Hello everyone,
As a retired naval officer, I was a "national security professional" for twenty-five years. During that time, the Navy provided me with graduate education at both the Naval Postgraduate School and Naval War College that gave me insights that have ultimately informed my decision to embrace pacifism and be a peacemaker.
You need not have this expensive education, however, to inform yourself of national security issues - in order to engage in the public policy debate as an informed peacemaker. There are a number of resources available to you online to include:
1. The National Security Archive, a program of George Washington University, is, "...an independent non-governmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University, the Archive collects and publishes declassified documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The Archive also serves as a repository of government records on a wide range of topics pertaining to the national security, foreign, intelligence, and economic policies of the United States. The Archive won the 1999 George Polk Award, one of U.S. journalism's most prestigious prizes, for--in the words of the citation--'piercing the self-serving veils of government secrecy, guiding journalists in the search for the truth and informing us all.'"
2. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has, since 1945, informed, "...the public about threats to the survival and development of humanity from nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies in the life sciences. Through an award-winning magazine, our online presence, and the Doomsday Clock, we reach policy leaders and audiences around the world with information and analysis about efforts to address the dangers and prevent catastrophe.
3. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is, "...an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public."
4. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "...is the world´s center of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world´s "Atoms for Peace" organization in 1957 within the United Nations family. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies."
5. The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), "...is a practical expression of the faith of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Committed to the principles of nonviolence and justice, it seeks in its work and witness to draw on the transforming power of love, human and divine." AFSC publishes a number of works on peacemaking, pacifism, violence in our society, and violence around the world to offer an informed, alternative perspective on issues of violence and justice, war and peace.
6. The UU Peace Ministry Network (UU Peacemakers), whose mission is, "...to institutionalize this energy (for peacemaking) at the national level to encourage a culture of peace within our families, our association, our communities and throughout the world." They offer a variety of resources for interested Congregations.
There are many others which I hope to provide from time to time or you can discover yourself through these web sites.
Tom BeallCo-Chair of the Social Action Committee
