Since 1957, The Fund for Peace has been working to prevent war and promote sustainable peace. We are still at it.

Often seen as an abstraction, peace is difficult to describe, much less attain. For most, peace means safety, order, justice and stability. Indeed, everyone wants peace; they just don't know what they can do to help, especially in these complex and confusing times.

Previously, peace was accomplished through the threat of mutual assured destruction and global strategies. When they were fought, wars were conducted by professional armies. Most respected the international rules of combat.

Now, war is very different. Most erupt inside countries, not between them. Armies are composed of extremists who respect no law but their own. Combatants include children totally out of control or warlords motivated by power, greed and narrow ideologies. The weapons of war span from machetes to machineguns, and, as we learned on 9/11, even airplanes. Perpetrators target civilians and spread hateful ideas. Rarely are they brought to justice.

We work toward preventing these kinds of wars and alleviating the conditions that cause them. But we depend upon people like you. You, too, can help define and shape the world we live in by bringing the abstract notion of peace down to what is personal and meaningful in your own life.

Here's how: We are building regional networks within the US, so that local communities can be more directly involved. Americans must realize that peace is not simply something to think about when the headlines scream about the latest outbreak of fighting in a far-away land, or when there is an elevated color-coded terrorist threat alert. Rather, it is an on-going process that must be nurtured and sustained.

You can get involved in two ways. First, you could host or sponsor an event in your area, or network with people and tell them about our work, volunteering to create support circles in your community with activities of your own. If so, please get in touch with us. We would very much like to work with you and we want to hear your ideas.

A second way to help is to make a generous financial donation now. Your support is essential to our work. And it will go a long way toward advancing values you believe in. We need you to be our partner in promoting peace.

With warm regards,

Kenneth C. Brill
President