Peace Heroes

It was a time of cultural change. The transition into the early 1960's left young adults in a frenzy of mixed emotions - Rock n' Roll or Doo Wop? 

'Jay Siegel, the leader of a young singing group from Brooklyn called “The Tokens,” introduced the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and added the now famous line “In the jungle, the mighty jungle.” He also excised all of the falsetto hollering from the original and retained the famous, magical melody of Solomon Linda.

Recorded live in RCA's Manhattan studios on July 21, 1961, the song quickly became a big international hit, but not until some weird music history. The recording was the B side of a record with a flop on the A side called "Tina." An obscure DJ in Worcester, MA flipped "Tina" over and was so impressed that he played "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" frequently. The response was unexpectedly strong, and the song reached the national charts by November and quickly become the number one recording.'

Felicha: As a pioneer of Doo-Wop emerging into the 1960's, how did you find ways to project Peace through your music during a time of cultural change?

Jay: My music was all about love 

Felicha: Do you think everyone has an innate desire to seek and experience Peace?

Jay: I would certainly hope so

Felicha: How can we as individuals achieve Peace on Earth and or good will toward humankind? 

Jay: Try to Listen to each other

Felicha: Do you think the demand for Peace has decreased throughout the decades or is it presently stronger?

Jay: Most people in the world wan to live with their families in peace

Felicha: Is there one memory of Peace that sticks out?

Jay: Love & Peace through music at Woodstock

Felicha: Where do you find your Peace? How do you achieve it? 

Jay: With the love of my family & friends

Felicha: What or who inspires your Peace? Do you have any Peace heros?

Jay: JFK

Felicha: Is it realistic to hope for world peace? 

Jay: I certainly do

Felicha: How do you commit random acts of Peace?

Jay: Making people happy through my music

Felicha: Give us some words of your wisdom.

Jay: Focus on the love of Family & friends

Guitarist, songwriter Rick Levy was lead guitarist/bandleader for Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone from 2000-2002. He is currently musical director for such outstanding sixties artists as Jay & the Techniques, Tommy Roe, and Freddy Cannon. Rick also leads the very popular St. Augustine R&B band, The Falling Bones (ricklevy.com).

Felicha: Who or what influences your Peace?

Rick: I am a great believer in collective consciousness. I believe in a shift in awareness necessary and vital..thru large groups practicing meditation, affirmation, compassion. Actually..large numbers of peopel practicing the Transcendental Meditation program has been repeatedly studied and verified to reduce tension, crime, and conflict in numerous studies.

Felicha: Where can Peace be found?

Rick: Many sources from musicians to artists, to sages and clergy..

Felicha: How do you help others find Peace?

Rick: Try to give back..help others, mentor, clean up the beach where I live, and of course radiate thru my own practice.

Felicha: Do you think the demand for Peace has decreased throughout the years, or is it stronger than ever?

Rick: I think now it is stronger because it is literally do or die..we are at a crossroads and we either evolve or dissolve!!

Felicha: Is there one memory of Peace that sticks out?

Rick: 1983, I was on a course of 7000 practitioners of TM at Maharishi Intl Univ in Fairfield Iowa..it was..literally heaven on earth

Felicha: Where do you find YOUR Peace?

Rick: Thru yoga, meditation, my son, my grandson, running, music, pottery, and thoughts of love

Felicha: How can we as individuals achieve Peace on Earth and/or good will towards humanity?

Rick: Peace is here now..we just have to wrap ourselves around it collectively..and realize that its just a choice

Felicha: Does everyone have an innate desire to seek and experience Peace?

Rick: YES

Felicha: How does your music reflect an era of Peace and love?

Rick: Oh..i am a child of the 60's..so much is love in music..be it soft and cuddly,..or driving it home..its all in a non violent sharing spirit..and I LOVE what i do

Felicha: Do you have a message? Give us some words of your wisdom.

Rick: "We will act when who we are ..is at stake"
(i made that up!)

"Sky Sunlight Saxon

Sunlight Arelich Aquarian

passed over to be with YaHoWha 

6/25/2009 at 9:10am. 

Sabrina Saxon and spiritual brother 

in YaHoWha Joshua Aquarian 

were at his side.

He passed peacefully 

and with no pain." (SkySaxon.com)

He represented a decade of Peace and understanding; a founding father of psychedelic rock. The 1960's captured the spirit of singer Sky Saxon of The Seeds. 1966 released the hit "Pushing too Hard," a psychedelic dream of color and imagination. It marked the beginning of wonder and exploration.

Sky Saxon (singer) is absolutely an icon to me. I had a chance to ask him some personal questions about his views on Peace a couple months before his passing on June 25, 2009. 

Felicha: As a Psychedelic Rock pioneer in the 1960's, how did you find ways to project Peace through your music with the taste of hate and war in the air? 

Sky: For one thing, I didn't involve myself with hate and war. I involved myself with music. The Seeds Flower Power in 1965 was also the birth of one of the greatest psychedelic rock songs of all time --- EVIL HOODOO --- It was done simply but real. I promote peace and love because that is my destiny on earth to be a pioneer and promoter of peace. This will always be respected by those of higher consciousness. But I think I've promoted it the most by giving a firm okay to marijuana - pot - grass ... but its real name is sacred herb ... imagination . intution . inspiration ... If the whole world was smoking today everyone would be thinking of peace and love and, of course, forgiveness. So you might say every time I take a toke, I'm promoting peace for the earth. Thank you. Hello.

Felicha: Do you think the concept of Peace has less significance on the new generations then those of 40 years ago? Or is it still strong?

Sky: It has always been strong ever since the beginning of time, people have wanted peace and people have wanted war. Warmongers - bringers of war - probably come back as flies. Check it out in ancient books. The people of 40 years ago of course in my head were more of the spiritual warrior type - today's generation has been lost in insanity in video games of terrible mayhem so sick that you wouldn't want your newborn or children to see them. But I believe in a new generation as they are the true hope they are more like the generation of 40 years ago. They have it in their dna. They are true warriors of light but to be a warrior of light your only weapons of war as always are pity, kindness and tenderness. I like what Mr. T says when he says, "i pity the fool" .... so you see in all situations if you use pity, kindness, and tenderness they will reign supreme and will be the best solution in the end.

Felicha: What is your Peace? How to do you achieve it?

