My International Work for Justice and Peaceby Bernie Meyer Seeking a world with peace and justice is leading me to participate in worldwide movements. In 2001, I traveled to Dharmasala, India, where the Tibetans maintain their government in exile. My second day there made me feel at home as we walked in protest with the Tibetans, chanting for freedom. The demonstration marked the anniversary of the March 10, 1959, Tibetan uprising and the exile of the Dalai Lama. The protest was followed by his two-week Monlom teachings. I came away with a deep appreciation of Tibetan Buddhist meaning of "the zone of peace." This international initiation is continuing. On April 24, I was asked to bring Gandhi's presence to a demonstration at the Seattle Federal Building by the Tamil people from Sri Lanka seeking to halt the genocidal actions taking place in Sri Lanka. Portraying Mohandas Karamchaud Gandhi has evolved for me into an effort to bring Gandhi's living presence into today's world, 60 years after his assassination. In 2005, I was asked to portray Gandhi in India for young people who had little knowledge about his mission in India and the world. My portrayals there led me to not only be titled "the American Gandhi," but also to be given the mission to bring Gandhi's message to the world's violent and destructive situations. In 2007, I was sent to India by peacemaking friends to international conferences to bring words from America. My two-month visit led me to participate in four conferences, where I portrayed Gandhi. Giving the keynote address at a youth conference at the World Peace Centre in Pune was rousing. I asked, "Who wants to be "satyagrahis?" Satyagra is the philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed by Gandhi. The response was a standing ovation. I was invited to a Round Table Conference on Science and Religion in August, and another conference in November to overcome violence with ahimsa (the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jainist philosophy of revering all life and refraining from harm to any living thing), making three trips to India in one year. My message is: "End war and weapons of mass destruction, address the effects of peak oil and resource depletion, and reverse climate heating by overcoming business as usual with an urgent mobilization of creative energy for life with humanity at the crossroads." In 2007, I walked more than 700 miles from Glasgow to London to convey this message. I committed civil disobedience at the Trident Base at Faslane and at the Atomic Weapons Establishment east of London. Earlier this year, I visited Vietnam to talk with the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin from the Vietnam War as a way to commemorate the 40th anniversary of a Dow Chemical action. The horrors of these weapons are now affecting the third and fourth generations. These have been amazing experiences because I meet many people who are working to save life on earth. Now I have acquaintances and fellow activists on five continents and in numerous nations. We are joining together to work for peace and justice. Olympia resident Bernie Meyer is active with the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action and Fellowship of Reconciliation. For information on his work, see http://www.oly-wa.us/berniemeyer and http://www.theamericangandhi.blogspot.com
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