9 Steps to Peace for Obama in the New Year

9 Steps to Peace for Obama in the New Year
2 January 2009

by Deepak Chopra, Tikkun, 1 Jan 2009.

The following is a memo to Barack Obama from Deepak Chopra:

Deepak Chopra
PEACE

You have been elected by the first anti-war constituency since 1952, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected after promising to end the Korean War. But ending a war isn’t the same as bringing peace. America has been on a war footing since the day after Pearl Harbor, 67 years ago. We spend more on our military than the next 16 countries combined. If you have a vision of change that goes to the heart of this country’s deep problems, ending our dependence on war is far more important than ending our dependency on foreign oil.

The most immediate changes are economic. Unless it can make as much money as war, peace doesn’t stand a chance. Since aerospace and military technologies remain the United States’ most destructive export, fostering wars around the world, what steps can we take to reverse that trend and build a peace-based economy?

1. Scale out arms dealing and make it illegal by the year 2020.

2. Write into every defense contract a requirement for a peacetime project.

3. Subsidize conversion of military companies to peaceful uses with tax incentives and direct funding.

4. Convert military bases to housing for the poor.

5. Phase out all foreign military bases.

6. Require military personnel to devote part of their time to rebuilding infrastructure.

7. Call a moratorium on future weapons technologies.

8. Reduce armaments like destroyers and submarines that have no use against terrorism and were intended to defend against a superpower enemy that no longer exists.

9. Fully fund social services and take the balance out of the defense and homeland security budgets.

These are just the beginning. We don’t lack creativity in coping with change. Without a conversion of our present war economy to a peace economy, the high profits of the military-industrial complex ensures that it will never end.

Do these nine steps seem unrealistic or fanciful? In various ways, other countries have adopted similar measures. The former Soviet army is occupied with farming and other peaceful work, for example. But comparisons are rather pointless, since only the United States is burdened with such a massive reliance on defense spending. Ultimately, empire follows the dollar. As a society, we want peace, and we want to be seen as a nation that promotes peace. For either ideal to come true, you as president must back up your vision of change with economic reality. So far, that hasn’t happened under any of your predecessors. All hopes are pinned on you.

Deepak Chopra is acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest leaders in the field of mind-body medicine. He is the author of over 50 books, including Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment and Ageless Body, Timeless Mind.

Source: IMAGINEPEACE.com

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Comment by John Bullabaugh on January 4, 2009 at 8:02pm: I applaud Dr. Chopra for his wise words. I would add that one could assert that the USA has been in war mode since our questionable entry into WW1, perhaps even further back! One wonders, for instance, why there was such an urgency to establish the armed forces as we now know them [more or less], when our supposedly disorganized militia had just defeated one of the largest empires in the world in the Revolutionary War...

Comment by Jean on January 4, 2009 at 7:40pm: Once again, my heartfelt thanks to everyone contributing here! You are thoughtful and caring souls.

I would extend lovingthanks to Yoko Ono, who originally posted this on her IMAGINEPEACE.com site.
She is tireless in her efforts to promote peace, love and understanding throughout the globe.
Truly a woman ahead of her times.

Peace and Love to you all!

Namasté,

Jean

Comment by Nancy Kaye on January 4, 2009 at 6:40pm: Peace Align in 2009!
Ushering in New Strength for Peace. Internal Vibrant Thoughts Outward Shinning of Being Peaceful...Abound!
Starting right now.....! New Year Peace!
My iPeace Pledge
Namaste, Nancy

Comment by Wilma - together we can make a difference on January 4, 2009 at 3:41pm: Positive Intention is everything. Let's all play our part through our heartfelt prayers, meditations and everyday acts and thoughts of PEACE. And also pray for our political leaders
La Intención Positiva es todo. Vamos, todo el mundo, a rezar, meditar, actuar y pensar cada día en nuestro camino hacía LA PAZ. Y además rezamos por nuestros líderes políticos.

Comment by Biju Varkey Varghese on January 4, 2009 at 3:30pm: Man has played as a terrorist with nature, firstly we need to be in Harmony with our surrounding. Secondly if we are to disarm all the countries then what about rogue elements within the country?Surely they will not disarm? It will allow these elements to hold the humanity in ransom!
Man has lost faith in God and gods ways are amended to suit mans ways!
We need to pray as we have lost it!!

Comment by Fernando on January 4, 2009 at 1:46pm: Mr. Chopra is a Wise Man. Hope that Mr. Obama considers to walk that path. Blessings to all.

Comment by Mo'ayad on January 4, 2009 at 11:44am: As a world peace dreamer;i think these 9 steps are brilliant .. "they are cool"
but not cool enough unless actions are being taken to make them true. I also think that despite how wonderful the world will be if peace spreads but it's not that easy. Peace is much harder than just saying words. God bless people who working hard to make difference and put the world into a step forward, and help them making through

Comment by Lloyd Goodwin on January 4, 2009 at 9:32am: I support all of Chopra's steps for peace. Also, I would encourage the President to add a Dept. of Peace to develop & fund projects and strategies to promote peace in the world. My vote would be for Chopra to head this dept. I also hope that the first priority for the Peace Dept. would be to encourage everyone to become tolerant of people and beliefs different from their own as well as work on their own sources of disharmony and distress.

Comment by Elisabeth S. on January 4, 2009 at 9:15am: Salute à tutti!
All those comments make sense, but ONE STEP at a time! Dr. Deepak Chopra is right; first of all, lets put a flower in each riffle, each canon!
USA have elected a new man and are putting all their hope in him, but lets not forget Barack Obama is just a man! He will makes mistakes, and the US nation will have to giving him more love and share it with him, and not turning its back on him!
I wish the world Pace è Salute (Peace and Health as we say in Corsica!) and I will add Compassion and Love for each others!

Comment by S.E.Ingraham on January 4, 2009 at 8:40am: The ideas being put forth are great as are the cautions against waiting too long and against letting the bottom line and greed remain the status quo. I believe we all have to keep pressuring those at the top to turn weapons to ploughshares and to wean the west off its dependence on non-renewable resources, especially the almighty middle eastern oil, that we are paying for with blood and money. Peace is achieveable but it's not something that can just be plucked out of the air...in my opinion, those of us passionate about a peaceful world must become informed about what needs to be done to bring that about and then, get on it. Get loud. And don't ever give up.