Sky: My peace is the same as should be for everybody walking on the planet, Mother Goddess Earth. Love the animals. Don't eat them. Peace comes from within. If you don't eat meat and don't become part of the butchery, you will find peace within and will be able to express love and that is how you achieve it by not eating meat. Fish is a transition. But remember nuts are the first food line. Eighteen almonds is the same protein as a 2lb. steak which will only rot and bring worms into your stomach. 

Felicha: Was there ever any conflicts of Peace between your audience or band members? If so, how was it resolved?

Sky: I always remember my band as being peaceful and bringing peace and when I started flashing my peace symbol in '65 and people flashed it back to me, I felt that something new was being born - a way to communicate with each other - giving the peace sign. However, now I prefer to use also the first finger, the 2nd finger, and the 3rd finger adding the 3rd finger to the first two fingers of the peace symbol brings the symbol fire, water, air ... the name Father God Yahowha. Peace comes from within but it also comes with consciousness and wisdom. I would say now before conflict, flash the peace symbol and then add the 3rd finger for the 2nd flashing - maybe those that understood the name of Yahowha will become more family to each other.

Felicha: How do you state your expressions for Peace?

Sky: Of course, first, with my music and by not praising war in any form of any kind ... it is impossible to "fight" for peace - the moment you fight, peace is lost. By my very acknowledgement that vegetarianism is a way of life. I usually express it to people around me within the first 5 minutes. It is sort of like saving the dead or lifting the dead into a new resurrection. It is truly lifting the dead when someone stops eating father's animals. There will never be peace on the earth as long as people eat meat and don't know the name of God Yahowha. So each of us in our own way is responsible.

Felicha: Is there one memory of Peace that sticks out?

Sky: Once in Chicago - I think 1967 - some fan that Lord Tim had thrown out of the concert jumped up in the airport before we got to the ticket counter and threw a gun up in Lord Tim's midsection and was going to shoot him ... really ... Immediately I jumped in front of the gunman's gun and told him to "just cool it" - that it wasn't worth shooting him - and that he should get over it. But had I not believed in peace it could have ended up much different ... As it was, the guy got a free ride - he got to walk - no police called - no nothing - he got to go free - it was so quiet that not many people even noticed it and if they did they probably thought it was just a movie.

Felicha: Does everyone have an innate desire to seek and experience Peace?

Sky: Everyone has at birth the need for peace and to find peace but the system takes the peace and locks people up so when you take freedom from people you also take their peace. We need to be just like the words in Pushin' Too Hard say ... "I just want to have fun. Live my life like it's just begun." But to do this, we must be harmless in word and deed but we also all need to be free. I believe all the animals should be free also and man needs to realize the word "dominion" did not mean to lord it over the animals but to help them and take care of them and of course never eat them. That is the biggest no-no I know for that brings everything - all the hatred - all the plagues - all the sicknesses on the earth. The earth, by the way, is to God known as Red Star for it is the planet of learning. Yahowha put us here on earth to learn on the Red Star.

Felicha: Where is Peace found?

Sky: Peace is found in the eyes of all the animals. If you look into the eyes of the animals, you will see peace. Find peace within your own eyes. See if you can stare at the mirror for a long period of time without blinking. Steady blinking is a sign of being off-balanced. Have the gaze of the eagle - unflinching. 

Felicha: What kind of "random acts of Peace" do you give people?

Sky: I always give homeless people money but I like to put it in their hands when they are sleeping so they don't see me. I give acts of peace by feeding pigeons and stray dogs. In Greece, I carried a bag of food with me most of the time to feed dogs. Feeding stray dogs is great. You make new friends and feeding birds is like bringing peace to the air. Birds like to eat too. 

Felicha: Give us some words of advice. 

Sky: Get down on your knees and thank God YaHoWha that you are alive for another day for no one knows when the last breath is coming. My dear friend, Dewey Martin, just passed away and that breaks my heart. Most of the Jimi Hendrix Band is gone now and that breaks my heart. But if you want to live long and be welcomed by God, the Great Spirit Yahowha, then stop today eating his animals and be glad that you have seen the light for in seeing the light and not eating animals the light will enter you. You will become part of the great light, a hundred times brighter than the sun at noonday ... You will become part of I AM Yahowha and will truly be welcomed when you go back to Father. That is why it is most important to not fill your temple with dead animals which only makes worms and maggots. Go back to the nuts and fruit and grain and vegetables.

February 18, 2009
Peace to you Saxon

-Felicha Bogroff
Los Angeles, Ca

“It is not my wisdom but the “wisdom that is from above” that brings about and encourages peace – it all begins with a surrendered heart. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” - Richie Furay, Buffalo Springfield October 23, 2009

To become yourself was to be unified within one’s mind. Willow trees flourished gold and red dirt soaked between the windows of the soul. It was the 1960’s; plentiful, simple minded. It marked the beginning of harsh consequences that followed. The answer was YES, the heart never said NO. We persuaded ourselves to dive into our deepest thought. We were defined by influence, the influence of life. 

Could sunshine be heard? For most, sunshine defined a generation of acid freaks, non believers, and most importantly, seekers that volunteered for a new kind of Peace. Fixed upon their minds, was a familiar smile and gentle voice of sound. The colors that captured a moment are now frozen but song vibrations linger. Holding tightly were the spirits of psychedelic love and comfortable satisfaction, hindering Peace and understanding for a dollar.

Familiar tunes in folk rock reflect the vibrant breath of Buffalo Springfield, a marvel in presence who stimulates gratuity on 1960’s culture perspective. War, Peace, Love, Happiness; four achievements totaled by a population of mix emotion and whimsical desire. “For What It’s Worth,” best known as a reaction to the brilliant minds of singer Richie Furay and Stephen Stills, painted a canvas during the Vietnam protest era that bled into the 1970’s. Peace spread like wildfire. The guitar tabs and drum rolls that fueled Buffalo Springfield became the most successful legacies of Peace representation. The paisley colored world of the 60‘s replenished the expression of action and questioned a peaceful path of reason. 

Buffalo Springfield singer, Richie Furay, defines his way of Peace and individual understanding through belief and practice. When asked about his personal perspective on Peace, Richie Furay responds with a bold understanding influenced by Jesus Christ. 

Felicha: As a Pioneer of Folk Rock, who or what influences your Peace? 

