Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Author: Jo Ann Deck

  • Peace Leadership in Minnesota

    Despite unseasonable record cold and early snow, Paul K. Chappell, Peace Leadership Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, inspired a crowd of activists, students, veterans, and concerned citizens in a five day tour though Minneapolis and St. Paul. Events included a one-day peace leadership workshop at the First Unitarian Church, a public forum at Plymouth Congregational Church, university talks at Augsburg College and the University of St. Thomas, and keynote speaker at the 19th annual celebration of the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers with about 300 people in attendance.

    “When I heard Paul speak, I realized why his message could literally feed the masses with that controversial thing called ‘hope,’” said Kate Towle, educational consultant to the Minneapolis public schools. “Paul understands profoundly that peace demands a culture of living and a language for which there are few translations, and he is our primary interpreter.”

    “This workshop is essential, “said Dick Bernard, past president of the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers. “Chappell’s presentation was very stimulating. He is a great teacher.”

    “Paul just kept light shaking us with his wise rhetoric,” said Elaine Wynne, licensed psychologist, site coordinator, Veterans Resilience Project of Minnesota. “Paul has deeply affected people in our community. His presence is provocative and powerful.”

    “His speech is one of the best and most hopeful talks that I have ever heard,” said Bill Monahan, MD, executive director at Minnesota Holistic Medicine Group. “Now I have to hear him again.”

    Mike Madden, Veterans for Peace member, commented, “His perspective, that every war is a civil war if your highest affiliation is to the human race, is one I’ve always shared but never heard expressed so simply and memorably. Thank you, NAPF. Thank you, Paul Chappell. What were people thinking back in the day when violence was accepted as a natural human tendency?”

    “The workshop was phenomenal,” said Elaine Klaassen, writer for Spirit and Conscience, Southside Pride newspaper. “I really liked Chappell’s compassion about where people are coming from, which I believe is the heart of peacemaking…Of course, if everyone in the world looked at everyone else in this way, no one would be able to demonize or dehumanize another soul. And war would be impossible.”

  • Peace Leadership in Maine

    Peace Leadership in Maine

    “The most important work in the world,” is how Tilla Durr, the daughter of famed civil rights activists Clifford and Virginia Durr, described the work of NAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul K. Chappell during his recent visit to Maine. Durr attended both the two-day Peace Leadership Training in Bridgton, Maine and Paul’s lecture at the University of New England Center for Global Humanities in Portland, Maine.

    “He teaches us how to both understand and strengthen that which already lies within us for the change to occur which can heal the way we dehumanize ourselves, one another, and the planet.” As a young adult in Alabama, Tilla Durr had marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her mother was a good friend of Rosa Parks, and Tilla Durr found herself ostracized by the Montgomery, Alabama white community.

    “Paul does not just leave his audience with an intellectual understanding of the anatomy of aggression and the art of waging peace, but teaches us to see conflict as opportunity,” Durr commented about the training and the UNE lecture. “There was not a single person who attended who was not profoundly affected.”

    One local minister at the training reflected, “As a pastor, I will be able to teach peace with more authority and spread more seeds of peace.” Another minister commented, “I will take away a better vision.”

    Pax Christi member Sally Chappell (no relation to Paul) who met Paul Chappell at the previous peace leadership training in Maine said, “My plan is to be more positive and more respectful of opponents…. I will try to be more courageous in speaking to a group that dismisses my values…. I am less fearful as a result of participating in Paul’s workshop.”

    She wrote in the local newspaper, “Remarkably candid about the trauma he endured as a child, Chappell used his own life story as well as historical examples of human advancements like the abolition of state-sponsored slavery, civil rights and women’s rights to argue that humans are not inherently violent and that ending war is necessary and possible. ‘I’m not an optimist; I’m a realist,’ Chappell revealed, urging his listeners to opt for a paradigm shift of nonviolent action that provides people with hope, meaning, belonging and purpose.”

    The Center for Global Humanities at the University of New England is a public forum dedicated to the study of human destiny in the 21st century. Previous speakers have included Bill McKibben, Helen Caldicott, and Noam Chomsky.

  • Peace Leadership at SGI in Washington, DC

    Paul Chappell at SGI in Washington, DC

    On September 16, 2014, NAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul K. Chappell spoke at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of Soka Gakkai International as part of the SGI-USA Culture of Peace Distinguished Speakers Series. An international audience of over 200 people heard Paul Chappell discuss why peace is possible, the anatomy of violence, the evidence that humanity is not naturally violent but naturally peaceful, and the power of waging peace.

    Before the lecture, Chappell met with SGI student division members for a youth dialogue. Most were Japanese exchange students who attend George Mason University and peppered Chappell with questions on current world issues. He also explored with them the global search, among all people, for purpose, meaning, and belonging.

