2007 US Social Forum

The first U.S. Social Forum took place June 27-July 1, 2007, bringing between 12,000 and 15,000 people from diverse movements around the country together to discuss the problems we confront and to explore new ways of working together. The Peace Caucus was a series of three workshops during which participants discussed the challenges of building coalitions to do peace and justice work, considered ideas being put forward by various groups, and developed consensus on strategies for helping renew and strengthen social movements working to end war and its underlying causes. The final declaration represents the commitments they made to carrying forward the ideas they discussed. It is included among the resolutions of the People’s Movement Assembly of the US Social Forum. It indicates what USSF participants learned about how we can carry forward work for social change in our country and world. We urge friends and supporters to build upon this promising beginning to try new ways of working for peace and justice. Comments on the plan and ideas for helping advance this initiative can also be sent to ussfpeacecaucus@sbcglobal.net.

Final Declaration and Action Plan

Adopted by the Peace Caucus of the United States Social Forum

June 30, 2007, Atlanta Georgia
In order to achieve the citizen’s peace plan (see below), to strengthen work for peace and social justice, and to prevent future wars, delegates to the Peace Caucus at the United States Social Forum commit ourselves to taking the following actions to make another world possible.  We encourage others in the United States and around the world to join with us to advance the cause of peace with justice.

1)  We will participate in multiple activities of community groups other than our own, following the motto of "giving before we ask" others to support our campaigns.

2) In our work we will remain consistently mindful of the connections between justice, peace, human rights, and human relations on the earth.

3) We will constantly strive to facilitate healing as we work to promote a culture of peace and human rights.

4) Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2008, we commit to building awareness of human rights in our communities.

5) We commit to continuing the conversations begun at the United States Social Forum, sharing what we have learned and supporting each other in moving forward.  We will work to support social forums in our communities in January 2008 as we look towards the second U.S. Social Forum in 2010.

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The Citizen’s Peace Plan for Iraq was adopted by those assembled at the Peace Caucus of the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta, and it builds upon the conversations and insights shared in those meetings.  We hope many groups will take up this call to action and carry forward the work begun at the U.S. Social Forum.  The Citizen’s Peace Plan, it is hoped, can unite diverse groups around a single plan for brining U.S. troops home and building lasting peace in the Middle East and in the world.  People need to know that there are alternatives to the current policies being discussed by our political leadership.  We urge those working for peace and social justice to endorse the citizen’s peace plan by sending an email to: ussfpeacecaucus@sbcglobal.net. We also ask you to help spread the word about the Citizen’s Peace Plan through your networks, letters to local newspapers and newsletters, and letters to elected officials in local, state, and national governments. Comments on the plan and ideas for helping advance this initiative can also be sent to ussfpeacecaucus@sbcglobal.net.

Citizen's Peace Plan

Adopted by the Peace Caucus of the United States Social Forum

June 30, 2007, Atlanta Georgia

We, participants in the U.S. Social Forum Peace Caucus
Recognizing the devastating effects of the U.S. occupation on the Iraqi people;
And acknowledging the relevance of the Iraq war and occupation to our struggle for social justice in our communities and our world;
Emphasize the urgency of a rapid and humane end to the occupation.
We therefore call for the following:

1) Military Withdrawal.
The United States to immediately and completely withdraw all troops and bases from Iraq.

2) Iraqi National Reconciliation.
The United States and the international community to play a supporting role in a national reconciliation process led by legitimate representatives of Iraq's diverse peoples.

3) Regional Stabilization.
The United States to ask international institutions, such as the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to sponsor regional conferences of all neighboring countries, including Iran and Syria, to seek measures to end the civil war and stabilize Iraq's future.

4) Reconstruction and Reparations.
The United States to provide sufficient resources to an internationally administered fund to address the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, repair the physical damage caused by its invasion and occupation of Iraq and to provide reparations to Iraqis.

5) Support for veterans.
The United States to provide sustained and sufficient support for all the veterans and their families who have suffered in this war.

6) Words, not war with Iran.
The United States to cooperate with other countries and the United Nations to support the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and engage Iran in direct diplomatic negotiations-- without preconditions--to end the nuclear standoff and promote the stabilization of Iraq.

7) Change U.S. foreign policy.
The United States to shift its foreign policy to consistently support international law and institutions for a more just global system.

8)  Transition to culture of peace.
The United States to support domestic policies and programs that foster the transition from a culture of war to a culture of peace, human rights, and justice.