Richie: Oh, we were so young when the so called “peace culture” was surfacing – what did we really know? … but we sure loved to sing about it and protest over it. What I know then and what I know today about “peace” is very different. As a great folk singer of the 60’s said and in my heart is true: “the times they are a changing.” The 60’s was a time of “peace, love etc.” but did we or do we even have a clue even with so many protests – “nobody’s right, if everybody’s wrong.” My point is if it’s “my” perspective that defines peace – then it’s very subjective isn’t it? And then, is your question about world peace, national peace, personal peace – because that could cause me to have different criteria for each one! However, if I’ve learned nothing else with age, what I have learned - to encompass them all, “my peace” has to be singled down to one Person regardless of what I thought about peace and the peace culture of the 60’s I was so involved in. That Person is the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6), Jesus Christ. It is He alone Who influences “my peace”. 

Felicha: We live in a world at war. Is it realistic to hope for world Peace?

Richie: Yes, but it certainly isn’t through the “conventional” means. As we listen to and watch all the protests and “sit in’s” – “make peace not war” and hand out the Nobel Peace Prizes (what a joke) – how much closer are we really to “world peace”? I don’t mean to sound sarcastic or pessimistic because I do believe there is a realistic hope for world peace.But look around the world, is there peace or has there ever been peace as a result of war? At the time of Jesus’ birth it was thought there was ‘peace on earth’ because the doors to the temple of Janus (the god of war) were closed, but was there really peace in the heart of men as they were “beaten” into submission to bow before Caesar and his quest for hegemony, and soon those doors would be opened again. So what is the realistic hope for world peace? I remember the words of Jesus Himself as He was about to be crucified: “peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, but My peace” (John 14:27). Jesus could offer peace because He was at peace with the Father and this was because He was one with the father, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30) – [please note He didn’t suggest an interpretation of being “at one[ness] with the Father – He was one with the Father – in substance, in thought and purpose) so the peace He gives is the peace the Father desires for all. The peace the world gives is always from a single perspective, it’s subjective – the peace He gives is objective because only He can bring about the peace the world desires – He is the object of and the source of real peace – whether it be world or personal peace. 

Felicha: What kind of Peace do you help people find?

Richie: Inner peace that comes only through a personal, living relationship with the Prince of peace – Jesus Christ, a peace that “passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) regardless of the world situation we’re living “in or personal crises we might find ourselves going through”. Jesus is the Source of peace; it cannot be found in governments or programs or peace plans that man designs (they’re subjective) [just look at the Middle East and ask yourself - just how much land does Israel have to give up for there to be peace?]. Only when one comes to Jesus will they know true peace – and it all comes when He has been invited in to one’s heart to rule and reign; He alone can give peace that has real hope for the crisis of a world saturated in chaos. 

Felicha: Does everyone have an innate desire to seek and experience Peace?

Richie: Absolutely!

Felicha: Do you think the demand for Peace has decreased throughout the years, or is it stronger than ever?

Richie: It remains the same throughout every generation – that’s why there’s always war because this is man’s solution to peace – but again, it’s always from a subjective point of view. (For there to be peace in Afghanistan – is it going to be to rid the country of the Taliban – that would much of the world’s perspective, but certainly not from their perspective. 

Felicha: Where do you find your Peace?

Richie: In my fellowship (koinonia) with my LORD and Savior. 

Felicha: Where can Peace be found?

Richie: As I’ve said before – Jesus Christ who is the Prince of peace.

Felicha: How can we as individuals achieve Peace on Earth and/or good will towards humanity?

Richie: By looking out beyond ourselves to the only hope man has for peace. If one has ever been arrested, they find themselves with arms raised in surrender - giving up if you will, to the will of the “peace officer”. Well, that’s what it’s going to take for there to be everlasting peace on earth and good will towards mankind – hands surrendered to Him who is the Prince of peace, yielding to Him who alone can and will one day bring peace on earth. Until then you will hear of wars and rumors of war (Matthew 24:6) as the solution.

Felicha: Is there one memory of Peace that sticks out?

Richie: The Cross at Calvary where Jesus died for the forgiveness of sin that man might be at peace with God that will lead to peace on earth.

Felicha: Do you have a message? Give us some words of your wisdom.

Richie: It is not my wisdom but the “wisdom that is from above” that brings about and encourages peace – it all begins with a surrendered heart. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:17-18)
And so it boils down to one thing – faith in one Person – Jesus Christ; not Ghandi – a good man; not Martin Luther King, a good man; not Mother Theresa, a good woman – but in Him who said: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)--- follow Me (John 10:27; 12:26)

Some might say that the 1980's forgot about peace. It was a time of self indulgence and a "me, me, me" standard. It was far from the 1960's demonstration for world peace and love. Instead, it consisted of a radical alteration of violence and a destructive youth. With the latest technologies involving video games, camcorders and movie special effects, it was hard for a generation to concentrate on inner peace as well as spreading the word.

The 1980's decade wasn't just a fashion show digital lasers, the music had expressively developed. Progressive rock started to gain it's way to the top of the charts. The birth of Heavy Metal was absolute and Punk Rock was now a political statement. Rock music as a whole had come a long way from psychedelic rhythms and tambourines. It was the alpha of distortion and double bass peddles. Music was worn as a fashion statement that would be carried on through our present generation.

Along side Progressive Rock groups such as Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull, the 1970's introduced us to a band from the United Kingdom who called themselves Yes. Known for their hit songs "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Roundabout," Yes created an image that made Progress Rock stand out above the rest in the 1980's. Billy Sherwood, a former member of Yes and current member of CIRCA has been projecting peace throughout his works. The life of a musician and producer is hectic. With recording albums and producing, he has made it a point to incorporate peace into his everyday life.

Upon meeting Billy at the KLOS Headsets premiere in Hollywood, Ca last year, he was more than willing to give One Million Peace Signs an insight into what drives his Peace. We got to talking and I felt his words were very inspirational, especially coming from an image who's pinnacle wasn't during the 1960's.

When I asked him, "What is your definition of Peace?" he responded, "There are many versions of peace. Peace in your personal life, which brings peace to those you encounter in your daily travels. Peace of mind, which soothes the soul and of course the bigger picture of world peace which is a dream for us all but as history has taught us has yet to be attained."

