There has been a dramatic evolution of peace & justice activism over the past century, often pioneered by a Quaker organization called the AFSC.

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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Transition Towns & Faith
First Air Date
Ruah Swennerfelt has lots of experience in the Transition Town movement, locally, regionally, religiously, nationally, and internationally, and has now written of much of it in
Brilliant Non-violence: The Albert Einstein Institution
First Air Date
Jamila Raqib is executive director of The Albert Einstein Institution, the brain-child of Gene Sharp, leading researcher in non-violent action & civilian-based defense. Jamila was a refugee from Afghanistan at age 4, with a keen and innate sense of the power of non-violence to preserve and obtain freedom and justice, at the least cost.
Peace Love Advocate Network
First Air Date
There are many ways to participate in world healing, among them by inspiring us to come together - even folks from the other side, and what better way to do that with song, humor, compassion, and Billy Jonas. Billy is a creative genius and musical pied piper, leading us where we need to go, and doing it by example, not lecture.
Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Jewish
We Need A Bobby Kennedy
First Air Date
Bobby Kennedy started out aligned with conservative commie-chasing Joe McCarthy, but ended up an inspirational, hard-fighting liberal. Larry Tye scrutinizes the history and make a case that we need just such a transformed bridge-builder today. That and much more in Larry's book, Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon.
Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Jewish
History that Matters: The Underground Railroad
First Air Date
Eric Foner is one of the preeminent US historians, particularly for the period of the 1800s involving slavery, the Civil War, & Reconstruction. His latest book is Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad, which follows The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln & American Slavery.
Building the Agricultural City
First Air Date
Robert Wolf, author of Building the Agricultural City: A Handbook for Rural Renewal advocates a move away from globalization and toward regionalism. Robert is co-host today, completely in charge of the 2nd half of this program. Robert is also author of American Mosaic, and has a vision of government small enough to be responsive, but large enough to accommodate the diverse needs of a community.
Story-teller, Advocate or Rebel
First Air Date
All ages, all personalities, all disciplines have their roles in world-healing. Peterson Toscano of Citizen's Climate Radio is host today, speaking with all kinds of folks, including an environmental engineer in the Caribbean, Dr.
Evil
First Air Date
Some things just beg to be called evil, and when we see them we cry out "Why?" Charlene Embrey Burns traces 1000's of years of answers to that question in
Christian Understandings of Evil: The Historical Trajectory, and talks of her grappling with evil in both personal and wider religious experience.
Past/current religious/spiritual influences:
Buddhism, Episcopalian, Meditation, UCC - United Church of Christ
The Vulnerable, Smile House, & Joe Luginbill
First Air Date
Joe Luginbill is a prodigy and unstoppable dynamo. As Eau Claire's youngest ever elected official, he joined the school board at 20, powerfully influencing policies on transgender, homeless, sustainability issues, and much more. Strong, young, local, progressive officials are crucial in healing our nation, and Joe stands high among them.