Coalition for Peace Action Challenges Obama to Live Up to Nobel Prize: New Jersey Progressive Organizers Network

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Coalition for Peace Action Challenges Obama to Live Up to Nobel Prize

Posted on Dec 10, 2009 by Coalition for Peace Action

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Message*	The Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), the region's largest grassroots peace group, has challenged President Barack Obama to live up to the Nobel Peace Prize and demonstrate that he can be a force for world peace. In addition to the press statement below, CFPA is planning a Vigil next Tuesday, December 15 from 5:00-6:00 PM at Palmer Square in Princeton that will feature a large banner saying "President Obama" Fulfill the Promise of Peace." Further details are at <http://www.peacecoalition.org>www.peacecoalition.org or by calling (609) 924-5022. "President Obama has a tremendous opportunity to advance world peace, but he has yet to live up to the Nobel Peace Prize," stated the Rev. Robert Moore, CFPA Executive Director. "Although the Coalition for Peace Action applauds him for stating a vision of a world without nuclear weapons and increasing diplomacy with Iran, we believe he has missed opportunities to advance non-military solutions to conflict by dramatically increasing troop levels in Afghanistan and continuing the growth of the military budget. We challenge him to live up to the honor of being a Nobel laureate." Alfred Nobel established the annual peace prize that bears his name to honor "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." While President Obama can be credited with promoting discourse and negotiation, he has fallen short with regard to reducing military action. In particular, his recent decision to further escalate the conflict in Afghanistan by ordering some 30,000 additional American troops to the impoverished, war-torn nation, his increase of Predator drone strikes that kill civilians, and his continued reliance of heavy military spending, rather than focusing on diplomacy and aid, signals an ominous step back from the intentions of the Nobel prize. "The United States accounts for nearly half of world military expenditures, maintains more than 800 foreign military bases, and our top industrial export is weaponry. Although President Obama says he seeks a world free of nuclear weapons, the United States still has a nuclear arsenal of more than 10,000 warheads. Rhetoric goes only so far. Now is time for the president to heed his own call to action," concluded Moore. CFPA, which is about the begin it's 30th year or organizing, is the largest grass roots peace group in the region, with over 7,800 member and supporting households in 18 chapters in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Contact: The Rev. Robert Moore (609) 924-5022 Work; (609) 924-1206 Home; (609) 937-6931 Cell
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The Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), the region's largest grassroots peace group, has challenged President Barack Obama to live up to the Nobel Peace Prize and demonstrate that he can be a force for world peace. In addition to the press statement below, CFPA is planning a Vigil next Tuesday, December 15 from 5:00-6:00 PM at Palmer Square in Princeton that will feature a large banner saying "President Obama" Fulfill the Promise of Peace." Further details are at <http://www.peacecoalition.org>www.peacecoalition.org or by calling (609) 924-5022.

"President Obama has a tremendous opportunity to advance world peace, but he has yet to live up to the Nobel Peace Prize," stated the Rev. Robert Moore, CFPA Executive Director. "Although the Coalition for Peace Action applauds him for stating a vision of a world without nuclear weapons and increasing diplomacy with Iran, we believe he has missed opportunities to advance non-military solutions to conflict by dramatically increasing troop levels in Afghanistan and continuing the growth of the military budget. We challenge him to live up to the honor of being a Nobel laureate."

Alfred Nobel established the annual peace prize that bears his name to honor "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." While President Obama can be credited with promoting discourse and negotiation, he has fallen short with regard to reducing military action. In particular, his recent decision to further escalate the conflict in Afghanistan by ordering some 30,000 additional American troops to the impoverished, war-torn nation, his increase of Predator drone strikes that kill civilians, and his continued reliance of heavy military spending, rather than focusing on diplomacy and aid, signals an ominous step back from the intentions of the Nobel prize.

"The United States accounts for nearly half of world military expenditures, maintains more than 800 foreign military bases, and our top industrial export is weaponry. Although President Obama says he seeks a world free of nuclear weapons, the United States still has a nuclear arsenal of more than 10,000 warheads. Rhetoric goes only so far. Now is time for the president to heed his own call to action," concluded Moore.

CFPA, which is about the begin it's 30th year or organizing, is the largest grass roots peace group in the region, with over 7,800 member and supporting households in 18 chapters in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Contact: The Rev. Robert Moore (609) 924-5022 Work; (609) 924-1206 Home; (609) 937-6931 Cell

Tags: Peace & Peacemaking

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