I asked him Who or what inspires his Peace? He answered, "Freedom inspires peace... Freedom inspires me."

I then proceeded to ask, "How do you commit random acts of Peace?" He said, "I write a lot of music with lyrical content expressing the need to all find a path to peace. My first solo CD is called "The Big Piece" although the spelling is different the theme of peace is abundant on that CD."

I asked him, "Do you think the demand for Peace has decreased throughout the years or are they stronger than ever?" He answered, "It seems the desire for peace is a constant from certain corners of the world and I only hope it spreads. I like to think the idea of a world at peace grows stronger everyday."

"Is there one memory of Peace that sticks out?" I asked him. He replied, "I am a history buff. There are many cases where peace was the reward for a long struggle. That being said ,the image of a young man standing down a t72 tank in Tiananmen Square was a lasting powerful statement for peace."

I then asked, "Where do you find your Peace?" He said, "My home and my family. Everything else branches out from there for me."

I continued with, "How can we as individuals achieve Peace on Earth and/or good will towards humanity?" He returned with, "The simplest rule to live by, "do unto others..." Tolerance, understanding, forgiving and freedom are the paths to peace…"

My final question was "Give us some words of your wisdom." He continued with, ""Standing hand in hand, undivided we are free... we part of the big peace, finally"

Peace may have seemed like it was lost throughout the world during the 1980's. Maybe instead it moved towards self realization and acts of kindness. Rather than spread Peace through out the valley, it was handed out to friends and family. Maybe we as human beings needed to explore ourselves before we explored the world. I feel that our generation today is a lot more concerned with politics and our environment than the youth of the 1980's and 1990's. As a result of self peace involvements perhaps? We can only decide a couple decades into our future.

For more information on Billy Sherwood and his current projects visit:

www.billysherwood.com

http://www.myspace.com/billysherwoodhq

Felicha Bogroff
Los Angeles, Ca

Send yourself on a journey. Explore your alternative states of consciousness. Enfold your mind in a highly saturated case wrapped with fine wires of time and electric currents that signal guitar tabulations and tambourine rattles from one end to another. Look around at all the beauty you give yourself. What colors do you see when you hear the word "Psychedelic?" It is not only a word but an era. A time in history that defined what would become of our future. It broke the standards of traditional Rock 'n Roll and became a form of art that would truly release the hidden appetite for the mind and body.

It was 1967. Vietnam protesters flooded the streets daily across America for hopes of the war ending within seconds of a march. Drug use was more popular than ever and "Sex, Drugs and Rock N' Rock" became a necessary slogan for life. The Summer of Love hit the streets of San Francisco. Once again a movement was made. In the midst of drug use and a new trendy culture of bedraggled hippies, an emerging garage band from Los Angeles, California called The Electric Prunes set sail and earned their way into the history books by achieving international attention as a psychedelic group. They recorded their very first psychedelic single called, "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night." It was recorded and released in November 1966 and reached number 11 on the U.S. charts and number 49 on the U.K. charts.

Along with bands such as Buffalo Springfield and The Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Electric Prunes had a message to send in their music. That message delve deep into the four corners of the mind. Every drum roll and guitar tab was driven from inner peace running through the tips of their fingers. Their experimental lyrics and psychedelic trends marked the Electric Prunes as one of the very first pioneers of the Psychedelia era.

When it comes to Peace, why not ask the experts? There's no better Peace guru than those who have lived their time in the spotlight and have had the opportunity to send such influential messages during such a crucial decade. I had the opportunity to ask some questions about Peace and spread the word about the One Million Peace Signs project to The Electric Prunes founding bass player Mark Tulin.

My first questions was, "As one of the first pioneers of Psychedelic Rock in the 60's, did the public oppose your type of music? If so, how did you find Peace to move forward?" He replied, "It wasn't so much a matter of opposition as it was a lack of understanding. There were few who actually hated what we were doing, but that usually comes with doing something new or different. We had to make Peace with the idea that, while we were doing something we believed in and loved, others might not feel the same.

I then asked, "What or who inspires your Peace?" He replied, "My peace is inspired by a sense of awe over the miracles we can find in our daily lives if we're open to them. The little things, not big events. That, and "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse, as well as almost any writings that come from wisdom and the heart."

"What or who inspires your Peace?" He replied, "My peace is inspired by a sense of awe over the miracles we can find in our daily lives if we're open to them. The little things, not big events. That, and "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse, as well as almost any writings that come from wisdom and the heart."

I said, "How do you think we can achieve Peace on Earth and/or good will toward humankind? His answer was, "My humble opinion is that one on one is the only way. One person being decent and kind to the people they meet. All it takes is for each individual see themselves in every other person and then to offer the same kindness and peace to each person they encounter as they would like afforded them. World is saved one life at a time."

My fourth questions was, "Do you think the demand for Peace has decreased throughout the years, or is it stronger than ever?" He said, "I think the overt demand for Peace has lessened but not the need for it. A good part of the world, as usual, is struggling for survival so for them peace remains an esoteric concept. At the same time, most of us who are comfortable don't worry about it; in fact we appear to have grown more and more to believe we'll find Peace in having more stuff and by closing ourselves off to the world by sticking I Pods in our ears. No interpersonal communication, no Peace."

Next, "Is there one memory of Peace that sticks out?" His response, " Moratorium marches up in Berkeley…the spirit of unity behind a cause we believed in, despite the clatter, brought about a real sense of Peace. Electric-until the tear gas." I quickly added, "Where do you find your Peace?" His reaction, "Wherever I can find it! I think it is actually all around us all the time. Hard part is tapping in to it. Sometimes just stopping, keeping still and quiet, and focusing on my breathing is all it takes."

It also will not come about by good thoughts alone – change takes action. Work diligently for it and it can happen; wait for it and while you won't get Pace you will be well rested."I said, "How does your music reflect an era of Peace and love?" He said, "Not sure our music does reflect an era of Peace and Love aside from the fact that it started in the '60s. I'm not even sure the era was as much about Peace and Love as it has been portrayed. Anyway, in our music we didn't talk very much about Peace and Love. Instead, we were/are more focused on showing how it was/is. Our music is like the underground cavern of life lurking beneath the penthouse of Peace. My final questions was, Give us some words of wisdom. He replied, "Don't trust anyone else's words of wisdom. Find our own."

