Circles of Nonviolence / Community Collaboratives Initiative *** The Circles Movement
From: Noam Chomsky <...>
From: Noam Chomsky <...>
Date: Wed, Aug 3, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Subject: Prof. Noam Chomsky's Statement of Endorsement for the Circles Movement, a.k.a. Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives initiative
To: Moji Agha <moji.agha@gmail.com>
Statement of Endorsement for the Circles Movement
August 3, 2016
By: Noam Chomsky
I have been most impressed with the initiatives of Moji Agha [a.k.a. Mojtaba Aghamohammadi], especially as he has been developing the comprehensive "Circles Movement" project (a.k.a. Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives Initiative) and with their efforts to engage people to undertake the tasks that must be addressed with dedication and commitment if there are to be hopes of decent survival. And I am pleased to endorse these very valuable policies and actions.
Date: Wed, Aug 3, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Subject: Prof. Noam Chomsky's Statement of Endorsement for the Circles Movement, a.k.a. Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives initiative
To: Moji Agha <moji.agha@gmail.com>
Statement of Endorsement for the Circles Movement
August 3, 2016
By: Noam Chomsky
I have been most impressed with the initiatives of Moji Agha [a.k.a. Mojtaba Aghamohammadi], especially as he has been developing the comprehensive "Circles Movement" project (a.k.a. Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives Initiative) and with their efforts to engage people to undertake the tasks that must be addressed with dedication and commitment if there are to be hopes of decent survival. And I am pleased to endorse these very valuable policies and actions.
*****
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The "Practical Examples" and other sections that you find below are the results of the Circles Movement initiative's (updated) "Background, Mission Statement, and Project Description" sections--including the founder's bio.
We have included these two primary "One and Two" sections (in part to save space) in our Charter Partner page on the Charter for Compassion's website, herein:
http://www.
These segments should be studied prior to reading the sections below.
Circles of Nonviolence / Community Collaboratives Initiative *** The Circles Movement
Sections 3 and 4:
Section Three (PRACTICAL EXAMPLE # 1)
A PROJECT SUPPORTED BY THE CIRCLES OF NONVIOLENCE / COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES INITIATIVE (suggested by our "interfaith" component)
A PROJECT SUPPORTED BY THE CIRCLES OF NONVIOLENCE / COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES INITIATIVE (suggested by our "interfaith" component)
a) OUR WORSHIP, YOUR HOUSE:
An Abrahamic Peace Tent Interfaith Exchange of
Oneness
NOTE 1: The global or “macro” version of this “micro” project is found in sub-section (b) below.
NOTE 2: The idea of this project (in the "micro" form) was born Wednesday evening, January 28, 2015 [in the days surrounding the murder of 3 young Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.] in the first meeting of the America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle in Greater Phoenix, East--held at The Fountains United Methodist Church in Fountain Hills, Arizona. This project and its description, herein, was developed (by Moji Agha--this writer) in the subsequent 3 weeks--and I posted it to this web page on Friday, February 20, 2015, while I was staying in Tucson, to convene the meetings of the Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives in Southern Arizona.
Project Description
As its name implies "OUR WORSHIP, YOUR HOUSE: An Abrahamic Peace Tent Interfaith Exchange of Oneness" is a project aiming to nurture human understanding, hence peace, through interfaith knowledge and collaboration.
The reason Our Worship, Your House is being featured here as an example project for the Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives initiative, is because it provides a clear answer (in this case in the realm of interfaith dialogue) to the Socratic question at the center of the Circle process. Namely:
The reason Our Worship, Your House is being featured here as an example project for the Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives initiative, is because it provides a clear answer (in this case in the realm of interfaith dialogue) to the Socratic question at the center of the Circle process. Namely:
HOW CAN WE REMAIN WHO WE ARE AND CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO, IN A WAY THAT WOULD BUILD BRIDGES OF CIVILITY, DIALOGUE, AND GOOD-CAUSING THROUGH COLLABORATION?
In the case of Our Worship, Your House Exchange of Oneness, Christians, Jews, and Muslims of a given area a) remain who they are, and b) continue to do what they do--namely organizing their own weekly communal worship services; but c) in order to foster interfaith understanding and peace-building collaboration, they periodically switch the location of such services on a rotational basis, in this manner:
Once in a while, willing members of a Christian, a Jewish, and an Islamic congregation located relatively near one another geographically, choose to conduct their respective weekly worship service inside or outside of the house of worship of the other two faith traditions; and, in order to provide for a full rotation (for obvious reasons) this community collaborative process would be organized to happen in two successive Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, every three or six months, for example.
Step by step (suggested) procedures
Basic Structure:
In "Our Worship, Your House" a church, a synagogue, and a mosque, located in the same general region, collaboratively decide to make available to the willing members of their respective congregations, the option of conducting their respective regular weekly Islamic, Jewish, and Christian congregational worship services (hence "our worship") inside or outside of the house of worship of "the other" two Abrahamic faith traditions (hence "your house"); on two successive Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, in the following suggested sequence:
a) Week One:
1- On Friday, an Islamic Communal Prayers (for example the Sunset Prayers) are held at the participating fellow "Abrahamic Peace Tent Community" Church.
2- On Saturday (morning or evening), a Jewish Sabbath Service is held at the participating fellow Mosque.
