2007 US Social Forum
Thefirst U.S. Social Forum took place June 27-July 1, 2007, bringingbetween 12,000 and 15,000 people from diverse movements around the countrytogether to discuss the problems we confront and to explore new ways ofworking together. The Peace Caucus was a series of three workshopsduring which participants discussed the challenges of buildingcoalitions to do peace and justice work, considered ideas being putforward by various groups, and developed consensus on strategies forhelping renew and strengthen social movements working to end war andits underlying causes. The final declaration represents thecommitments they made to carryingforward the ideas they discussed. It is included among the resolutionsof the People’s Movement Assembly of the US Social Forum. It indicateswhat USSF participants learned about how we can carry forward work forsocial change in our country and world. We urge friends and supportersto build upon this promising beginning to try new ways of working forpeace and justice. Comments on the plan and ideas for helping advance this initiative can also be sent to ussfpeacecaucus@sbcglobal.net.
Final Declaration and Action Plan
Adopted by the Peace Caucus of the United States Social Forum
June 30, 2007, Atlanta Georgia
Inorder to achieve the citizen’s peace plan (see below), to strengthenwork for peace and social justice, and to prevent future wars,delegates to the Peace Caucus at the United States Social Forum commitourselves to taking the following actions to make another worldpossible. We encourage others in the United States and around theworld to join with us to advance the cause of peace with justice.
1) Wewill participate in multiple activities of community groups other thanour own, following the motto of "giving before we ask" others tosupport our campaigns.
2) In ourwork we will remain consistently mindful of the connections betweenjustice, peace, human rights, and human relations on the earth.
3) We will constantly strive to facilitate healing as we work to promote a culture of peace and human rights.
4) Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2008, we commit to building awareness of human rights in our communities.
5)We commit to continuing the conversations begun at the United StatesSocial Forum, sharing what we have learned and supporting each other inmoving forward. We will work to support social forums in ourcommunities in January 2008 as we look towards the second U.S. SocialForum in 2010.
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The Citizen’s Peace Plan for Iraq was adopted by those assembled at the Peace Caucus of the U.S. Social Forumin Atlanta, and it builds upon the conversations and insights shared inthose meetings. We hope many groups will take up this call to actionand carry forward the work begun at the U.S. Social Forum. TheCitizen’s Peace Plan, it is hoped, can unite diverse groups around asingle plan for brining U.S. troops home and building lasting peace inthe Middle East and in the world. People need to know that there arealternatives to the current policies being discussed by our politicalleadership. We urge those working for peace and social justice toendorse the citizen’s peace plan by sending an email to: ussfpeacecaucus@sbcglobal.net.We also ask you to help spread the word about the Citizen’s Peace Planthrough your networks, letters to local newspapers and newsletters, andletters to elected officials in local, state, and nationalgovernments. Comments on the plan and ideas for helping advance this initiative can also be sent to ussfpeacecaucus@sbcglobal.net.
Citizen's Peace Plan
Adopted by the Peace Caucus of the United States Social Forum
June 30, 2007, Atlanta Georgia
We, participants in the U.S. Social Forum Peace Caucus
Recognizing the devastating effects of the U.S. occupation on the Iraqi people;
Andacknowledging the relevance of the Iraq war and occupation to ourstruggle for social justice in our communities and our world;
Emphasize the urgency of a rapid and humane end to the occupation.
We therefore call for the following:
1) Military Withdrawal.
The United States to immediately and completely withdraw all troops and bases from Iraq.
2) Iraqi National Reconciliation.
TheUnited States and the international community to play a supporting rolein a national reconciliation process led by legitimate representativesof Iraq's diverse peoples.
3) Regional Stabilization.
TheUnited States to ask international institutions, such as the UnitedNations, the Arab League, and the Organization of the IslamicConference, to sponsor regional conferences of all neighboringcountries, including Iran and Syria, to seek measures to end the civilwar and stabilize Iraq's future.
4) Reconstruction and Reparations.
TheUnited States to provide sufficient resources to an internationallyadministered fund to address the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, repairthe physical damage caused by its invasion and occupation of Iraq andto provide reparations to Iraqis.
5) Support for veterans.
TheUnited States to provide sustained and sufficient support for all theveterans and their families who have suffered in this war.
6) Words, not war with Iran.
TheUnited States to cooperate with other countries and the United Nationsto support the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and engage Iran indirect diplomatic negotiations-- without preconditions--to end thenuclear standoff and promote the stabilization of Iraq.
7) Change U.S. foreign policy.
The UnitedStates to shift its foreign policy to consistently supportinternational law and institutions for a more just global system.
8) Transition to culture of peace.
The United States to support domestic policies and programs that foster the transition from a culture of war to a culture of peace, human rights, and justice.