especially brown ash seed, and ash genetics in this region could be crucial to finding genetic resistance to EAB."
We scouted along a creek bed—unusually dry due to drought likely caused by climate change—which is lined with ash trees. Earlier this season, they were defoliated by tent moth caterpillars and few fruiting trees were found. One particular stand of ash trees carried husks of seeds from last season, however, and the area will be scouted again next year. No signs of emerald ash borer were identified.
This action combined environmental issues and racial justice, continuing our intentional efforts to be better allies to and with Wabanaki Nations, recognizing that Skylandia Farm is on the traditional lands of the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik). This action was undertaken with awareness of how the human-caused climate crisis heightens and intensifies pest outbreaks like the emerald ash borer, and how this impacts land-based practices and traditional Indigenous communities.
By participating in this ash seed library project, a walk for plant species identification and seed collection is also a nonviolent action to counter environmental and cultural violence.
The ash seed library is a form of Gandhian constructive program, i.e. building an alternative or a solution to a form of violence. It is a project that seeks to mitigate not only the environmental harm of the destruction of ash stands in the region by the emerald ash borer, but also the cultural harm caused by depriving Wabanaki tribal members of access to essential resources for traditional practices. By going on a walk to seek seeds, we are participating in a nonviolent action to address both forms of violence.”
CNV Spirituality, Meditation & Nonviolence Affinity Group 2024
For their action, the Campaign Nonviolence Spirituality, Meditation & Nonviolence Affinity Group met online. Rivera Sun writes, “On September 24, 2024, the Spirituality, Meditation & Nonviolence Affinity Group hosted a discussion on its title themes. Seven people attended the intimate, deep conversation. Each shared insights on nonviolence from their spiritual practice (pagan, radical Catholic, Jewish, non-affiliated, and others). They spoke about how meditation provides moral understandings, the spiritual insights, and the mental discipline for interrupting habitual patterns of violence or passivity in order to use a nonviolent response. Participates explored how grappling with life-and-death situations has crystallized why they think embodying nonviolence is so important. They also acknowledged the difficulties of pursuing a nonviolent life in today's world, noting that spiritual practice supports us in rising to those challenges.
At the end of the 1-hr conversation, participants shared that they felt renewed, uplifted, affirmed, and connected. They mentioned that they had lots to think about in the days to come. Several newcomers expressed interest in joining the next monthly meeting of the Spirituality, Meditation & Nonviolence Affinity Group on Oct 29th from 5-6pm ET. https://forms.gle/V3cS56NDRGXT51Ft6
The Spirituality, Meditation & Nonviolence Affinity Group meets monthly on the last Tuesday of the month. It is part of the Campaign Nonviolence Affinity Group program which aims to foster nonviolence and nonviolent living year-round.
Discussions like this help people connect to the deep power of nonviolence. Participants gain a chance to articulate how their faith and spirituality support the engaged and active aspects of nonviolence, including navigating interpersonal conflicts and working for social change.”