  • Aha! Peace Leadership for Youth

    NAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul K. Chappell spent three days in July teaching teens in AHA! (Attitude. Harmony. Achievement.) in Santa Barbara about waging peace. Participants learned about the roots of violence and avenues toward healing through short lectures, videos, clips, interactive discussions, and activities, including skits demonstrating nonviolent ways to resolve conflict.

    Paul K. Chappell said, “I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss the peace leadership skills I wish I had known when I was sixteen. Those skills–such as the ability to calm myself and others down, resolve conflict, increase my empathy, and heal the causes of aggression–would have benefitted me immensely.”

    According to AHA!, youth were engaged, learned a lot, and really enjoyed the experience. Dr. Jennifer Freed, co-founder and director of AHA! wrote, “Thank you so much, Paul, for your teachings and for being a living example of peacebuilding despite life experiences that could have led you to a very different place.”

  • Peace Leadership in Washington DC

    Peace Leadership in Washington DC

    In April, members of Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore arranged for NAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul K. Chappell to give presentations at three area high schools: Bishop McNamara High School (pictured here), Gonzaga High School, and St. John’s High School. One administrator wrote:

    “…your arguments and examples are clear, realistic, and rational, and they ask us to use our hearts in decision-making…”

    Paul Chappell also addressed volunteers for Little Friends for Peace, a D.C. organization that reaches out to middle school students to curb violence. He was also the keynote speaker for the 29th annual conference for Maryland United for Peace and Justice.

    When asked about the best way for the peace movement to move forward (a question Paul is often asked), he discussed the need to go deeper into the philosophy of nonviolence and train ourselves to wage peace.

    Paul has been asked to give a peace leadership training in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13. For more information on the D.C. training, please email jdeck@napf.org.

  • Peace Leadership Around the Globe

    Peace Leadership Around the Globe

    New Jersey:  “What is the relationship between peace and justice?”

    This question was asked of NAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul K. Chappell at a March 8 event at the Peace Center at St. Joseph’s Shrine in Stirling, New Jersey. A group of about seventy long-time activists spent a sunny afternoon listening to Paul discuss “The Art of Waging Peace.”

    Paul answered the question about peace and justice this way:

    “I like to call this Peace Soup. Peace includes all the ingredients in the soup; justice is the liquid that holds everything together. Without justice, there is no peace.”

    Another question was: “How do you make the peace movement relevant?”

    “You emphasize the need for waging peace skills. These are practical life skills that can improve our personal lives and positively influence the lives of those around us. This is how the peace movement becomes a movement for all of humanity to work together.”

    Manhattan:  Before an event at the Soka Gakkai International Center on March 13, as part of the SGI Culture of Peace Distinguished Speaker Series, Paul participated in a youth dialogue with college students and recent graduates, all members of this Buddhist association. They asked Paul how they could continue to move forward in activism against what seems like impossible odds.

    Paul responded, “Less than one percent of the American population was actively involved in the women’s and civil rights movements. Less than one percent of the global population was involved in the movement to abolish state-sanctioned slavery. It’s only a small percent of the population that is needed to make positive change.”

    He reminded them that to make positive change they must be well-trained, strategic, and creative.  “As soldiers are given excellent training in waging war, citizens must be given excellent training in waging peace. Focusing on peace leadership, the form of leadership practiced by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., gives us the nonviolence training and the practical life skills to wage peace in our personal lives, our communities, and around the world.”

    Northern Uganda:  Invited by the University of the Sacred Heart in Northern Uganda to teach a three-day Peace Leadership training, Paul interacted with participants that included people from South Sudan  and Uganda, along with American nuns. Decades of continuous war have resulted in unimaginable traumatic wounds.

    “This is a humbling experience,” said Paul. “They are working on many vital issues, such as peace, justice, women’s rights, disability rights, domestic violence, substance abuse, abolishing the death penalty, reconciliation, health and human services, discrimination, and poverty. One of their favorite quotes during the training is from Elinor ‘Gene’ Hoffman who said, ‘An enemy is a person whose story we have not heard.’”

  • Native Ideals to Spark a New Peaceful Revolution

    Native Ideals to Spark a New Peaceful Revolution

    NAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul Chappell spoke on the principles of nonviolence at the second workshop on Building Nonviolent Indigenous Rights Movements on February 15, 2014 in Nova Scotia, Canada. Held at the Tatamagouche Retreat Center outside Halifax, and sponsored by the Wabanaki Confederacy and the Land Peace Foundation, this workshop also included special interactions from the Native community.

    nova_scotia“The inclusion of more traditional and ceremonial elements into the Nova Scotia workshop, such as talking circles that were facilitated by prayer and ceremony, enabled us to deepen our dialogue with participants. By including more traditional elements, we were able to connect with each other in a more meaningful way,” said co-trainer Sherri Mitchell, Indigenous lawyer and Executive Director of the Land Peace Foundation.

