Each month, we share the stories of World BEYOND War volunteers and interns around the world. Want to volunteer or intern with World BEYOND War? Email greta@worldbeyondwar.org.
Location:
Illinois, USA
How did you get involved with anti-war activism and World BEYOND War (WBW)?
I think I just found WBW online. Last summer, just after having a baby, I was feeling extra-anxious about the world I was bringing him into. I was looking into spaces where I could participate and use my voice for peace, and I joined a book club with David Swanson on the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine. I enjoyed meeting Americans who are against war as a core value and who promote alternatives. I was thankful for how informative and resourceful the website is, and I learned about local chapters at the same time of the book club.
What kinds of WBW activities do you work on?
I’m currently a co-coordinator of the Illinois Chapter with Al Mytty, and I help by providing resources as needs appear. For example, we started a digital alphabetization class catered to our chapter, as many of our members are seniors who have less experience with social media. Social media can be a great tool for us as we are disperse in several parts of Illinois.
I’ve mostly worked on online and local events. Last year I organized a talk by David Swanson on the meaning of Armistice Day (today called Veterans Day in the U.S.) – essentially a celebration of the First World War’s ceasefire. In that in-person talk at a Chicago Public Library, he also brought the conversation back to a local perspective and talked about the lawyer Salmon Oliver Levinson and the Kellogg–Briand Pact in 1928, a pact that outlawed war. Of course, that has not panned out, but it was an important seed for future UN legislation and had an impact in trials of war crimes.
I think knowledge of these histories can be so beneficial for the peace movement, as people learn of different ways to express their voices and, in these times, find hope.
What’s your top recommendation for someone who wants to get involved with anti-war activism and WBW?
To reach out to groups in their community! And to be okay with looking until you participate in something that feels true to you. That can be WBW and so many others. There are so many people doing all kinds of advocacy work right now. Although for the worst reasons, it is a crucial time to meet people who can help us believe in something better.
What keeps you inspired to advocate for change?
Meeting courageous people who speak truth and common sense to whoever will listen.
I think we live in scary times but I think common sense and simple guaranties are elements of human life that do prevail, because they are things that humans strive for and desire. We want to have space to develop and worry about our smaller problems, not the fear of war and indiscriminate death.
I think if we actually look at the lessons of history, the state of technology and our current incredible capacity for communication, we will admit that humanity is past war as any kind of policy. So our job is to converse and reach that conclusion together, and then create multiple pathways for a better reality. Each person’s job is simply to find the space where they can contribute.
Posted August 20, 2024.
