NJ Peace Blog is the official blog for New Jersey Peace Action. The blog is a forum for thoughts related to our ongoing activism. We are dedicated to education about and continued discussion of:
- the dangers of nuclear weapons and work for nuclear disarmament and nuclear abolition
- the on-going wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with particular focus on the billions of dollars spent on the wars instead of on social and community programs
- the erosion of civil liberties, focusing particularly on the importance of ending the U.S. use of torture
- military counter-recruitment, and working toward non-violent resolution of international conflicts
This blog will also include articles and posts in response to events both organized and co-sponsored by NJ Peace Action.
NJ Peace Blog also functions as a forum for reports from the grass roots. We encourage posts about local actions or local educational programs, complete with photographs and written stories.
The more we share, the more we inspire each other to continue working toward peace.
It is important for us to create our own media to compensate for the lack of coverage, and the bias, of the mainstream media. If you are interested in being a “roving reporter” for NJ Peace Blog, please contact us at nj_peaceaction@yahoo.com.
Help us write our way to peace.
Sincerely,
Madelyn Hoffman
Editor-in-Chief
njpeaceblog.wordpress.com 
Hello,
Hope all are well.
I pray this would be a great step for bringing Peace and Earth and an end to injustice and oppression.
Love,
John Kaniecki
Thank you to Madelyn and NJ Peace Action for securing tickets for my family to view Countdown to Zero. While I grew up during the Cold War and have taken part in plenty of nuclear disarmament events, it’s always a risk the next generation will not understand the futility of a nuclear arms race and the scale of destruction of these devices. Countdown to Zero served to reinforce those points for our daughters, 12 and 14.
Dear Dave,
Thank you so much for posting your reactions to Countdown to Zero here on the NJPeaceBlog. I am so glad you and your family were able to attend the premiere showing in NYC. I’m curious to know what message impressed you the most once you left the theater and what message you were most glad the movie communicated to your daughters.
Would you recommend this movie to others? Would you think it’s a good idea for NJ Peace Action to organize small groups of people to go to some movie theaters in New Jersey where the movie is playing to distribute information about how people can get involved with nuclear disarmament efforts and to provide some of the information the movie left out?
— Madelyn
The film, “Countdown to Zero” was flat, uninspiring, lacking in emotion, unfocused and repetitive. Essentially, I was bored (which I rarely am) with a topic I care very much about.
I remember my introduction to the topic of nuclear bombs as a teenager reading a book on Hiroshima. That book had more of an impact on me , even today, than this film.
What was the purpose of the film? What were we to learn?
We need a good film on the danger nuclear bombs. We need to hear that we must eliminate them completely or we will cease to exist. Such a film requires drama. We need a talented film maker. Where are you?
Ruth,
Thanks so much for posting your reactions to Countdown to Zero. I’m glad you had a chance to attend its premiere showing in NYC. I share much of your disappointment in the movie. Did any part of the movie stay with you when you left the theater?
I know from your post that you wouldn’t recommend this movie to others. But do you think it would be a good idea for NJ Peace Action to organize small groups of people to go to some movie theaters in New Jersey where the movie is playing and to distribute information about how people can get involved with nuclear disarmament efforts and to provide some of the information the movie left out?
— Madelyn
A friend and I attended the Countdown to Zero film thanks to free tickets
secured by NJ Peace Action. I consider myself fairly well informed on nuclear issues and learned a few things watching the movie. For my friend, it was all new
and she learned a lot but said the film didn’t motivate her. I was cheered by the applause given the movie at it’s end. I am presently sitting in the National express bus station in Birmingham, England waiting for a bus to Edinburgh, Scotland where I will join a one month peace walk for a nuclear free future
Jules,
Thank you so much for posting to the NJPeaceBlog. I’m glad you and your friend had a chance to see Countdown to Zero. Your friend isn’t the only person who felt that the movie was short on inspiration and description of what can be done to move toward a world without nuclear weapons. Maybe that’s where NJ Peace Action comes in. We can go to movie theaters where the movie is playing and distribute our literature about what can be done.
Could you please tell me what message impressed you the most once you left the theater? Would you recommend this movie to others? Would you think it’s a good idea for NJ Peace Action to organize small groups of people to go to some movie theaters at certain times and to distribute information about how people can get involved with nuclear disarmament efforts?
Thanks!
— Madelyn
First thanks for the invitation!
Countdown to Zero was well produced and worked as a primer more than as an emotionally compelling documentary.
As one who cares deeply about these issues and is old enough to have actually “ducked and covered” in grammar school and who remembers the palpable terror of the Cuban Missile Crisis I was emotionally affected…..but the effect faded as I left the theater. The facts and the arguments stuck though…..and that’s where the movie was strong.
Interestingly enough, last night I saw “Salt” with Angela Jolie…..and it had a dimension to it that tied in very directly to the material in Countdown…….I won’t say more as it would spoil the movie; but suffice it to say that the two actually would make a good double feature! LOL
Peace…….and Love to All!!!
PS Nolita was too noisy so we passed it up……
Thanks so much for posting your reactions to Countdown to Zero. I’m glad you had a chance to attend its premiere showing in NYC. I’m curious to know what message impressed you the most once you left the theater.
Would you recommend this movie to others? Would you think it’s a good idea for NJ Peace Action to organize small groups of people to go to some movie theaters at certain times and to distribute information about how people can get involved with nuclear disarmament efforts?
— Madelyn
My name is Vinney and I am a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown. This Wednesday, November 17 at 7:00 pm, we are holding a group on becoming peacemakers and peace builders. Our group is small right now, but our ambitions are large. We are interested in developing stratigies on spreading peace not only world-wide, but also on a local level, with the intent on eventually becoming known as a “Center for Peace.” PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you, or anyone you know , who would like to attend our group, feel free to contact me at vifi7@comcast.net or just come straight to the church this Wednesday (11/17/10) at 7:00 pm Eastern. Here is the church’s address and I hope to see you there:
First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown
320 North Main Street
Hightstown, NJ 08520
(609) 448-0055
Hey! Congratulations on the new look on the blog! Best wishes and I hope folks will visit the counter-recruitment site.
Peace