3- On Sunday (the next morning) a Christian Sunday Service is held at the participating fellow Synagogue.
b) Week Two--the subsequent week:
4- On Friday, the afternoon Islamic Prayers are held at the Synagogue.
5- On Saturday, the (same time as "a") Jewish Sabbath Service is held at the Church.
6- On Sunday, the (same time as "a") Christian Sunday Service is held at the Mosque.
6- On Sunday, the (same time as "a") Christian Sunday Service is held at the Mosque.
NOTE: Given that the free-of-any-pressure choice/option of those persons who are unwilling or unable (for any reason) to participate in "Our Worship, Your House" is central to this bridge-building process, it is strongly recommended that a "home" Service/Prayers be held at the same time that the willing/able members of the participating Church, Synagogue, or Mosque are "away" at the worship house of "the other."
d) Breaking the "Abrahamic Bread of Oneness" Together:
As an option, and if possible, in the early afternoon of the second Sunday (i.e., after the Christian Sunday Service at the Mosque) an "Abrahamic Peace Tent Community Interfaith Understanding and Collaboration" pot-luck lunch would be served (prepared collaboratively by members of the 3 participating congregations) on the grounds or inside the Church (for example); and obviously this could rotate, as possible and appropriate.
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT NOTE
This project, namely, the " Abrahamic Peace Tent: Interfaith Exchange of Oneness" is also called OUR WORSHIP, YOUR HOUSE. It was suggested and (therefore) is supported by a Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative. But, per the mission statement of the Circles/Collaboratives initiative (see above and below) this project should not cause the scope of the activities of the Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives initiative (or the specific Circle/Collaborative that suggested OUR WORSHIP, YOUR HOUSE) become--or be seen--as limited only to nurturing interfaith understanding, dialogue, and collaboration.
In other words, as an example project "OUR WORSHIP, YOUR HOUSE" demonstrates clearly that:
a) As collective bodies, individual Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives may indeed give birth to and support nonviolent projects;
and
b) Circle/Collaborative participants (acting as free-agent individuals or groups of collaborating individuals) may initiate and even develop appropriate civil society projects (like this one) as long as such projects/actions are clearly relevant to the initiative's overall purposes.
HOWEVER:
c) Per our initiative's mission statement (which specifies that the Circles have no ideology, religion, spirituality, agenda, or action of their own) particular nonviolent civil society projects or actions (such as the herein-summarized OUR WORSHIP, YOUR HOUSE) may be adopted/supported by the individual participants of any Circle/Collaborative (or group of collaborating Circles/Collaboratives), without their specific Circle(s), or the initiative as a whole, becoming associated or identified with any particular agenda.
WHY?
d) This "firewall" has been designed to retain and safeguard the impartial ability of the Circles of Nonviolence process, the core purpose of which is to bring together (for the purpose of nurturing collaboration--in a safe and welcoming "Circle" environment) "civility actors" across various nonviolent struggles, such as peace, justice, Mother Earth protection, interfaith dialogue, etc.
b) 6 weeks of 1-ness
Our Abrahamic Prayers in Your House of Worship:
Our Abrahamic Prayers in Your House of Worship:
A
Pilgrimage to Embrace Oneness in the House of the Other (A 6-Week Exchange of Peace Across 6 Continents)
Proposed by: Moji Agha (Mojtaba Aghamohammadi)
Thursday, June 25, 2015 (Tucson, Arizona, U.S.)
NOTE: The local or “micro” version of this “macro” project is found in
sub-section (a) above.
sub-section (a) above.
WHY:
Humanity's
Mother Earth is in deep peril due to various forms of selfish
violence, hence making profound peace is ever urgent.
WHAT: Per sub-section "a" above, the inspiration for this project was born in the context of a meeting of the Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives initiative.
In contrast with sub-section "a" above (i.e., the "micro" or local version), in this "macro" or global version, willing Christians, Jews, and Muslims would collaborate in order to hold (in a 6-way rotation in 6 continents) their own weekly communal worship services, in the house of worship of the other two Abrahamic faith traditions.
In contrast with sub-section "a" above (i.e., the "micro" or local version), in this "macro" or global version, willing Christians, Jews, and Muslims would collaborate in order to hold (in a 6-way rotation in 6 continents) their own weekly communal worship services, in the house of worship of the other two Abrahamic faith traditions.
WHO:
An
interfaith group of leading religious/spiritual and secular dignitaries
(including representatives from the various sects of the main three
Abrahamic religions) travel the six continents over six weeks to
“witness” the ground-breaking global exchange of peace in the
inaugural celebration of “Our
Abrahamic Prayers in Your House of Worship: A Pilgrimage to Embrace Oneness in the House of the Other.”
WAY:
| Week | Day | Host | Guests | Service | Country | Continent |
| One | Saturday | Mosque | Jews | A Sabbath Service in a Mosque | Indonesia | Asia |
| Two | Friday | Church | Muslims | Fri. Sunset Prayers in a Church | Australia | Oceania |
| Three | Saturday | Church | Jews | A Sabbath Service in a Church | The Vatican (or Germany or England) | Europe |
| Four | Sunday | Mosque | Christians | Sunday Service in a Mosque | South Africa | Africa |
| Five | Sunday | Synagogue | Christians | Sunday Service in a Synagogue | Brazil | South America |
| Six | Friday | Synagogue | Muslims | Fri. Afternoon Prayers in a Synagogue | United States | North America |
c) The Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) Project:
Envisioned especially for the rural areas of "America"
Proposed by: Moji Agha (Mojtaba Aghamohammadi)
Initial draft: Sunday, April 24, 2016
Globe, Arizona, U.S.
