In a time when our country's leaders seem hell bent on war with Iraq — whether or not they have the backing of any other nation, the approval of Congress or the blessing of the people they are sworn to represent — it's comforting to know that there's a voice of sanity here in the Valley. Since its founding twenty-four years ago, the Traprock Peace Center in Deerfield has been bearing witness to peace in the face of war — nuclear war, The Contra wars, Star Wars, the Persian Gulf War, the continuing economic sanctions against Iraq, the recent bombing of innocents in Afghanistan, the plans to invade Iraq and plans to prepare space itself as a battle ground. Through discussions for the public and the press, workshops and trainings, community pot-lucks, and a variety of peacemaking activities for children, youth and adults, they have explored and encouraged a culture of nonviolence, worked to end war, promote communication and take initiatives on environmental and justice issues.

Traprock Executive Director Sunny Miller, Core Group president Charlie Jenks and former chief U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter just completed a four state swing through Wichita, Chicago, Indianapolis and Baltimore which included editorial board interviews with the Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun, radio/tv interviews and talks to enthusiastic audiences. The event in Wichita, co-sponsored by the Peace and Justice Center of South Central Kansas, drew about 225 interested listeners. Their speaking events in Indianapolis and Baltimore drew 300 and 250 respectively, clearly demonstrating the concern a growing number of Americans have about the Bush administration's current thinking on the Iraq issue. Throughout the trip, Traprock worked with local peace groups and regional affiliates of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Peace Action and AFSC. According to Sunny Miller, the hot idea now is an "honest broker" third party nation to observe renewed inspections. This is intended as a confidence building measure to allow Iraq to renew inspections without the risk of manipulation and misuse of the inspection process by the US, as occurred before the Desert Fox bombing in 1998.

Right now, Traprock volunteers and friends are participating in a state-wide Peace Walk initiated by Nipponzan Myohoji, the Buddhist religious order based at the Peace Pagoda in Leverett. The walk began in Leverett on August 25th and has so far passed through Greenfield, Williamstown, No. Adams, Adams, Plainfield, Worthington Center, Huntington, Gardner/Westminster, Fitchburg, Leominster, Sterling, W. Boylston, Worcester, Martha's Vineyard, Woods Hole, Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich/Sagamore, Sagamore/Cedarville and Plymouth. This Sunday, there will be prayer, chant and reflection at the Peace Pagoda before the walk continues on to Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Easthampton and Northampton. After participating in the September 11th program at Greenfield Community College, the walk will end with a closing interfaith service on the 11th at 7 PM at the First Congregational Church in Amherst.

This is just a sampling of Traprock's tireless efforts on behalf of peace. In fact, when you visit their website (www.traprockpeace.org), you'll wonder if these deeply committed individuals ever find time to sleep. But, indeed, sleep may be a secondary consideration, as Traprock's work has never been as important as it is now. For it is only through the concentrated efforts of organizations like Traprock combined with protest from ordinary U.S. citizens (through letters and phone calls to our elected leaders) that the current war plans can be derailed. Can a peace organization in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts really stop a war? Not by itself, and not without a great deal of support. But in the words of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

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