Stop the Next War Now: Effective Responses to Violence and Terrorism

by Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans (Editor), Alice Walker (Foreword)

How can we humanize each other and act as responsible global citizens? What are appropriate and effective responses to terrorism? How should media figures report on terrorism and war? How should elected officials respond? What can ordinary citizens do?

How to Stop the Next War Now, edited by renowned CODEPINK peace activists Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans, shares expert insight on the issues and powers-that-be that can lead us to war---including the media, our elected politicians, global militarization, and the pending scarcity of national resources. It aims to educate and reflect on the effectiveness of peace movement activities and offers hope, through shared ideas, action steps, and checklists to transition from a culture of violence to a culture of peace.

Full of practical, proven suggestions to promote education, awareness, activism, and political change, drawn from experts from every walk of life who have passionately devoted their lives to peace. Contributors include elected officials, media personalities and reporters, public intellectuals, and ordinary citizens, all who are eager to find the most appropriate and effective responses to terrorism (other than bombing the hell out of third-world countries). Includes short essays, interviews, poems, illustrations, Q&As, action tips, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Activism, Cultural

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2005

About the author

Benjamin grew up in Long Island, New York, a self-described "nice Jewish girl." During her freshman year at Tufts University, she renamed herself after the Greek mythological character Medea. She received master's degrees in public health from Columbia University and in economics from The New School.

Benjamin worked for 10 years as an economist and nutritionist in Latin America and Africa for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the Swedish International Development Agency, and the Institute for Food and Development Policy. She spent four years in Cuba, and has authored three books on the country.

In 1988 with Kevin Danaher, her husband, and Kirsten Moller, Benjamin co-founded the San Francisco-based Global Exchange, which advocates fair trade alternatives to what she describes as corporate globalization. She is a co-founder of the left-wing feminist anti-war group Code Pink: Women for Peace, which advocated an end to the Iraq War, the prevention of future wars, and social justice. Benjamin has also been involved with the left-wing anti-war organization United for Peace and Justice.

Reviews

[Steven Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable if you have a time for peace. This book is hope for those millions who want justice, peace, equality and freedom for every person of this planet. The book includes poems, quotes, interviews, articles, essays, historical writings, opinions, retreat, rewards and of course bravery of those dissents who opposed war against Iraq and Afghanistan. Peace with justice is the motto of this whole book. So many good writer contributed for this book and wrote very short but powerful essays. Every essay is justified with some quotes. Had a great time reading this book.

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was put together by the founders of CodePink, a women's peace group that sprung up before the Iraq war started. I'm about 75 pages into it so far and loving it, so I bought an extra copy to share. It offers up a lot of food for thought, including ideas for moving from a "dominator" model in our society to a more democratic "partnership" model, how to educate your children in peacebuilding, and so on.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total self promotion. We feel this was effective because it did stop the war that was waiting to happen.

[Hannah Lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, there's a lot of useful information and perspective in it even more than a decade after it was appreciate. I appreciate hearing the wisdom of so many women's voices.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights from the many contributors and well stocked with helpful links and practical suggestions.

[Lameeya]

I found this book when I was looking for something else. The book is a decade old, the information is dated but the ideas still stand, more or less. Of course it's about American imperialism so it's very US- centric and just not something I want to read right now. Abandoned for now.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

B+ An excellent overview of the antiwar movement; unfortunately, a lot of the stuff is familiar and in no way unique, and seems to be a bit of a soapbox for Code Pink

[Glen Gersmehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very useful manual for action by the effective, charismatic leader of the activist group, "Code Pink"

[Velvetink]

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