STATEMENT OF MISSION AND PURPOSE FOR
Structure:
An interfaith (and also secular) house of worship--namely a sacred place for coming together of those who care for Truth, the Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) project is a collaborative non-profit community effort to promote, safeguard, and advance religious-spiritual (and cultural) understanding and collaboration for peace.
The initial function of such a “Tent” would be to house a sacred space in which the weekly worship services (i.e., Islamic Friday afternoon Communal Prayers, Jewish Sabbath, and Christian Sunday Worship) of the major three Abrahamic religions, namely Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are held regularly under one roof, thus affirming that the Divine loves and is present, even in “the other” -- Saying: "ENOUGH VIOLENCE!" especially in the name of Abraham's children.
In time, Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) would offer its space, free of charge, so that:
a) Other religious/spiritual communities in the area (such as Buddhist, Hindu, Native, etc.) would also be welcomed to perform their communal worship gatherings, as the "unity-in-diversity" sisters and brothers of our Abrahamic Peace Tent.
b) Interfaith and intercultural gatherings (and other appropriate community meetings--even gatherings of those who do not believe in "God") would have a welcoming home in the area. For example [in this case the] APT could become the preferred place for the meetings of its mother initiative (and of her initiated projects), namely the Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Oak Flat/San Carlos Region.
"If we build it, they will come."
We sincerely believe that if we create [in this case] such a small and simple Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) here in the Globe/Miami area of East-Central Arizona, this profound act of devotion and service (in nonviolence--as the only way to counter violence) would become a model for similar relatively small rural communities regionally, nationally, and even globally (and thus it would receive attention and praise) toward the manifestation of authentic healing of our deeply wounded Mother Earth.
********************Globe, Arizona, U.S.
STATEMENT OF MISSION AND PURPOSE FOR
ABRAHAM'S PEACE TENT (APT)
Structure:
Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) is a project initiated and adopted by the [local Circle/Collaborative that gives birth to it--in this case by the] Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Oak Flat/San Carlos Region. Thus, we hope that this FIRST "Tent" would soon begin to manifest in reality in the Globe/Miami area of East Central Arizona.
Primary mission and purpose:
An interfaith (and also secular) house of worship--namely a sacred place for coming together of those who care for Truth, the Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) project is a collaborative non-profit community effort to promote, safeguard, and advance religious-spiritual (and cultural) understanding and collaboration for peace.
Abraham's Peace Tent's primary mission and purpose is to nonviolently do all that is possible (especially in genuine collaboration among all well-meaning lovers of authentic peace) in order to found and maintain an interfaithful house of worship and (also secular) gathering place for genuine peace in each (especially rural) community in which it comes to manifestation.
The initial function of such a “Tent” would be to house a sacred space in which the weekly worship services (i.e., Islamic Friday afternoon Communal Prayers, Jewish Sabbath, and Christian Sunday Worship) of the major three Abrahamic religions, namely Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are held regularly under one roof, thus affirming that the Divine loves and is present, even in “the other” -- Saying: "ENOUGH VIOLENCE!" especially in the name of Abraham's children.
In time, Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) would offer its space, free of charge, so that:
a) Other religious/spiritual communities in the area (such as Buddhist, Hindu, Native, etc.) would also be welcomed to perform their communal worship gatherings, as the "unity-in-diversity" sisters and brothers of our Abrahamic Peace Tent.
b) Interfaith and intercultural gatherings (and other appropriate community meetings--even gatherings of those who do not believe in "God") would have a welcoming home in the area. For example [in this case the] APT could become the preferred place for the meetings of its mother initiative (and of her initiated projects), namely the Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Oak Flat/San Carlos Region.
"If we build it, they will come."
We sincerely believe that if we create [in this case] such a small and simple Abraham's Peace Tent (APT) here in the Globe/Miami area of East-Central Arizona, this profound act of devotion and service (in nonviolence--as the only way to counter violence) would become a model for similar relatively small rural communities regionally, nationally, and even globally (and thus it would receive attention and praise) toward the manifestation of authentic healing of our deeply wounded Mother Earth.
Section Four (PRACTICAL EXAMPLE # 2)
A PROJECT INITIATED BY THE CIRCLES OF NONVIOLENCE/COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA (suggested by the Tucson Circle)
Collaboration-Enhancing
Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Consensus-Building for the Civil Society
In
order to join hands in more effective collaboration through
nonviolence, during their May of 2015 meetings, the participants in
the Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives in Southern Arizona
initiated and supported the notion of offering to the civil society
persons and organizations of their respective “areas of integration focus”
free-of-charge appropriate mediation, conflict resolution, and
consensus-building services, per section C of our summary project
description herein:
C)
Nurturing genuine relationships and initial collaborations within and
between the local persons, groups, and organizations already engaged
nonviolently in the area's peace, justice, interfaith
dialogue/cooperation, and safeguarding Mother Earth struggles.
Clearly,
the offering of such collaboration-enhancing services may be adopted
by other Circles/Collaboratives around the country,
applied to the unique needs of their own “areas of integration focus.”