    Discussing the nonviolent tactics and strategies of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Chappell expressed the importance of all people learning the truth of our shared humanity. He reminded the group how all of humanity has indigenous roots.

    Indigenous peoples offer a unique contribution. Native activist Gkisedtanamoogk said,  “Native Americans are a success story because we have faced the longest ongoing genocide in history yet we are still here, and our ideals are still here. We are survivors, and we are not going anywhere. We will continue to protect our mother the earth, just as our ancestors did. Indigenous people used to be the only ones talking about our responsibility to protect the environment, and now I see that attitude spreading. I have witnessed this happening.”

    His wife, Miigamaghan added, “People used to say that we were primitive, but now they are realizing that our highest ideals were simply ahead of their time.”

    Chappell encouraged the participants. “By building on your powerful ideals and uniting wisdom from around the world, you have the potential to create a new peaceful revolution.”

    Jo Ann Deck is the NAPF Peace Leadership Program Coordinator.
  • Peace Leadership in Canada

    Peace Leadership in Canada

    joann_deckNAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul Chappell spoke in December 2013 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada on the principles of nonviolence at the workshop on Building Non-Violent Indigenous Rights Movements. Held at the Wabanaki Resource Center at St. Thomas University and sponsored by the Wabanaki Confederacy and The Land Peace Foundation, the first part of this workshop focused on how nonviolence training could be applied to the current struggle against fracking as Indigenous tribes resist the Government of New Brunswick’s appropriation of tribal lands for shale gas exploration.

    Chappell discussed both the philosophy of nonviolence and the actions of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. He also explored the history of different kinds of nonviolent protests.

    “I was inspired to learn how Gandhi stood up for himself, with strength and nonviolence and was able to move so many people to action,” said Juisen Bartibogue, Mi’kmaq Nation, 19, of Burnt Church, New Brunswick. “I saw how nonviolence is the only way for us to be able to achieve our goals and to make a lasting peace.”

    Attorney Sherri Mitchell, a graduate of the summer 2013 NAPF Peace Leadership training, spoke during the second half of the workshop on strategy building for unified movements. A member of the Penobscot Tribe and executive director of the Land Peace Foundation, Mitchell has been an advocate for indigenous rights for over two decades, working to protect the rights of her own tribe and those of Indigenous people across the Americas.

    Mitchell said, “The battle over dwindling resources has caused aggressive attacks on Indigenous rights and these workshops will provide the practical skills to create strong and effective opposition to these attacks.”

  • Inner City Youth Activists Attend NAPF Peace Leadership Training

    A recent NAPF Peace Leadership Training held at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst found new advocates among those living in the inner cities. Young activists involved with Arise for Justice in Springfield learned from NAPF Peace Leadership Director Paul K. Chappell how to deal with anger and violent situations, and how to bring the principles of nonviolence into their lives.

    UMASS group

    “I will improve my anger and condone nonviolence . . . They need to expand this workshop to places like Springfield because this workshop is perfect.” — Selassei Walker, 15

    “I wanted to attend this workshop because it’s a great way to find peace within yourself and it just adds another tool to my toolbox for life. Now I will utilize everything I learned in everyday life and let other people know what I’ve learned . . .This is a great workshop that manyyoung people should hear about and be a part of.” — Corey King, 17

    “I’ve learned how to react towards certain situations with the understanding of why violence happens and also how to express myself and which actions and expressions to do/not do during a conflict.” — Courtney Watkins, 20

    “I will utilize what I’ve learned at Arise . . . Non-violence is our most powerful tool against corruption . . . Bring Paul to Arise!” — Frank Cincotta, 22

    “I originally wanted to use the training, to use the tactics at work and everyday environment. I live in a very violent city and this training can be used to inform other youth how to deflate violent confrontations . . . This is something that should be held at local schools and areas where peace is a problem . . . I hope you come to Springfield, MA!” — Julia Scott, 27 (founder of one of the Arise youth groups in Springfield)

    Event planner Mary McCarthy, a member of the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice and participant in the first NAPF Peace Leadership Training held in Santa Barbara in summer 2012, is now working to bring Paul Chappell and the Peace Leadership Training to downtown Springfield in the spring of 2014. Springfield is known for having one of the highest crime rates in the country.
    McCarthy said, “Paul Chappell explains that Peace Leadership Training is a gateway. It is inspiring to see young people take in the knowledge of nonviolence, then turn around and want to facilitate positive change in their community…This is the essence of peace work.”

    Within the next several months, Paul Chappell will be giving peace leadership trainings in Uganda, Canada and the University of San Diego Graduate School of Leadership and Education Sciences. Email Paul at pchappell@napf.org for more information.