FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

To: News Desk and/or Community Calendar of Events Editor

From: New Road Map Foundation

What: Community Conversation Café on Waging Peace in Perilous Times with Nina Utne, Ross Reynolds, Alene Moris, and Vicki Robin, Elliott Bay Books, 101 S. Main, Seattle, 5:30-7:30 PM, January 26, 2003

Contact: Leslie Schneider, 206. 783.1306, [email protected]
Web site address: www.conversationcafe.org

Waging Peace in Perilous Times

Seattle, Washington, January 8, 2003 — No one wants war. No sane person wants to kill for peace. Yet we are in a war on terror and building our way toward a war with Iraq in the name of peace, security and freedom. In Conversation Cafés throughout Seattle, concerned citizens are gathering to discuss these issues, and on Sunday, January 26, 2003 from 5:30-7:30pm several local and national leaders will host a Community Conversation Café on Waging Peace in Perilous Times. The event, scheduled at Elliot Bay Books, will involve a lively and thoughtful discussion between Nina Utne, Ross Reynolds, Vicki Robin, Alene Moris, and all attendees.

In conversations surrounding American military actions, some believe they are just and necessary wars for global security – some think they are arrogant and reckless US ploys for global dominance. Many of us muddle around in the middle. Whatever the reasons for war, Conversation Cafés believe we need to mobilize our imagination, intelligence and spirit towards peace through dialogue. What would make peace break out in these times? Where is it happening now? How can we make it grow and last? What are your best ideas for peace in these perilous times? Everyone is invited to the event to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas for action with neighbors, to discover and deepen their ideas by speaking them, and to learn new perspectives through listening. We will make the path to peace, locally and globally, by talking.

Conversation Cafés are a national movement begun in Seattle that encourage a safe place where "community" is discovered, energies are renewed, differences of beliefs are accepted, and where visions for a better world take shape. They are intended to provide an open forum where people of varying views can gather in a safe, warm, relaxed place to explore their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the world today. As Vicki Robin, co-founder of Conversation Cafés, has suggested, "How can we, as a whole society, make the tough choices and envision the great possibilities if we as citizens don’t feel free to engage in lively conversation about what matters most? Conversation Cafés make it safe to meet and talk with strangers about issues and ideas that might otherwise be taboo." Since their inception in August of 2001, the idea has spread to 16 local Cafés and to other cities worldwide. Conversation Cafés have been featured in The Seattle Times, The New York Times and on NPR’s "Talk of the Nation."

The panelists on Waging Peace will seed the conversations with their own considered ideas and actions in relation to war and peace, then everyone will participate in an hour-long Conversation Café group, guided by the process and agreements that assure a respectful, inquisitive and meaningful dialogue among peers.

The discussion leaders are a diverse and engaged group. Nina Utne is the chair and chief executive officer of Utne magazine and an original member of UnReasonable Women for the Earth and is a CodePink instigator. Utne magazine is in its 19th year of inspiring some, provoking others, and generally trying to get civil society to communicate about and act on what really matters.

As host of "The Conversation" on KUOW Radio, Ross Reynolds is a well-recognized thinker and skilled conversation host. In the December 2001 issue Seattle Magazine called "The Conversation" Seattle’s best talk show and the program received the 2001 SPJ Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism First Place, Daily News Reporting.

Alene Moris is a nationally recognized career consultant and has worked locally, nationally and internationally on women's issues particularly in the area of women and transition and women in leadership. Alene organized the Northwest International Women's Conference in Seattle and co-founded the Individual Development Center in Seattle. In 1990 she received an honorary doctorate from Seattle University for "her innovative work with men and women in life transitions" and was honored in 1996 as Community Catalyst of the Year by Mothers Against Violence in America.

In addition to spearheading the Conversation Cafes, Vicki Robin is co-author with Joe Dominquez of Your Money or Your Life. "Vicki has an amazing ability to get people together around social-change issues," says Seattle City Council member Richard Conlin. During Conversation Week, January 13-19, 2001, 500 people attended 24 Cafés throughout the Puget Sound area.

The most important participant will be you — the thoughtful, curious Seattlite who wants to talk with others about war, peace, security and freedom — now and in the future.

Everyone is invited to the Community Conversation Café on Waging Peace in Perilous Times at the Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S. Main, Sunday, January 26 from 5:30-7:30 PM. Think globally, talk locally at Conversation Cafés.

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