Q: Are you advocating for unilateral disarmament?
No. We appreciate the need for defense and peacekeeping, but we know attacking other countries violates international law and the U.N. charter, compromises our long-term safety and security and is against the fundamental values upon which our nation is founded. We focus on what it takes to build a world that settles disputes without violence.

Q: How is Beyond War different from other peace groups?
We envision a world beyond war and then promote what we need to do to realize this goal. Beyond War advocates for actions on the personal, national and international levels, that are congruent with our guiding principles and core practices.  The goal of Beyond War is to disseminate this information and educate others, including our elected officials, so that the guiding principles and core practices become the cultural basis for living with differences and responding to conflict.

Q: How can you claim that war is obsolete when there are many armed conflicts going on in the world right now?
War is far from extinct, but it has become obsolete -- obsolete for five overarching reasons:

• War cannot defeat terrorism.
• The costs of war have become unacceptably high.
• The destructiveness of modern weapons means that continuing to use war could lead to our extinction.
• War can achieve domination in the short run; war cannot build a community or a functioning economy.
• There are far better alternatives. We need to promote and expand on these.

Q: You advocate methods other than military force to solve world conflicts. What are these?
There are many other ways, other than military action, to prevent or resolve conflicts. These include:

• Non-violent conflict resolution and community-building processes that have worked, such as diplomacy, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, and the Good Friday Accords.
• Adherence to international law: for example, participation in the International Criminal Court. Equality with all countries under the law will earn us the respect and trust of other nations.
• Collaboration and cooperation with other nations. The safety and stature of all are enhanced when we unite with other nations around shared values and common goals.
• Humanitarian foreign aid and development assistance for impoverished nations will foster goodwill and build friendships. Examples include the Peace Corps, Rotary International, Heifer International, and many, many others.

Q: How does Beyond War work? What do you do?
Our primary methods are educational forums, weekend seminars and living room discussions where the ideas of Beyond War are conveyed and tested.  We organize into Action Teams which engage in projects consistent with Beyond War’s guiding principles and the interests and expertise of team members. Local Teams are connected to other teams around the world by the international Beyond War office (541-485-0911) or beyondwar@beyondwar.org and by various peace building projects. The recently updated eight-session study series grounds participants in Beyond War's principles, challenges their own thinking, equips them to advocate effectively for ending war and educates them about what people and nations can do instead of war. Beyond War members learn to apply the Beyond War principles in our own lives and in working with others without posing enemies.

Q: How do I find out more?
You can learn more about Beyond War and how you can make a difference by becoming a Member or joining an Action Team or enrolling in the eight-week Beyond War Study Series. Contact the Beyond War office at (541) 485-0911 or beyondwar@beyondwar.org for details.

Q: How can I contribute?
Beyond War is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and we depend on grants and the contributions of individuals to further our work to reach more citizens. Tax-deductible contributions to Beyond War can be mailed to our office at 126 W. Broadway, Eugene, OR 97401. You can also make donations on-line by going to the "Donate" section of this website. Contributions are tax-deductible, and 100% of all contributions go to further the work of Beyond War.  DONATE NOW...

Q: Isn't advocating for peace when we are engaged in a war or military action implying that we are not supporting our troops?
Quite the contrary. We honor and respect our men and women in uniform. We feel their role should be to defend our country from attack and to participate in peacekeeping missions. We are anxious to get our troops out of war zones and to support them in building true security.

Q: Isn't all this a pipedream? I mean, the world has always been at war.
Many unjust institutions have existed in the history of the world. Slavery, human sacrifice and piracy are examples. War needs to join the ranks of these obsolete institutions.

Q: What are the essential ideas of Beyond War?
Beyond War is based on three guiding principles:

• War is obsolete.
• We are one on this planet.
• The means are the ends in the making.

These principles lead us to these core practices:

• I will resolve conflict. I will not use violence.
• I will maintain an attitude of goodwill. I will not preoccupy myself with an enemy.
• I will work together with others to build a world beyond war.