Dear John,

Join us Wednesday, October 9th at 5:00 PT/8:00 ET for our next Local Peace Economy Community Call!

As we witness concurrent crises around the world, from Israel's escalating violence in Lebanon to Hurricane Helene's devastation of the southeastern U.S., how can we respond in ways that serve life? This week, we'll reflect together about how rooting in the peace economy can guide us toward resilience in the face of crisis and catastrophe.

If you weren't able to be with us during our last meeting, you can catch up on our last call here.

Serving Life in the Face of Crisis

In the same week that Hurricane Helene devastated the southeast, the U.S. government gave $8.7 billion to Israel to continue to carry out violence against the people of Palestine and Lebanon. They say that our "security" depends on it, but how is that money serving the thousands of people who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their loved ones?

The war economy is never going to keep us safe. True security is sourced in community. We're seeing that right now in the ways the people of Lebanon are responding to the violence being imposed on them and in the mutual aid efforts rising up across the southeast to support communities' recovery in the face of climate catastrophe.

But mutual aid isn't the norm in our war economy culture. Many people look to the federal government for aid instead of turning to their communities and the gifts present there. The war economy conditions us out of our own agency. But we can reclaim it in the peace economy. What can we do locally in the face of disaster that serves life? 

We'll explore this question and reflect on the current moment during our call together on Wednesday, October 9th. We hope you'll join us!

Community Care After Hurricane Helene

Care and mutual aid are the foundation of the peace economy. It's been heartening to see the ways communities across the southeast are coming together to take care of each other over the last week. We've gathered a list of mutual aid groups working to support their communities as they recover from the hurricane's impacts. Giving to mutual aid groups in impacted areas is a way to practice solidarity and support the local peace economy in places responding to immediate climate crisis. Find out more here.

Resources from The Cycle of (Re)connection: Weaving Webs of Support

Mutual aid is a manifestation of care—a part of the Cycle of (Re)connection. When we ground in care for ourselves and our communities, we see the ways that our wellbeing is connected. From this place, we can "weave webs of support" that strengthen our communal bonds and meet our collective needs. Dori Midnight explores this topic and more in this podcast episode.

“With a prayer to imagine beyond the current structures and systems, and kind of weave ourselves into, and be wrapped inside of, the invisible cloak that is interdependence, that is mutual aid, that supports us to reach towards each other and reach towards a vision of mutually flourishing life.” -Dori Midnight

You can find more resources about care, mutual aid, and more on The Cycle of (Re)connection page on the peace economy website.

Inspiration from the Ecosystem: Mutual Aid in the Peace Economy

Storytelling is an important part of peace economy work. We learn through stories, and they can inspire us to create new ways of caring for each other in our own communities. We've gathered some stories about how mutual aid has served communities in the face of crisis in "Lessons From Mutual Aid in Social Justice and Survival" on the Local Peace Economy Wiki.

You can also explore the Peace Economy Ecosystem to find mutual aid groups near you.

Additional Resources

You can always find more resources for your local peace economy journey on the peace economy website. Here are some helpful links:

• Lean into supported reflection by downloading or purchasing The Local Peace Economy Workbook
• Tend to yourself with The Cycle of (Re)connection
• Find a community of practice with The Local Peace Economy Ecosystem
• Get inspired by The Local Peace Economy Wiki
• Listen to CODEPINK Radio's episodes all about local peace economies - Ep. 242 and Ep. 256
• Read why the local peace economy is an antidote to the weaponized confusion of war
• Stay up to date on all of CODEPINK’s events here.

Don't forget to follow us on social media!

Please email Emily at [email protected] with any questions. We look forward to being with you soon!

With care, 

Jodie and Emily

PS: Spread the word about local peace economies in your community—buy CODEPINK's new Local Peace Economy t-shirts and totes!