I found his acknowledgements toward Peace weren't so much about others but directed toward inner Peace within oneself. In order to spread Peace among others, you need to look inside yourself and start communicating with your many different states of consciousness to master it then distribute it.

The Electric Prunes quickly dissolved as did Acid Rock and Psychedelia toward 1969 and the early 1970's. Times were quickly changing from the "We" era to the "Me" era and Disco had begun to overpowered the scene. They continued to gather fans through their previously recorded hits but stopped recording sounds that corresponded with the new decade. Currently, the Electric Prunes are still performing their classics to new and continuing audiences across America.

Felicha Bogroff
Los Angeles, Ca




Who's Felicha ? :)

Felicha is the super shot of espresso on One Million Peace Signs. She does it all--Felicha started out sending some super Peace Sign photos to the flicker OMPS group...then we caught some of her comments about other photos on the blog and we were intrigued :) Next, Felicha said she'd like to be a blog contributor and we were stoked! C'mon board! Then, out of the blue, Felicha asked if we'd like her to do an interview with Eric Burden of The Animals...talk to him about what "Peace" means to him..."Um, sure Felicha, but how you gonna do that?" Well--we don't ask anymore "how you gonna do that" because she DID IT. Check out her interview here on Peace Heros...it's a wow. And so is this one! Stay tuned for more of Felicha's Wow...I read them with a dropped jaw...maybe it's her questions, maybe it's her open way of communicating, maybe it's that her "Peace" shows thru in what she's doing...whatever it is, she gets into these interviews and comes out with really fantastic insights! Thanks Felicha!!!



-zoey-

"One time on a boat…I was under the influence of LSD, I heard the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.” I was singing along with the music. I saw my voice depart my mouth, bounce off the New York waters, into the ocean, go all the way around the earth…and return to my own ears. A moment of powerful peace.”-Eric Burdon, Feb. 29th, 2008

Most know Eric Burdon as being associated with the 1960’s British Invasion group The Animals, whose signature songs include “House of the Rising Sun” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” released in 1964. Influenced by Ray Charles, Josh White, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed to name a few, Eric Burdon and The Animals developed their own soulful sound of rhythm and blues that carried it’s gritty southern rock n roll around the world. Along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, and The Spencer Davis Group, they introduced a whole new generation to fashion, unrestricted music and lyrics, and a powerful NOW kind of attitude.

As the decade of the 60’s became more experimental with drugs and strong suggestions of peace, the music changed along with it. Music was now a way of life and albums were a piece of priceless art. The happenings in Vietnam were reality and people wanted a sense of self conciliation. The music was no longer about great American Bandstands, Bubblegum, and the innocence of 1950’s reflections of post World War II optimism in America. It was about social change and balance. Acid Rock was introduced and shortly after the more mellow Psychedelic Rock gained popularity with a new counterculture, hippies.

Eric Burdon and the original Animals were making history throughout this time until they went their separate ways in 1966. But Burdon re-appeared in California with his new group at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. His new Animals went on to characterize the era musically with many songs now considered non conformist classics. In 1968, they released a two part single called, “Sky Pilot” that reached number 14 on the U.S. pop charts. It was split across due to it’s length and for the same reasons, it was rarely aired. It was considered their first “Anti-War” song. The ballad is about a chaplain who blesses a body of troops just before they set out on an overnight raid. He then retires to await their return. The band continued on throughout the late 1960’s. They released a song called “San Francisco Nights,” a song that would mark their usage of hallucinogens and accumulate many 1960’s American themes as possible. When performing at the Monterey Music Festival in 1967, it was clear that Eric had re-invented himself on stage. He had a new kind of vibe and edgy approach as the 1970’s where drawing near.

In 1969, an new funky sound of soul was played over the airways introducing a multicultural funk band from Long Beach, California called War. Their music consisted of a smooth blend of jazz, funk, rock, blues, Latin music, and R&B. Eric began playing live shows with War and the audience turn out was sensational. Eric and War released their first album called, “Eric Burdon Declares War” in 1970 which included tracks such as “Spill The Wine,” Wars first chart hit reaching number five and eventually reaching number 3, and “Tobacco Road” which was first written by John D. Loudermilk in 1960. It was a hit later known sung by The Nashville Teens in 1964.

Eric decided to leave War in 1971 and continued on with a solo career. He bounced back and fourth rejoining The Animals and reunited in 1983 to release a single called, “The Night.” From there on, he continued to tour with a new set of “Animals” and is currently on tour around the world. His latest studio album was released in 2006 called, “Soul of a Man.”

As a pioneer of our true hippie, peace and love days, I wanted to gain a full prospective of the views a legend such as Eric would have, then and now. Eric Burdon didn’t start a peace revolution or try to change our views of thinking, he was one of the us. He had an opinion. He wanted change.

On February 29th, 2008, I interviewed Eric Burdon regarding his views about Peace and his innate desire to want it. I asked him, “We live in a world at war. Is it realistic to hope for world Peace?” His response was phenomenal. He answered, “It’s a long shot. I would be lying to myself to say “yes” to this question. Peace of mind is, for sure, a possibility and I am a long way from that. I found in my life, which is just a drop in a large pool of humanity, that the democratic system enemy in order to ‘keep order.’ I was born in a world at war…It hasn’t changed…but for me, I’ve survived without encountering personally very much violence. Not that I haven’t been a witness to violence. So, where does that leave me? Believing everything is an illusion. Does this mean I’m deluded or just lucky? I know where to find it; I know how to avoid it. To be able to debate peace is probably as close as we can get in today’s world. Every “ism” in the world needs an enemy to exist. The need to argue this is an imperative. More civilians are killed today than combatants. I survived the war and somehow managed to survive the peace. Two of my closest friends did not.”

I then asked, “Does everyone have an innate desire to seek and experience Peace?”

His reply, “I see more actual combatants…Soldiers everywhere waving peace signs. They have stolen the pace. These are more questions than answers. Is it my imagination, or a fact, that most wars are generated by those who profess to want peace. Have war-makers high-jacked the concept of peace…Judging by the photographs I see of the 20 odd conflicts going on around the planet…It’s the soldiers who flash the peace sign.”

My next question was simple. I asked, “Where can Peace be found?

