Eupan - Good for All - www.eupan.net

Jean-Marie Hill is a Hunger Justice Fellow – working with Bread for the World . She is also a resident of the OKC Metro and has been an advocate in advancing efforts in eupan . She is a bright example of one of the vibrant ways we network with partners in advocacy that extend the good for the all! After winning a selective fellowship with Bread for the World , Jean-Marie spent time this past summer in Washington DC. being equipped to lead advocacy efforts in OKC She worked with Capitol Hill policy makers, experienced organizers, and analysts to learn more about issues of hunger and poverty - in order to expand efforts at hunger awareness here in OKC. While in D.C., she worked to lobbying Congress and since returning to the OKC Metro - she has been working in community advocacy. Jean-Marie was on the campus of Southern Nazarene University this past week sharing great news with us - regarding advocacy work she has engaged locally - and nationally. Jean-Marie's advocacy was influe...

A great video - And then this . . . Call Secretary Clinton’s office. Tell her to immediately hire an ambassador-level diplomat for Darfur by calling 1-800-GENOCIDE – and get your friends and family to do the same. When you call 1-800-GENOCIDE, you’ll be given talking points then connected directly to Secretary Clinton’s office. Why this call to action – why now? * In the last 10 days alone, Sudan’s notorious “security service” has conducted a wave of arrests of human rights activists, civil society leaders, student activists, and journalists. * The arrests, combined with reports in Darfur of aerial bombings of villages and water sources and a build up of armed forces, are disturbing reminders that without a high-level diplomat assigned to the region, Darfurians are tremendously vulnerable to human rights violations and attack. Need more info? Go here - but know that the November 16 deadline has been extended to November 22nd. * Find out more here: http://blogfordarfur.org...

A great short article by Mark Hanis, director of Genocide Intervention Network - about our need to do more in our efforts to prevent genocide. I am hoping to get Mark to the OKC area in the forthcoming months. If you have connections that could help support that effort - that would be great! Feel free to email me personally at martymichelson (at) gmail (dot) com. Opinion: Let's Work to Put 'Never Again' on Par With 'Never Forget' | The Jewish Exponent ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.

Coming to Oklahoma City University - National Endowment for Humanities Chairman Coming to OCU The chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities will visit Oklahoma City University to present a lecture at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Kerr McGee Auditorium in Meinders School of Business. The lecture is free to the public. Jim Leach is on a nationwide tour with his presentation titled “Civility in a Fractured Society.” Through his tour, Leach is hoping to heal religious and political divisiveness by promoting respect for the cultural gifts of people around the world. “Today civilization is on trial as radical elements in distant parts of the world stoke differences between and within faith systems,” Leach said in a speech earlier this year on the topic. “In response to violent acts of various parties and the dislocating consequences of the global recession, a divisive rhetoric of anger has been precipitated in recent years in the West as well as the East. “If we don’t try to understa...

This past year has been meaningful and significant in many ways for me personally - but in large part I have grown, developed, learned, and been shaped as a Carl Wilkens Fellow through Genocide Intervention Network. I could enumerate numerous ways that I have grown through many opportunities opened up to me through this venue! I want to encourage any persons interested in working toward eupan to consider their own opportunity to become a Carl Wilkens Fellow for 2011! I wish I would have been more organized to have posted this information for your awareness earlier. But, alas, - it is not too late to apply ! Here is what you need to know: The 2011 Fellowship application is live on Genocide Intervention Network’s website yesterday and will be due by Friday, November 5th. You may access the application About the Fellowship Launched in 2009, the Carl Wilkens Fellowship Program seeks to bridge the gap between thought and action in the anti-genocide movement. The Fellowship is selective...

It was a great  to have Derek Sparks share his insight with numerous audiences over 2 days. His past work in D.C. with Senator Coburn, and his current work with Congresswoman Mary Fallin - along with a host of other keen insights from his life and study, made him an excellent conversationalist on many issues. He offered critical and solid information on issues regarding Muslim relationships, key issues for discerning southeast Asia, and insight into thinking about what it means to have a Christian perspective while being involved in politics. Toward eupan ! ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d. See and download the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from Eupan Global Initiative

We started work towards a Fall Event on Advocacy and Activism - toward peacemaking, with Derek Sparks. For a variety of great reasons, we are breaking up our work with Derek for now - and for a future opportunity into 2011! While the following events are not "open to the public" as they are on-campus events at Southern Nazarene University. I am excited to report that Derek will be meeting with classes at SNU on September 29th and 30th. Events will include: Reflecting on issues of human rights in areas of the world dominated by religious fundamentalist or extremists. Discerning issues in southeast Asia, including discerning unique cultural and geographic features. Other issues of multinational political and economic alliances, perhaps including problems with piracy. Personal reflections on what it means to exist as a politician and Christian in the world today. Presentation and conversation will be shaped by Student Questions in classes including World Religion, Physical G...