Some
Initial Guidelines and General Action Steps
Circles
of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives members/participants who a) have relevant skills and b) volunteer (free of any charge) to facilitate
more effective collaboration through the above-mentioned conflict-reduction services (within and
among the civil society persons and organizations of their area) will
observe the following guidelines:
a) The area's Circle/Collaborative supports only the kind of civil society attempts
at mediation, conflict resolution, and consensus-building that are
INFORMAL and thus completely NON-BINDING, especially legally.
b)
Such collaboration-enhancing services are offered completely
voluntarily by well-meaning and qualified members/participants of the area's Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative, acting as free-agent individuals. This means that such services are not offered or administered by
the Circle/Collaborative as an organization.
Why this aspect needs to
emphasized?
c) This notion is emphasized, due to this basic "DNA" characteristic of the Circles initiative, provisioned to ensure the crucial impartiality of the Circles of
Nonviolence; per Item 1, Section One, above:
1-
Our NON-PARTISAN project is NOT yet another initiative to add to (and
unintentionally compete with) the already existing peace, justice,
interfaith, and environmental efforts and groups within the American
civil society. Hence, our Circles of Nonviolence have no ideology, religion, spirituality, agenda, or action of their
own.
d)
Given this basic rule, the collaboration-enhancing free-agent
services that flow out of the activities of an area's Circle of
Nonviolence/Community Collaborative are not meant to cause, in any way, a
situation in which the Circle/Collaborative would be (or just as important, be
seen as) "unintentionally competing with" already existing
persons or groups in the civil society of the area who could potentially offer similar
mediation, conflict resolution, and/or consensus-building services.
e)
Because of this non-competitive characteristic, such Circle-supported
collaboration-enhancing volunteer free-agents will fully respect the free-will
choice of potential persons or groups who would potentially use the
services they offer.
Thus, wherever applicable, when another (especially local) non-profit "collaboration-enhancer" (person or group, who is similarly qualified) offers such mediation, conflict resolution, and/or consensus-building services, the area's Circle/Collaborative volunteer free-agents will withdraw their offer of help and stand aside in favor of the local provider of such services.
Thus, wherever applicable, when another (especially local) non-profit "collaboration-enhancer" (person or group, who is similarly qualified) offers such mediation, conflict resolution, and/or consensus-building services, the area's Circle/Collaborative volunteer free-agents will withdraw their offer of help and stand aside in favor of the local provider of such services.
f)
Until such time that the civil society of the area becomes fully
aware of (and familiar with) what the Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives initiative does, it is advisable that at least some
representatives of the local Circle/Collaborative make at least one special
"orientation" presentation (regarding what the initiative
is about) especially to the potential users (i.e., persons or
organizations in conflict--for example) of the kind of collaboration-enhancing conflict-reduction services that are
supported by the Circles initiative.
******************************
******************************
The Local Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives (Listed in reverse chronological order of the date of formation--latest on top--in need of being updated)
HOW TO CONTACT "CIRCLES OF NONVIOLENCE/COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES?"
If you are interested in the activities of any of the below-listed Circles/Collaboratives, please contact Moji Agha, their at-large advocate, whose contact e-mail is listed in the herein website, in our "contact" page--see the menu on top of this page.
64- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative University Club at the American University of Sovereign Nations (AUSN)
Scottsdale, Arizona -- Date of Formation: Saturday, May 7, 2016 (Initial conception of the Club's idea: Thursday, March 24, 2016)
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this (in part on-line) Circle/Collaborative "U Club" covers the communities in the U.S. and around the world in which the students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the AUSN live or work.
63- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Kitt Peak Area, Arizona
Three Points, Arizona -- Date of Formation: November 22, 2015
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Three Points, Sasabe, Santa Rosa, Pisinemo, San Rafael, and Sells (and their surrounding areas) in Southern Arizona.
Sierra Vista, Arizona -- Date of Formation: November 19, 2015
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers all of the communities in Cochise County, South-West Arizona.
61- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Cortez Area, Colorado
Cortez, Colorado -- Date of Formation: July 19, 2015
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Towaoc, Mancos, Cortez, Dolores, Yellow Jacket, Cahone, and Lone Mesa State Park (and their surrounding areas) in South-West Colorado.60- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Durango Area, Colorado
Durango, Colorado -- Date of Formation: July 19, 2015
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Mayday, Hesperus, Redmesa, Durango, Ignacio, Bayfield, and Vallecito (and their surrounding areas) in South-West Colorado.59- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Oak Flat/San Carlos Region, East-Central Arizona
Globe, Arizona -- Date of Formation: July 15, 2015
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Superior, Hayden/Winkelman, Globe/Miami, Roosevelt, San Carlos/Peridot, and Bylas (and their surrounding areas) in East-Central Arizona.
58- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle of the Casa Grande Area, Arizona (ANVCC-CGAAZ)
Casa Grande, Arizona -- Date of Formation: January 1, 2015
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-CGAAZ covers the communities of Florence, Sacaton, Maricopa, Casa Grande, Picacho, Arizona City, and Hayden (and their surrounding areas) in South-Central Arizona.57- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle of the Catalina Foothills Area, Arizona (ANVCC-CFAAZ)
Vail, Arizona -- Date of Formation: December 31, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-CFAAZ covers the Northern and Eastern areas of Tucson (North of East River and East of Swan Roads), and the communities of Vail and Mount Lemon (and their surrounding areas) in Southern Arizona.
56- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle of Greater Tucson North-West, Arizona (ANVCC-GTNWAZ)
Marana, Arizona -- Date of Formation: December 30, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-GTNWAZ covers the NorthWest areas of Tucson and the communities of Oracle, Oro Valley, Marana, Avra Valley, and Picture Rocks (and their surrounding areas) in Southern Arizona.
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-GTNWAZ covers the NorthWest areas of Tucson and the communities of Oracle, Oro Valley, Marana, Avra Valley, and Picture Rocks (and their surrounding areas) in Southern Arizona.
55- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle of the Elephant Head Area (I-19 Corridor), Arizona (ANVCC-EHAAZ)
Green Valley, Arizona -- Date of Formation: December 29, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-EHAAZ covers the communities of Sahuarita, Green Valley, Tubac, Arivaca, Rio Rico, Nogales, and Patagonia (and their surrounding areas), south of Tucson, in Southern Arizona.
54- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle of the Window Rock Area, Arizona (ANVCC-WRAAZ)
Fort Defiance, Arizona -- Date of Formation: November 25, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-WRAAZ covers the communities of Fort Defiance, Chinle, Ganado, Chambers, Grants, and Gallup (and their surrounding areas) in Northeast Arizona and Northwest New Mexico.
53- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle of the White Mountains, Arizona (ANVCC-WMAZ)
Snowflake, Arizona -- Date of Formation: November 21, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-WMAZ covers the communities of Snowflake, Taylor, Show Low, Lakeside, Heber, and St. Johns (and their surrounding areas) in Northeast Arizona.
52- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle in Greater Phoenix, North-West, Arizona (ANVCC-GPNWAZ)
Glendale, Arizona -- Date of Formation: October 31, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-GPNWAZ covers the communities of Peoria, Sun City, Surprise, Glendale, and Youngtown (and their surrounding areas) in Central Arizona.
51- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle in Greater Phoenix, South-West, Arizona (ANVCC-GPSWAZ)
Goodyear, Arizona -- Date of Formation: October 31, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-GPSWAZ covers the communities Laveen, Avondale, Goodyear, Palo Verde, and Buckeye (and their surrounding areas), in Central Arizona.
50- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle in Greater Phoenix, East, Arizona (ANVCC-GPEAZ)
Fountain Hills, Arizona -- Date of Formation: October 31, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-GPEAZ covers the communities of Fountain Hills, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, and Queen Valley (and their surrounding areas), in Central Arizona.
49- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of the Tempe/Chandler Area, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona -- Date of Formation: October 30, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek, and San Tan Valley (and their surrounding areas) in Central Arizona.
48- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative in the Scottsdale Area, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona -- Date of Formation: October 30, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, North Scottsdale, Anthem, Cave Creek, and Rio Verde (and their surrounding areas) in Central Arizona.
47- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative in North-Central Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona -- Date of Formation: October 29, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Phoenix and North Phoenix (and their surrounding areas) in Central Arizona.
46- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Fort Bragg Area, California (ANV-CFBACA)
Fort Bragg, California -- Date of Formation: October 28, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CFBACA covers the coastal areas of Mendocino County in Northern California that include the communities of Cleone, Fort Bragg, Willits, and Caspar--and their surrounding areas.
45- America for Nonviolence Circle of San Jacinto County, Texas (ANV-CSJTX)
Shepherd, Texas -- Date of Formation: March 15, 2014
44- America for Nonviolence Circle of Greater Las Cruces, New Mexico (ANV-CGLSNM)
Las Cruces, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: March 8, 2014
Las Cruces, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: March 8, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CGLSNM covers the Greater Las Cruces area of Doña Ana County in South-Central New Mexico.
43- America for Nonviolence Circle of Brown County, Central Texas (ANV-CBCCTX)
Brownwood, Texas -- Date of Formation: March 7, 2014
42- America for Nonviolence Circle of the El Paso Area, Texas (ANV-CEPATX)
El Paso, Texas -- Date of Formation: February 25, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CEPATX covers the Greater El Paso Area of Northwest El Paso County in West Texas.
41- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Quad-City Area in Central Arizona (ANV-CQCACAZ)
Prescott, Arizona -- Date of Formation: February 6, 2014
40- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Verde Valley, Arizona (ANV-CVVAZ)
Sedona, Arizona -- Date of Formation: February 5, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CVVAZ covers the communities of Sedona, Cottonwood, Jerome, and Camp Verde--and their surrounding areas--in Yavapai County, North-Central Arizona.
38- America for Nonviolence Circle in North-West Clark County, Nevada (ANV-CNWCCNV)
39- America for Nonviolence Circle in South-Eastern Inyo County, California (ANV-CSEICCA)
Tecopa, California -- Date of Formation: February 4, 2014
Indian Springs, Nevada -- Date of Formation: February 3, 2014
37- America for Nonviolence Circle in South-Eastern Nye County, Nevada (ANV-CSENCNV)
Pahrump, Nevada -- Date of Formation: February 2, 2014
36- America for Nonviolence Circle of Clark County, Nevada (ANV-CCCNV)
Henderson, Nevada -- Date of Formation: February 1, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CCCNV covers the segments of Clark County, in Southern Nevada, that are outside the Cities of Las Vagas, Paradise, and North Las Vegas, as well as the area of Indian Springs in North-West Clark County.
35- America for Nonviolence Circle of Las Vegas, Nevada (ANV-CLVNV)
Las Vegas, Nevada -- Date of Formation: February 1, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CLVNV covers those highly populated segments of Clark County, in Southern Nevada, that include the Cities of Las Vagas/Paradise and North Las Vegas.
34- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Flagstaff Area, Arizona (ANV-CFAAZ)
Flagstaff, Arizona -- Date of Formation: January 29, 2014
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CFAAZ covers the South-Central area of the Coconino County (except parts the City of Sedona), in Northern Arizona.
33- America for Nonviolence Circle of Navajo County, Arizona (ANV-CNCAZ)
Winslow, Arizona -- Date of Formation: January 26, 2014
32- America for Nonviolence Circle of San Juan County, New Mexico (ANV-CSJCNM)
Shiprock, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: January 26, 2014
31- America for Nonviolence Circle of Rio Arriba County, New Mexico (ANV-CRACNM)
Española, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: January 23, 2014
30- America for Nonviolence Circle of Socorro County, New Mexico (ANV-CSCNM)
Socorro, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: January 12, 2014
31- America for Nonviolence Circle of Rio Arriba County, New Mexico (ANV-CRACNM)
Española, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: January 23, 2014
30- America for Nonviolence Circle of Socorro County, New Mexico (ANV-CSCNM)
Socorro, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: January 12, 2014
29- America for Nonviolence Circle in the Golden Spread (ANV-CGS)
Clayton, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: December 8, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CGS (in the confluence area of the states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) is made up of the Union County, New Mexico and Cimarron County, Oklahoma, as well as the Dallam and Hartley counties, Texas.
28- America for Nonviolence Circle in the High Plains, Texas (ANV-CHPTX)
Amarillo, Texas -- Date of Formation: November 16, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CHPTX is made up of the Potter and Randall counties in the High Plains area of Northwest Texas.
27- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Golden Triangle, Texas (ANV-CGTTX)
Beaumont, Texas -- Date of Formation: November 13, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CGTTX is made up of the Jefferson, Orange, and Chambers counties in Southeast Texas.
26- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Houston Area, Texas (ANV-CHATX)
Houston, Texas -- Date of Formation: November 12, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CHATX is made up of the Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend counties in Southeast Texas.
25- America for Nonviolence Circle of Nueces County, Texas (ANV-CNCTX)
Corpus Christi, Texas -- Date of Formation: November 10, 2013
Beeville, Texas -- Date of Formation: November 8, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CSTX is made up of the Bee, Goliad, Karnes, Live Oak, McMullen, and Refugio counties in South Texas.
23- America for Nonviolence Circle of Bexar County, Texas (ANV-CBCTX)
San Antonio, Texas -- Date of Formation: November 6, 2013
22- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Permian Basin, Texas (ANV-CPBTX)
Midland, Texas -- Date of Formation: October 19, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CPBTX is made up of the Midland and Ector counties in the central area of the Permian Basin region in West Texas.
21- America for Nonviolence Circle of Lubbock County, Texas (ANV-CLCTX)
Lubbock, Texas -- Date of Formation: October 17, 2013
20- America for Nonviolence Circle of Valencia County, New Mexico (ANV-CVCNM)
Los Lunas, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: October 14, 2013
19- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico (ANV-CTBNM)
Alamogordo, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: October 5, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CTBNM is made up of the Otero and Lincoln counties in Southern New Mexico.
18- America for Nonviolence and Collaboration Circle of Greater Tucson in South-West, Arizona (ANVCC-GTSWAZ)
Tucson, Arizona -- Date of Formation: September 25, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-GTSWAZ covers central Tucson and its Southern and Western areas (South of East River and West of Swan Roads), including the communities of South Tucson and Valencia West (and their surrounding areas) in Southern Arizona.
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANVCC-GTSWAZ covers central Tucson and its Southern and Western areas (South of East River and West of Swan Roads), including the communities of South Tucson and Valencia West (and their surrounding areas) in Southern Arizona.
17- Circles of Nonviolence/Community Collaboratives of the Gila/Mimbres Region, New Mexico
Silver City, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: September 16, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of this Circle/Collaborative covers the communities of Lordsburg, Deming, Silver City, Gila, and Mimbres (and their surrounding areas) in South-West New Mexico.
16- America for Nonviolence Circle of San Miguel County, New Mexico (ANV-CSMCNM)
Las Vegas, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: September 14, 2013
15- America for Nonviolence Circle of Santa Fe County, New Mexico (ANV-CSFCNM)
Santa Fe, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: September 13, 2013
Albuquerque, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: September 10, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CAANM is made up of the Sandoval and Bernalillo counties in North-Central New Mexico.
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CAANM is made up of the Sandoval and Bernalillo counties in North-Central New Mexico.
13- Circle of Nonviolence/Community Collaborative of Taos County, NM
Taos, New Mexico -- Date of Formation: September 9, 2013
12- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Corazón Area, Colorado (ANV-CCAC)
Trinidad, Colorado -- Date of Formation: September 9, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CCAC is Las Animas County in Southern Colorado.
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CCAC is Las Animas County in Southern Colorado.
11- America for Nonviolence Circle of Pueblo County, Colorado (ANV-CPCC)
Pueblo, Colorado -- Date of Formation: September 6, 2013
10- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado (ANV-CPPRC)
Colorado Springs, Colorado -- Date of Formation: September 5, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CPPRC is made up of the El Paso and Teller counties in South-Central Colorado.
