The Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) is a grassroots citizens organization which brings together people of all ages, backgrounds, professions, and political persuasions in support of three goals: global abolition of nuclear weapons, a peace economy, and a halt to weapons trafficking at home and abroad.

Description:
Programs for Peace

Annual Conference and
Interfaith Service for Peace:

Each fall, the CFPA sponsors a major religious and educational gathering on current peace issues. Speakers have included General William Burns, Ben Cohen, Marion Wright Edelman, Daniel Ellsberg, George Kennan, George McGovern, Mary McGrory, Patricia Schroeder, Cyrus Vance, Bishop Leontine Kelly, and Andrew Young, among others.

Annual Concert for Peace:

Annually since 1986, the CFPA has sponsored a Concert for Peace to raise funds and provide cultural expressions for peace. Performers have included David Byrne, the Paul Winter Consort, Richie Havens, Holly Near, Emerson String Quartet, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Baba Olatunji, Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, Janis Ian, and many others.

Peace Voter:

The Coalition publishes and distributes non-partisan Voter Guides comparing the stands of the candidates on peace and gun violence issues to educate voters before Election Day. From 1995 to 2000, the candidate who was significantly better on peace and gun violence prevention won in 9 of 10 targeted races.

Lobbying:

Using petitions, letters, phone calls, and personal meetings, the Coalition lobbies New Jersey elected representatives to sponsor and support specific legislation to advance our goals. With its Urgent Action and Email Networks, over 1,000 households and key organizations are alerted when important legislation needs to be advocated to our representatives.

Media:

Through press conferences, press releases, radio and television programs, letters to the editor, and op-ed pieces, the Coalition conveys information and perspectives on our priorities through the mass media.

Public Witness:

The Coalition organizes vigils, rallies, and other public demonstrations to call attention of the community, the media, and our elected representatives to the urgent need for advancing our goals. At times the CFPA co-sponsors events with other organizations to increase our effectiveness in advocating initiatives such as childproof handguns and projects such as peaceful conflict resolution.

Each year in August the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration is held. Speakers and other cultural elements come together in a program in remembrance of the victims of nuclear weapons.

History:
In September 1980, a group of religious congregations in the Princeton area joined together to sponsor a Teaching Conference and Interfaith Service on the theme "Can We Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race?" The response was overwhelming - nearly 2,000 attended.

At a follow-up meeting several weeks later, a decision was made to form an ongoing organization dedicated to nuclear disarmament - the Coalition to Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race. In 1981 the name was shortened to the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and the organization expanded beyond Princeton to cover central and southern New Jersey.

In 1982, the Coalition co-led a statewide Nuclear Weapons Freeze referendum that won the support of 66% of New Jersey Voters.

In 1988, to increase coordination and effectiveness, the Coalition's members voted to affiliate with Peace Action, the largest grassroots peace group in the US.

As the Cold War drew to an end in the late 1980's, the Coalition's goals expanded to include the related goals of reaping a major peace dividend - a peace economy - and halting weapons trafficking, both internationally and domestically.

In 1993, to reflect this broader agenda, the members voted to change the name of the organization to the Coalition for Peace Action.

Contact person: Jessica Cunningham, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (610) 623-3726

Address:

1 West Baltimore Ave Suite 3 Lansdowne, PA 19050 (See a map)

Web Site: http://peacecoalition.org

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 109 and the 113 which leave from 69th street terminal every 20 minutes For maps or information, please see http://www.septa.com/

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	Yes