International Day of Peace

In 1981 the U.N with the sponsor of Costa Rica and Great Britain created the International Day of Peace which for the first 20 years was celebrated on the 3rd Tuesday of Sepetember, but since 2001 has been set on the 21st of September. Twice on this day U.N secretary generals called for a global ceasefires and implemented several peace initiatives including the culture of Peace Initiative, International Year of Reconciliation, and the latest Right to Peace. On this day we as peace advocates should meditate on the principles that resolve conflicts whether internally, locally, or internationally and remember that our fight for peace isn't with conventional weapons but with love, determination, morals, and humility.

White House Proposes MIlitary Campagin Vs. ISIS

On the 13th anniversary of one of the most tragic and memeroable events of the 21st century. A day after Obama's address proposing a military campaign in Syria, the men and women in arms will not be dusting their m-16's and prepping their uranium plated bullets yet. Barring congressional approval with congressional elections a few weeks away the proposed military campaign has hit a yield sign. No vote has been scheduled yet, its looking as if congress is going to put this off until after elections. “I'm shocked to see Congress punt on its war powers,” said Charles A. Stevenson, professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, who called the lack of action an “abdication.” “They're all scared,” Stevenson said. “They're evading their responsibility: The Democrats don't really want to vote for a war because a lot of them were elected voting against war, and the Republicans because they probably can't agree on what kind of war to approve.” Obama has used his executive powers to "ok" Air Strikes in Syria, with massive resistance from the United States European allies. The rhetoric being spoken of about ISIS is very similiar to the rhetoric that was propagated during the insurgence into Afghanistan and Iraq. It's common knowledge that the U.S created and funded Al Queda and the Taliban (Afghanistan) at their inception and funded Saddam Hussein (Iraq) for nearly three decades. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been publicly accusing Saudi Arabia and Qatar of funding ISIS for months. Several reports have detailed how private Gulf funding to various Syrian rebel groups has splintered the Syrian opposition and paved the way for the rise of groups like ISIS and others. When confronted with the problem, Gulf leaders often justify allowing their Salafi constituents to fund Syrian extremist groups by pointing back to what they see as a failed U.S. policy in Syria and a loss of credibility after President Obama reneged on his pledge to strike Assad after the regime used chemical weapons. Though Iraqi's Prime Minister credibility is shaky granted his secterian policies that are credited to the rise of sunni Isis in eastern Iraq. ISIS is a terrible threat to the security and freedom of many Iraqis and Syrians, they're campaign of murder of non-sunnis has been grotesque and inhumane. But the Obama administrations reasons for proposing war aren't concrete “If left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region—including to the United States,” Obama said. “While we have not yet detected specific plotting against our homeland, ISIL leaders have threatened America and our allies. Our intelligence community believes that thousands of foreigners—including Europeans and some Americans—have joined them in Syria and Iraq. Trained and battle-hardened, these fighters could try to return to their home countries and carry out deadly attacks.” The reasons for entering a military campaign as proposed by the White House has a lot of couldas in it. But for now my fellow peace ambassadors we'll have to wait for a congressional vote on the matter. “We had a golden opportunity to do the right thing, that also would have been the politically expedient thing, to vote to not go to war in Syria,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky)speaking on Congress lack of action in exercising their war powers.

Israel and Hamas Agree to a Truce

After a brutal 7 week campaign the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel seems to be over. Leaders of both Hamas, and Israel agreed today to a peace agreement which includes Hamas's demands for an airport and seaport in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel's insistence on the disarmament of militant groups and the return of the remains of two of its soldiers killed in the fighting. A US state department spokeswoman said: "We call on all parties to fully and completely comply with its terms, and hope very much that the ceasefire will prove to be durable and sustainable. We view this as an opportunity, not a certainty. There is a long road ahead and we're aware of that, and we're going into this eyes wide open." The deal follows at least eight temporary ceasefires during the course of the conflict. In Gaza, more than 2,100 people have been killed, most of them civilians, including about 500 children, in the past seven weeks. At least 11,000 people were injured and more than 17,000 homes destroyed or badly damaged. Around a third of Gaza's 1.8 million population has been displaced, many now living in United Nations shelters. Schools, hospitals, factories, farms, mosques and infrastructure such as power and water plants were hit. Reconstruction could take up to 10 years, say analysts. On the Israeli side, 64 soldiers died and five civilians including a four-year-old boy were killed. A blessed day for all peace advocates, but conflicts still rage in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, South Sudan, The Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we must not grow weary in this "fight" for peace. Our persistence as peace advocates is our greatest weapon.

Prayer for Peace

The last two week have been anything but calm if you follow world news. With the ongoing violence in Syria, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Ukraine. Not to mention the recent surge of violence between Israel and Gaza. It would be hard  for any piece advocate to articulate the amount of confusion such atrocities sow into the minds of ones observing. To the peacemakers I say keep protesting, keep informing the public, keep sending aid to legitimate charitable organizations. Our posture for peace must never change our prayers for peace must maintain. I admonish all who follow this post to send peaceful thoughts and words to all regions in this world engulfed in chaos.

Peace World Wide founder Speaks NPR Houstons program Houston Matters

Peace World Wide founder Mehdi Alavi speaks on issues of peace affecting the Middle East on Houston Matters. You can listen to it on the June 2 broadcast at www.houstonmatters.org.

ISIS Al Qaedas Geo Politcal Seed

  ISIS was formed in 2003 when the first leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi swore allegience to Osama Bin Laden. The organization has gone through four name changes since is inception and is now known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The group is an affiliate of Al-Qaeda but has its political ambitions to implement a islamic state inside Syria and Iraq. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the current leader of ISIS has declared a Holy War.
Though the organization is a decade old it has made headlines recently because of its recent insurgence, and the recent cross border bombings of Iraq and Syria military units. This has sent a strange ripple through the middle east, with  Iranian and American trained Iraqi forces working together to quail this growing jihadist organization with Syrian troops. This escalting conflict is shaking the foundations of middle east and geo political assumptions.  ISIS now controls a 1/3 of Syria and 1/3 of Iraq,  The Iraqi ambassador has recently said he would "help the U.S fight ISIS or else." ISIS influence is going in one of the most war torn and unstable regions of the planet. Citizens of Syria and Iraq migrating out of there countries in record numbers. The only shining light in this conflict is that it's bringing geo-politcal rivals like Iran and America to common ground on the fight against radical lunacy.

To All Who Wish for World Peace

Thank you for your wishes, thoughts, and dreams of peace. People like you make the world a better place for us all. May all your dreams be realized into actions and turn our world into a peaceful place to live for all humanity! On this day and every day, may we all share our generosity with the deprived, our inspiration with the hopeless, our kindness with fellowmen, and our love with all humanity! Happy Thanksgiving!