9- America for Nonviolence Circle of the Denver Area, Colorado (ANV-CDAC)
Denver, Colorado -- Date of Formation: September 3, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CDAC is made up of the Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Jefferson, and Douglas counties in North-Central Colorado.
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CDAC is made up of the Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Jefferson, and Douglas counties in North-Central Colorado.
8- America for Nonviolence Circle of Boulder County, Colorado (ANV-CBCC)
Boulder, Colorado -- Date of Formation: August 30, 2013
7- America for Nonviolence Circle in Northern Colorado (ANV-CNC)
Fort Collins, Colorado -- Date of Formation: August 29, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CNC is made up of the Larimer and Weld counties in Northern Colorado.
6- America for Nonviolence Circle in Western Kansas (ANV-CWK)
Quinter, Kansas -- Date of Formation: August 27, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CWK is made up of the Gove, Trego, Ellis, and Graham counties of in Western Kansas.
5- America for Nonviolence Circle of Greater Kansas City (ANV-CGKC)
Kansas City, Missouri -- Date of Formation: August 18, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CGKC is made up of the county of Jackson in Missouri, and of the counties of Johnson and Wyandotte, both in Kansas.
4- America for Nonviolence Circle of Treasure Valley, Idaho (ANV-CTVI)
Boise, Idaho -- Date of Formation: July 18, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CTVI is made up of the counties of Ada, Canyon and Owyhee, in Southwest Idaho.
Bend, Oregon -- Date of Formation: July 14, 2013
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CCO is made up of the counties of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook, in Central Oregon.
NOTE: The "Area of Integration Focus (AIF)" of the ANV-CCO is made up of the counties of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook, in Central Oregon.
2- America
for Nonviolence Circle of Thurston
County, Washington (ANV-CTCW)
Olympia, Washington -- Date of Formation: July 13, 2013
1- America for Nonviolence Circle of Pierce County, Washington (ANV-CPCW)
Tacoma, Washington -- Date of Formation: July 4, 2013
*******************************
SOME THOUGHTS THAT MAY HELP
A Look Back at the Occupy Movement
SOURCE: Think Tent of (Occupy) Tucson
https://www.facebook.com/
Think Tent Thoughts: A Road-map to Real Reform
By: Moji Agha
Monday, November 7, 2011
Preamble
WE THE PEOPLE, hereby declare:
The Fall of 2011 has witnessed the rise of hope. The sacrifice, the struggle around the world for liberty and justice by our fellow human beings has once again lit a spark of inspiration in our hearts; this time here in the land of liberty and equality, where once again, we raise our people’s cry for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people; and we hereby declare that we are tired of the government of money and power, by money and power, and for money and power, and that we want instead, liberty, justice, and yes, we want life on our very fragile planet to survive and prosper.
We the people hereby declare that, like our sister movements around the world, our American “Occupy Movement” is peaceful, inclusive and unprecedented in scope, manifesting our real national interests.
Thus, we declare for all to hear, that we are not going away, because we too have a dream: A dream of the revival of basic rights, of dignity, and of the humble respect for all life. In this dream, only “we the people” chart our destiny.
Therefore, we the people, hereby share these humble Think Tent Thoughts: A Road-map to Real Reform, as the voice of our “Occupy that which is already ours” dream.
Given that the humble “tent” presents us with a profound symbol of our global discontent, this “Think Tent Thoughts” document hopes to start a healing conversation, a peaceful and hopeful dialogue of reconciliation and cooperation in the collective tent of our wisdom. We have a dream that our voice of the 99% is being heard before it is too late.
Introduction
In order that our “Occupy Movement” (starting from “Occupying Wall Street” in New York City), should not be defined, and thus controlled, by others, we need to set forth clearly what it is that we want, in addition to voicing our just grievances.
Obviously this is an ongoing process, especially given the diversity of the voices and goals in our movement. However, it is imperative that we define and develop proactively a coherent statement of initial consensus, of our common aspirations and goals, around which we can then coalesce in harmony, since the road to real reform is not easy.
We need to do this to safeguard the movement against the reality or the unfair accusation, that our identities, world-views, values, foundations, directions, goals, and methods are not agreed upon or clear; leaving our movement vulnerable to being divided and conquered, and to marginalization or irrelevance, leading to the gradual neutralization and attrition of our great efforts.
In other words this clarity and cohesion is especially critical for the long term survival of our protest movement so that:
a) it can remain nonviolent, civil, enduring, and constructive, thus able to bring real reform to the crisis-producing complex system which has caused our uprising in the first place;
b) it can resist the unethical extremist realm in which “the end justifies the means;” and therefore,
c) it can create a coherent initial framework for our agreed-upon common goals and demands, leading to the broadening and deepening of our movement.
We are sure that the love and hope that underlies this evolving document, called the Think Tent Thoughts: A Road-map to Real Reform (First Draft), will forever cherish the loving, hopeful, and unselfish contributions and sacrifices that our “Occupy Movement” activists, young and old, are making on a day to day basis, despite all the insecurities and hardships. Regardless of outcome we are sure that history will always remember and cherish such manifestations of love, hope, and sacrifice.
Our Grievances
Rather than protecting our basic, constitutional, and human rights, the corrupt system that has necessitated our on-going “Occupy Movement” (starting from Occupy Wall Street), has become increasingly undemocratic and selfish in the past several decades, producing a government that rather than deriving its powers from “we the people,” has become beholden and enslaved to power-monopolizing corporations, lobbies, and cliques, which in the process of maximizing their private wealth and power at any price, at our expense, show only superficial care (and for propaganda purposes) for the “consent of the governed,” or for the well being of our Mother Earth.
