Todd Dennis served in the US Navy on an nuclear submarine from 1997-2003, experiencing a major shift in his world view during that time. Though he was in the military, he found himself wanting to join anti-war protesters when the US attacked Iraq in 2003, and he joined Veterans for Peace once back in the Chippewa Valley.
Each week, Spirit In Action brings you stories of people living lives of fruitful service, of peace, community, compassion, creative action and progressive efforts. We will trace the spiritual roots that support and nourish them in their service. Above all, we will seek out Light, Love and Helping Hands, being shared between our many neighbors on this planet, hoping to inspire and encourage you to sink deep roots and produce sacred fruit in your own life.
Spirit In Action is an hour of interviews with those providing leadership in peace, justice and "good works", interspersed with relevant music. The theme music is "The Turning of the World" performed by Sara Thomsen (written by Ruth Pellham).
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Stan Gruszynski - Civic Engagement
First Air Date
Stan served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 10 years, championing sustainable living, farming, and more, and was a keynote speaker at the 2007 MREA Energy Fair. His passion is motivating and connection citizens with our "common wealth", the ways that we can work together for the good of all. I captured his talk at the Energy Fair and visited with him 1-on-1 afterwards.
Voices for Peace 2008, Part 3 - Speak for Peace, Raed Jarrar & Eugene Cherry
First Air Date
Voices for Peace 2008 took place on 9/14/8 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This 3rd and last segment includes the speech by Raed Jarrar, a representative of the Speak for Peace tour, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
Voices for Peace 2008, Part 2 - Wheels of Justice, Bruce O'Brien, Speak for Peace
First Air Date
Voices for Peace 2008 took place on 9/14/2008 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This 2nd segment includes a talk by Henry Norr, an activist alongside Palestinians, speaking as part of Wheels of Justice
Voices for Peace 2008 Opening - Military Families Speak Out & Wheels of Justice
First Air Date
A rich event took place on 9/14/2008 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This first segment includes the opening "Circle of Prayer", a presentation by Steve Wagener of Military Families Speak Out and a talk by Paul Melling of Wheels of Justice.
Ralph Nader - Politics for People
First Air Date
Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzolas, his running mate for President of the USA, spoke at UW-Eau Claire on September 5, 2008. His campaign is less about him than it is about finding an alternative to the corporate power that has so much control over our national life. Nader mixes dire warnings with inspirational advocacy, urging citizen involvement for a better future.
Tom Chisholm of Veterans for Peace
First Air Date
Tom Chisholm served in the military on and off over 45 years, as a medic and a doctor. For most of that time he found himself opposed to all of the wars and military invasions the USA was part of. He's been a long-time member of Veterans for Peace and is a member of the Catholic peace group, Pax Christi, as well.
Tom has also valued his service on a reservation in South Dakota, and his volunteer time as a doctor in Nicaragua.
Kathy Kelly - Voices for Creative Nonviolence Walk Chicago to the Twin Cities
First Air Date
Kathy is currently co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Noviolence, is active with the Catholic Worker movement and since becoming a pacifist has refused payment of all federal income tax for 25 years. She went to prison for one year for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites and has a Masters in Religious Education from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Forgiveness, Holistic Therapy and Ann Recine
First Air Date
Ann Recine is working for the world's healing in many ways - she is a Nurse Practitioner with a Holistic Therapy LLC (715-379-5331, 515 S Barstow, Eau Claire), specializing in forgiveness and mindfulness meditation. She is a Third Order Franciscan, and she is also an organizer in the Voices for Peace Institute.
Medical Students Putting It On The Line
First Air Date
Recipients of the 2008 McGovern-Tracy Scholarships "exemplify the values of community service and leadership", and we visit with 5 of the med students recognized this year: Callie O'Neil, Michelle Buelow, Betsy Doherty, Joseph Hansen and Kevin Thao - great examples of the promise of the the upcoming generation of doctors.