Someone might argue that more than prayer is needed for peace to become effective in the world. I might agree. But, it certainly seems that a joint effort by persons of various faiths all aimed toward the same goal - if that goal is peace - no matter their theological differences - prayers for peace might just be the start we need - all in the same hopeful direction - to move our world toward peace! Toward eupan! ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.

Coming to Oklahoma City, Wednesday, September 29th. A film exploring issues of peace among Jews, Muslims and Christians. More details to follow. Mark your calendars - and check out the trailer as you have opportunity! Linked here: Official Film Trailer | Little Town of Bethlehem ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d.

I (Marty) will be in Washington D.C. this coming weekend, attending to the shared work I am privileged to accomplish with Genocide Intervention Network . I wish I felt I could do *more* than what I do - and I hope for a greater intervention by more persons in our world - but I am thankful too - *very* *very* thankful that I have had opportunity to partner with so many great people in and around OKC and with great Carl Wilkens Fellows with GI NET! At the end of this month, J. Derek Sparks who has worked in offices with Senator Coburn and Mary Fallin (among others) will be a spokesperson sharing about issues of peace and diplomacy on the campus of Southern Nazarene University. We have chosen to postpone an evening even with Derek for this Fall - anticipating other options toward Spring 2011 - but we are excited for the numerous students he will have opportunity to engage in several classroom settings on Wednesday and Thursday, September 29th and 30th. Interested in hearing what he has ...

I (Marty) had opportunity to travel this summer. It is always interesting to read and become aware of how Americans and America is perceived in other places. It is important, I think, to hear and discern what others say about who we are - not just as Americans, but as people. If we are truly going to advance the good for the all, we must discern who we are and how we are perceived - so that we can work to better advance hospitable and charitable relationships with persons we know - and larger people groups and nations, with whom we interact. As can be imagined, Americans are perceived well - and not so well - in places in the world. I will not try to explain or justify the myriad issues involved in this blog entry. Rather, I want to note that I am *now* back in Oklahoma - doing the tasks that come with my work, working with students, being with persons in faith-communities, and advocating for a better world. I get opportunity in a few days to be back in Washington D.C. where I hav...

Save Darfur Coalition:

Brian ~ ( Brian_Hackler@inhofe.senate.gov ) Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today.  As I said to you personally, I know Senator Inhofe has long-standing vested commitments to what has been happening in Africa.  When you and I met on March 29th, our key conversation was with regard to issues in Sudan - specifically with concerns for the possible outbreak of violence surrounding April elections. Today I am asking specifically that Senator Inhofe support the resolution introduced by Senators Feingold and Collins, Cocurrent Resolution 71.   (See attachments.) Senator Inhofe is a key leader in setting a pattern for effective policy and legislation in Congress.  His leadership is key on the Senate Foreign Relations committee and his timely support of this resolution will set an example for other members of congress.  As an Oklahoman who is concerned with how the United States works to effect peace in the world, I encourage Senator Inhofe to set an example for the Congress - an...

Huge news! After mountains of "behind the scenes" work, Senators Feingold and Collins have just introduced a Genocide Prevention resolution on the Senate floor. While our conflict-specific advocacy work has continued around Sudan and other areas of concern, our team has been working for months to secure bi-partisan co-sponsorship for this resolution. It's a crucial first step in our efforts to create long-term structural change in the United States's ability to prevent and stop genocide - next month, expect to see a bill in the house. Take a moment to celebrate this moment - thank you for everything you have done to move the ball forward on this issue. Stay tuned for more. - - - IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following concur- rent resolution; CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Recognizing the United States national interest in helping to prevent and mitigate acts of genocide and other mass atrocities against civilians, ...

This post is copied with permission from John Hay, Jr.: http://www.indybikehiker.com/ Direct link by CLICKING HERE . FREEDOM'S DAILY COST A tribute to daily actions of ordinary citizens that promote American-style freedom GRATEFUL NOT GULLIBLE. I feel a deep gratitude for American-style freedom and for those who have thought, deliberated, lived and died to frame, preserve, and advance it. The fact that I feel, simultaneously, that certain domestic and international policies and actions are not in American freedom’s best interest does not negate my gratitude or reduce my sense of patriotism. Nor does it mean I write a blank check and cast a rubber-stamp vote for everything my government--in any of its three branches and myriad bureaus--does in the name and for the sake of America and freedom. It is one thing to be grateful and patriotic, it is another to be gullible and naïve. FREEDOM IS BIGGER. I try to keep in mind that freedom is bigger than any Presidential administration...