Compared to what has developed since 1960, President Eisenhower’s dire warnings sound naive and optimistic these days. His voice echoes:
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”
Here are some of the abuses that we, the people, are currently witnessing...
[See full Text in the above-given link]
Our Values and Goals
As stated above, this Think Tent Thoughts: A Road-map to Real Reform is being proposed as a “First Draft,” intending to start a healing conversation, a peaceful and hopeful dialogue of reconciliation and cooperation, toward developing a coherent statement of initial consensus, a framework for our agreed-upon common goals and demands, leading to the broadening and deepening, hence strengthening of our “Occupy Movement.”
As such, we propose the following characteristics, values, and goals for our movement:
1- Seeking liberty and justice our Occupy Movement aims to restore and reform, ethically, nonviolently, and based on universally recognized human rights, the constitutional meaning of the phrase: “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Namely, our movement seeks the real security and national interests of our people.
2- Seeking real political and economic reform we aim to deepen and strengthen our civil society, expand the space for genuine dialogue and cooperation, raise the level of knowledge and consciousness, enhance mutual trust, and restore freedom of information, knowledge, and association in our society.
3- Besides being political and economic, our reform-seeking protest movement is a social and cultural one. Thus, as we seek to create real change and reform in this country, we recognize in humility that we too can make mistakes. This is why we genuinely oppose any form of self-righteous absolutism, and we emphasize the need for valuing diversity and difference, and for rigorous continual dialogue and critical self-examination, both inside and outside the movement.
4- Because we seek liberty, justice, humanity, honesty, mutuality, diversity, harmony, and balance as universal values, our movement emphasizes the value and the need for a thriving culture of peaceful, respectful, informative, healthy, and constructive dialogue, exchange, and cooperation, even among competitors or perceived opponents. Thus we seek to abolish the word “enemy,” from our vocabulary and consciousness.
5- Recognizing that we live in an interconnected world, our movement advocates the value and the need for humility and learning from the experience of other nations and peoples, while maintaining integrity and self-respect. This is why we emphasize the value of international mutuality and cooperation, while avoiding the extremes of domination of others or isolationism, while also abhorring exploitation of others in any form, including the colonial use, as tools for “divide-and-conquer” manipulation, abroad or at home, of religion, ideology, social, ethnic, and class difference, ecologic disparity, freedom, human rights, and other positive or negative causes and motives.
6- Because one of the core social justice values of our movement is that we, as individuals and communities, seek to determine our own destiny, we intend to restore the rightful place of the right to vote, democracy, and the plurality of voices in our society. Thus we want real, competitive, transparent, and honest elections, free of overt or covert manipulation, as not only a civil right but as a human right.
7- Protecting human dignity and foundational and constitutional human rights, especially from abusive power and money, is a vital value to our movement, including true equality before the law, thus, freedom from religious, racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, and social status bias and discrimination. We consider these basic rights to be inalienable, because they have resulted from the wisdom of human history; and thus our movement seeks to make it impossible for any ruler, government, congress, court, military, police, corporation, or any other overt or covert force, to diminish or take away such rights, under any condition or pretext.
8- Our movement wants our constitution to be evenly and fairly applied, and we intend to reform it, especially to ensure that the rights of the people are not made superficial and subservient to the selfish desires and measures of money and power; thus we seek to begin the process of reforming the constitution, as well as the institutions that have come to be, as a result of bestowing the status of personhood to corporations [in other words personing them--hence we should un-person corporations].
9- Therefore, we emphasize, again, the following universal principles as parts of our basic values, goals, and demands: The equality of all preserved and enhanced, by justly passed and enforced laws and regulations; Protecting the rights of oppositions and minorities; Plurality and freedom of political parties and that of non-governmental organizations, associations, and social networks; Truly free and uncensored press and media; Free access of all to information and knowledge; Respecting and safeguarding the privacy of individuals and groups; Abolition of any systemic bias; Fair access to and just distribution and sharing of natural or human-made opportunities and possibilities, whether economic, political, social, or cultural; Constant and systematic vigilance against the overt or covert undue influences of money and power; and of course, Nonviolent and just resolution of conflicts, domestically and internationally.
10- Thus, our “Occupy Movement” believes that the best way to maintain and safeguard our political, economic, cultural, and military independence, sovereignty, and national security, is to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which includes as a logical and natural consequence, truly caring for the well-being of all the interdependent inhabitants of our deeply wounded Mother Earth.
Final Word
Clearly and purposefully this Think Tent Thoughts: A Road-map to Real Reform is a “First Draft,” meaning and hoping to START a genuine process of thinking and dialogue, toward the organic creation of a consensus for reform, renewal, and hope in our country. Thus, this “first draft” has declared, by design, only the more general values, aspirations, hopes, and goals of our “Occupy Movement,” allowing for we, the people, to gradually define, articulate, develop, and demand (perhaps in the “think tents” that we may create in our own communities of heart, mind, and conscience) the situation-appropriate specific measures, remedies, and solutions that we would like to help manifest.
Hence, with regard to our “tent” here in Tucson, in the coming months/years we will be working on developing specific solution recommendations from our vantage point, while also trying to improve this “first draft,” toward developing better future drafts, as needed and appropriate.
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