Rep. Ellison To Speak At Mother's Day Peace Convocation in Mahtomedi

Mother's Day Convocation for a More Peaceful World:
Cut the costs of violence, peace wants a piece of the pie.

With Congressman Keith Ellison
Sami Rasouli of Najaf, Reverend Victoria Safford
10 a.m. Saturday, May 10 2008
White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church
328 Maple Street
Mahtomedi, MN 55115.
FFI Do Peace Minnesota 651-426 - 9940 or Mary Jane LaVigne 651- 426-8616

Mother's Day began after the Civil War. It was proclaimed in the hope future generations would not pay so dearly again. Today,the dollars we spend on defense skyrocket. Yet, we can't help feeling disappointed at the violence still rocking Iraq. We are concerned about the effects of multiple tours on our military, including those that come home safe and sound. Nor is "over there" the only place to see the escalating costs of violence. The World Health Organization estimates the costs of interpersonal violence in the United States at over $300 billion per year. School shootings threaten our children's sense of well being, yet programs to prevent school violence were cut by 30% between 2001 and 2007.

In his first term in Congress, Keith Ellison has been a champion for many peace-building initiatives both international and domestic, including the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Peace.

Sami Rasouli, is an Iraqi-Minnesotan who has spent the last three years living in the city of Najaf and traveling throughout Iraq in his work with Muslim Peacemaker Teams.

Victoria Safford is minister at White Bear Lake Unitarian Universalist Church. Her presentations connect our own lives to the bigger world and our efforts toward the greater, common good.

The event is free and open to the public. There is a free will offering of money or baked goods.