He replied, “In the eyes of a well-nurtured child or animal that’s not under threat, usually from a human. Do you think I know peace? Personally, at the moment I do…but do I live in a peaceful world? I do not. So it’s within.” I followed that question with, “How can a person help Peace manifest in their life?” He said, “Do the right thing, breathe, and do it again.”

I continued on with my questions. “What kind of Peace do you help people find?” He said, “It’s pretty difficult to locate I, those moments. All my younger life I was running at high speed…Making all sorts of problems with drugs…Performance in front of large crowds…I never stopped to think about the violence around me until I was personally confronted with it. I’ve always managed to talk or sing my way out of bad situations.” I added, “Who or what influences your Peace?” He laughed, “My wife has peace of mind. I do not. It’s a guy thing. Have you noticed that animals are now at war with humans? Don’t laugh. It’s for real.”

I concluded my interview with two direct questions. “Do you have a message? Give us some words of your wisdom.” He said, “We as the human race are more likely to perish due to a pandemic of some sort in the near future. Poverty is the greatest weapon of mass destruction.” I said, “Anything you would like to add?” He quoted Wilhelm Hegel “World History is not the soil in which happiness grows. Periods of happiness are empty pages” He then said, “And my friend Jimi Hendrix said, “When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, the world will know peace.” This concluded my interview with Eric Burdon.

Many people of our past and present share one thing. Peace. It doesn’t matter what race, what gender, what clothes you wear, what language you speak or your age. Peace is universal. Peace is something we all desire. It is something we can share and something we can give. What is Peace? It has been defined as a state of harmony and the absence of hostility, a state of tranquility if you will. An absence of disturbance. We see it, we feel it, we hear it, and we touch it. You may not realize it but you interact with peace everyday. Whether it was 200 years ago, 50 years ago, today, or tomorrow. PEACE is PEACE and will always have it’s place in society You just have to find it to achieve it.

Peace to all!

Felicha Bogroff

Los Angeles, Ca

Cindy Sheehan is controversial. When I presented her on the Discussion Page as a Peace Hero, I figured she'd be as automatic as John Lennon was...but in a different way. Not. A couple of comments questioned whether she was any kind of hero at all, and nope, you won't see those here on her Peace Hero Page. They're still there on the flickr discussion page...we don't censor, but this is her Peace Hero Page and for that, I did a copy and paste of all the reasons folks think she IS a Peace Hero. I asked for 10...and got a lot more. I closed the discussion and people emailed reasons and added them to the blog. I think I got them all, let me know if I didn't! Some of the links provided here on her page are great...check 'em out :) And PEACE...to everyone.

beachblogger42    says: I think Cindy is a hero.







these are the first freewayblogs I did. I was inspired by Cindy Sheehan's protest in Crawford Texas.

www.flickr.com/photos/beachblogger/519968801/in/set-72157...





the legacy of the BUSH regime will be that everything is a war. the response to any situation is "You're either with us, or against us." the response to any opposition is attack and smear. BUSH has divided our county; why can't he see that united we stand but divided we ALL lose.

Thank you Cindy Sheehan for your inspiration and example.

BUSH has really injured our country and the people of the Earth. it will take years to correct and repair these injuries. but nothing is forever. BUSH and Cindy have provided some focus on what is wrong with the neo-con mentality; we are learning as a country how NOT to do things. Cindy has shown courage. Protest is not really tolerated. Cindy has been arrested for protesting. And shouted down and attacked. Here are some links.

If every hero had to be perfect in every-way there would be few heroes.

OneMillionPeaceSigns.com    says: For me, someone who has never had anyone close go to Iraq, much less die there, Cindy Sheehan defines one end of Activism. Peace Hero, hell, yeah, I'd say that!

She stood up to George W. Bush. She called him on the wrongness of his attack on Iraq. She tried to make Bush and his administration AND the Democrats who voted for that war accountable for their actions. She wouldn't back down. She wouldn't shut up. She wouldn't go away.

Cindy Sheehan did all that without harming anyone...without hitting anyone, or hurting anyone. She inspired people to Do Peace. She led people to March Peace. She asked people to Shout Peace.

It's not enough to wear a lapel pin or slap a yellow flag on your SUV. If you're called to Do Peace, as I think Cindy Sheehan was, you have to do it, no matter how hard it is. Cindy Sheehan is a Peace Hero to me because she Pushed Peace beyond the comfort zone.

YIKES. That hurts!

LightStamp    says: Of course Cindy Sheehan is a peace hero. Her son died and rather than reclusing, she stepped forward out of her grief and tried to make a positive statement. We certainly need more peace heros like her.

Speak YOUR Peace    says: I think she is honorable for her determination and intelligence. Apparently, learned from my talks with the Crawford Peace House, there was a miraculous convergence down in Crawford once she took her stand in the ditch. It is honorable that her voice, it's authenticity, was able to catalyze thousands. Many people believed in Cindy and still do. I hope she uses that to promote Peace because mostly I hear anger coming from her. I guess she is just using the language of the "big guys" that she is up against, and her persistence is amazing. However, my hope is she teaches the "big guys" a new language, by not using anger so much in her tone. I understand we have to be adamant and loud though. I do not doubt that. But Cindy is in a high profile position and I hope she keeps the love strong-as she inspired many people based on the idea of love-love for her son Casey.

Gamma Infinity    says: I think she is a Peace Hero. You have to remember how it was before she stood up to the president. Everyone was afraid of being disappeared and "rendered" to some secret base if they spoke out on the obvious truth. This truth was and is that the war was and is killing sons and daughters (3973 at last count) for a "noble cause" which was vague to begin with, changed from month to month, and seemed only peripherally related to stopping terrorist groups which were at the time operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan, not Iraq.

Cindy knew what she was getting into, because by then she was active in Gold Star Families for Peace and Veterans For Peace. She knew that the usual Rove office people would ruin her life and her reputation if she persisted, but she did anyway. She paid with her health, mental AND physical.

The result was that more people stood up, all over the country. The movement finally got media play, and could no longer be dismissed as just the same far left people who protest everything.

Someone said something about entering a burning building. At least for me, this is far less scary than standing alone against the huge power of the US executive branch. They can make you wish that all that happened to you was a few third degree burns, bad as they are.

