Peace Storm
What is a “Peace Storm”?
If you visit http://mountainzen.org/ (I think this is the same organization, just a different place) I’m sure you’ll get a definition of what they mean by Peace Storm if you write them. What it has meant to me relating to my involvement with the BMCY&F is a refuge of friends. People willing to get up early and say we can do this, we can help, we want to learn, yes, just show me what has to be done. If it has to do with community building, peace, justice, and collaboration with organizations on that path the answer is yes. If it has to do with young people, tolerance, diversity and building a tomorrow with those parameters the answer is yes. It has been an experience I wish everyone could share. Yes lots of work got done. Three days of work!! After all, on the surface that is why the monks and apprentices came to the West Point youth center. The Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth and Families board and staff have been to the monastery. We hope to go back and work on projects there. It is part of the collaboration definition. Help each other realize our dreams and hope those dreams can realize a better world. Working with such people more than once gives great hope that maybe our plight isn’t simply doom. I’m sure we will lobby for another Peace Storm in West Point. But think of this. Our two organizations, BMCY&F and The Zen Buddhist monastery in Murphys has discovered an affinity. In order to build on the hope that affinity has bred the need to head off our large and growing list of cultural disorders requires more. Climate change, perpetual war, economies that depend on conflict and consumption, racism and xenophobia, an ever widening gap between the haves and have nots, profound environmental degradation, addressing these and other issues seems like an astronomical set of tasks. An affinity needs to be formed between many organizations. So rather than another Peace Storm happening in West Point maybe there’s another option. Maybe our two organization can seek out a third group of people struggling along our same path, and together “Peace Storm” them to form a broader, stronger alliance. A Dandelion Alliance planting seeds for growing new kinds of communities. Communities dedicated to organic living and self-sustainability. Then our three organizations reach out again and again till we are a force to be reckoned with.