Sounds heroic to me.

mikehear2000    says: Cindy was a spark that lit a fire under the the antiwar movement at a time when the movement needed a spark. I traveled to Crawford and became a part of the effort. I met many Veterans for Peace and Iraq vets against the war. Cindy is a peace hero to me.

derAmialtebloede    says: Anyone willing to actually run for Congress is certainly courageous in my eyes, so I think Ms Sheehan also qualifies as heroic even by Barry's severely limited definition

staygraphic    says: Cindy has worked tirelessly, while maintaining optimism in a world that is numb, in an attempt to wake America up from her slumber. I give her HUGE kudos for diligence, kindness, tenacity, and courage. Her message is important and regardless of the Main Stream Media turning their backs on her and the Anti-War Movement...she continues to bang the drum for Global peace. Power to the People...often it starts with one brave soul.

takomabibelot    says:

betmo said...

you know what? cindy sheehan did more to get the peace movement in this country kickstarted than any other single person. she had the courage to stand up when no one else would- when the media was flooded with rightwing patriot families waving the flag and talking about how proud they were of their children. well, she has a right to be proud of her son- and angry that he got sent for a corrupt reason- and killed. cindy sheehan gave courage to the families who weren't listened to- to speak out and add their voices to the chorus of dissent. she gave the active military personnel the courage to stand up and stand out against the war that they are still fighting. the people who don't get that- have to resort to hate mail because they have no argument to make. they go on the personal attack because it's all they can do.

choff said...

Glad to contribute Cindy Sheehan's picture to your effort. She was then and remains to this day a 'Peace Hero' for me for her courage, resilience, and indefatigable devotion to ending the war in Iraq. She woke me out of my post-election 2004 funk and got me - and presumably millions of people around the world - mobilized again.

Bring the troops HOME!

People Power Revolution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Power_Revolution

YouTube:

People Power Revolution

Die Philippinische Revolution 1986

http://peoplepower.e-workers.de/counting.php

1986: The People Power Revolution of the Philippines

In an effort to prime the pump of the Peace Heroes page, we invited flickr OMPS group members to throw in their individual two cents worth on why John Lennon was a Peace Hero. We asked for 10 and cut it off when there were 11 so we could get it up on the page. Enjoy! And thanks to all the contributors!

NizhoniGrl    says:

-He sang songs about peace and love.

-He sang a song for a peace fundraiser.

-They tried to kick him out when all he did was protest for peace.

-He made up the slogans: Bag Peace, Hair Peace, and Bed Peace.

-He set up thousands of signs that said "War is over when you want it to"

-He had those groovy sunglasses.

just _janelle    says:

i think when he died, the true peace movement and faith died with him. he was the insperation of peace. <3

d0b13 says:

He was an inspiration.

He started movements.

He spoke his mind and went against what was necessarily "right" during the time period.

His music.

He was the definition of beauty

beachblogger42    says:

he made me imagine.

beachblogger.net

Fenfotos says:

Isn't it obvious?

Because, as John Lennon sang from his Peace-in bed,

"all we are saying ... is 'give peace a chance'!"

Speak YOUR Peace    says:

I went to the art exhibit Instant Karma, showcasing his art, and was motivated to ride 19,000 miles for Peace. The quote I saw mentioned that if a billion people were thinking about Peace, there would be Peace in our world. So I was inspired to put that idea to the test, travel America talking about Peace and to start a website asking People to think about and define Peace. He was both famous and important . I love that he used his fame to promote social change and global healing. He laughed and played; came up with zany approaches to handle conservative thinking. He didn't take no for an answer and he truly came from a place of love.

simply, Diann    says:

John Lennon wasn't a saint, that's for sure. From what I've heard and read, he was temperamental, sometimes violent, and often quite selfish. He was also an inspiration for an entire generation, including myself. Lennon cared about social justice. He cared about the world we live in. He used his fame and his stature to make a positive difference in the world. When he sang, "all we are saying is give peace a chance", he spoke for all of us. His message of peace is enduring.

Action! Action! says:

john lennon is a peace hero

for creating GIVE PEAVCE A CHANCE,

for of course being in the beatles,

he cares about love, feelings, and of course peace,

John Lennon is a hero to all for his creative thoughts

on war, love, and freedom.

He should be known in history books for what effects

he has done, whether that includes music or not.

(:

Hotash    says:

ImAgInE

Perla*    says:

He embraced the world as of one, without prejudice (He showed the whole world that really meant it when he married Yoko ONO. His song IMAGINE is up to this date live symbol, a hymn of PEACE:



Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today...



Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace...



You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one



Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world...



You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

VeryScaryCarnival says:

Just knowing that the US government was terrified of his message is enough for me

PHOTO courtesy of Brett Weinstein

 

"One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations is that in political, military, moral, and spiritual confrontations, there should be an honest attempt at the reconciliation of differences before resorting to combat." Jimmy Carter



Jimmy Carter of Plains, GA is a true Peace Hero to many. He grew up on a peanut farm, served seven years as a Navy Officer, and continues to spread Peace in 2008 as a statesman and spokesman for the US.

Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the US, from 1977 to 1981.He initiated and also moderated the 1978 Camp David agreement, which greatly helped bring some peace between Egype and Israel. He also established diplomatic relations between the US and China. Jimmy Carter finished the SALT II negotiations  for a nuclear limitations treaty with the Soviet Union. His last day in office was the day that Iran released 52 American hostages. He had lost the election that year to Ronald Reagan, but he continued to work and he was the one who brought the hostages home peacefully.

These days, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, his wife, are very involved with Habitat for Humanity, a nondenominational Christian housing organization that has built over 35,000 homes in the US. Jimmy Carter can be found working on some of these houses in the construction process.

In 1982 he founded The Carter Center to promote Human Rights.

Jimmy Carter won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, for his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."

Jimmy Carter is a national treasure and a Peace Hero who will continue to inspire us forever.









 

I think that Oskar Schindler was a true peace hero. I think his wife Emilie was also.

 If you saw the movie "Schindler's List" you know a bit about Oskar Schindler, but no one I guess will ever know what went on inside his head and his heart to make him risk his life to save all the Jewish people he saved. He was not Jewish. He was raised as a Catholic and in fact was part of the Nazi Party until he realized it was evil. He wasn't a saint by any means. He was very human and had human vices and weaknesses, a lot of them. But, according to Schindler himself, he did what he had to do for the people he helped because he knew it was right.

It is estimated that he, along with his wife Emilie, saved at least 1,200 Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust.

Schindler was born in Zwittau, Czechoslovakia. His best friends growing up were the sons of a Jewish Rabbi, his neighbors. Oskar's family was wealthy, but went bankrupt because of the economy, and Oskar joined the Nazi Party. He was smart and eager and was recruited by the German Intelligence Agency, which helped him later save his Jewish friends.

When he was with the Nazis though, he got control of a Jewish-owned enamal works factory and because they were cheap labor, he employed Jewish workers. They became his friends, and he saved them with bribes and influence he had with the Nazis. He risked his life and spent his fortune to do it.

Oskar bribed and begged and finnegled the Nazis to let him move all his Jewish workers to his new factory when one closed, so they wouldn't be sent to the camps. He fed them well and was kind to them and protected them. The older people, who the Nazis would have killed, he wrote their years down as younger. He kept families together. He kept people healthy. This may all sound like what anyone would do, but the fact was Schindler was doing it at the risk of his life. He spent all his fortune to do it too.

After the war, Schindler was shunned by many because he condemned what the Nazis had done. He has been called their "bad conscience", the conscience of all the Germans and others who knew what was happening and did nothing. Schindler was a peace hero because he did what he did for people.

His wife Emilie was also a peace hero, working with Oskar to save people, even though Oskar had a mistress among other things. After the war Oskar and Emilie and Oskar's mistress and 12 "SchindlerJews" went to live in Buenos Aries. Oskar went bankrupt in 1957 and went alone to Germany, estranged from Emilie for the next 17 years. He died a poor man in 1974, when he was only 66 years old. Emilie stayed in Argentina and was honored in 1994 with The Righteous Amongst the Nations Award. She finally moved back to Germany though, and died there in 2001.

You can read a letter that Schlinder's Jewish friends that he saved wrote:

http://www.yadvashem.org/

For all these reasons, I think Oskar and Emilie Schindler are Peace Heroes worthy of this page. I think the world is a better place because they lived, and that is the mark of greatness. Thank you for letting me submit these people as my Peace Heroes.

“I like it when the paint drips…and I don’t always follow the lines.” Now THAT’S a winning Tshirt, and one that describes Beachblogger42, well, “to a T”…and it could even be one that he’ll design someday, tho he wouldn’t be likely to wear it himself since T’s aren’t his shirt of choice.

Watch him work on YouTube. Is that cool or what?!?!

That’s the Rolling Stone-like interview intro paragraph to Beachblogger42, One Million Peace Signs’ (OMPS) first “Peace Hero”. He was among the first brave souls to add his Peace Photos to the OMPS Pool, way back in the beginning (Jan. 1, 2008) when we were little more than a Puddle.

We chose Beachblogger42 to kick off the Peace Heroes page not because he’s slain the scariest, nastiest dragons, but rather because we immediately liked his style…and his scale. He said we could call him Peter, and we will, because it’s faster to type…but we still think of him as Beachblogger.

To start with, Beachblogger, er, Peter, draws literal “lines in the sand”…lines that turn into circular Peace Symbols and way-bigger-than-life sized letters calling for PEACE! When he’s not playing on the beach, you might find him Freeway Blogging his way to places like Crawford, TX. (You really need to read this story in his own words, for step-by-step instructions on how he did it, and how you too, can blog your local freeway.  

Peter’s latest modus operand is a leap into the other direction…he’s working on “stamping out” or more accurately, stamping IN Peace…with his very fun Peace Stamps. You’ll find them in his webstore. Buy one…buy two…he has them made at a local shop that employs and benefits people with Cerebral Palsy.  ”Impeach” stamp your dollar bills and smile innocently when you pay for gas or Girl Scout cookies.  Pass Peace-stamped dollar bills at the pub. Maybe Peace Money will buy a winning lottery ticket—who knows?

Peter does indeed blog his local freeways. He’s earned a reputation, and even made some enemies. The “dripping paint” quote refers to some of the signs he makes to decorate the overpasses near his home in California.

Beachblogger swims against the mainstream—and he’s fine with that. “I’ve never voted for an elected President,” admits Peter, “And Ross Perot is the closest I ever got to voting for a Republican.” He can quickly outline his political heritage since 2003, the year he saw a woman standing with a sign on the side of the road. The sign said “Stop the Outrage” , and Peter says he can clearly remember thinking “Which one? Which outrage?” and realizing that things were indeed as bad as they seemed.

In 2004 he worked for some on the Democratic side of things, and in August of 2005 he dug into the sand and out came his first beachblog. “Cindy Sheehan went to Crawford shortly after that, and then there was Katrina…” Peter’s voice trailed off as he remembered… “That’s when I really started beachblogging and Freeway Blogging, “ he said. He wrote his first post in November of 2005. 



The next year was a turning point, and probably the culminating point of what Peter refers to as “my current disillusionment”.  He was active with a number of different Democratic campaigns—pushing “Pancakes for Peace” with a little red wagon, and attending functions leading up to the 2006 Congressional primaries. “All I was hearing from the people around me was how much money they’d raised on this dinner or that cocktail party, and it hit me that that wasn’t what it was all about, at least for me.” He decided then that he’d given his last donation to any political party…and instead took to the beaches and the freeways and began protesting in earnest.



Since 2005, Peter estimates that he has made over a thousand signs. He also quit his engineering job in the military arena last year, because of political reasons. “It just wasn’t worth it,” he said, “and I was ‘swift-boated’ by the people I was working with. I know I’ve said it before, but ‘disillusioned’ is the best way to put it.”



His webstore was an attempt to dispel some of that disillusionment, and to channel his passion for wanting to make a positive difference in the world. “I’m an engineer, and I’ve worked in the military industrial complex for pretty much my whole working career—but I was trained as an artist as much as an engineer” he explained.



What's next? Well, Peter is looking forward to starting a new job, where he'll be working at conserving and recycling our natural resources. He'll also be painting and printing signs for local Peace Protests, and revamping his webstore to highlight the Peace Stampers.



(hey Peace People...plug for Peter...these make GREAT little "thinking of you" gifts for special Peace People and sometimes rabble-rousers! Talk about spreading Peace...these stampers make it extra-fun.)



And not to worry folks, Peter WILL also be beachblogging and freewayblogging, and he's assured us that contributing his photos, time and talents to One Million Peace Signs is definitely still on his list of hobbies!