To enable consensus politics to develop we need to empower people where they live. This means devolving financial resources and political power down to the community level. One of the greatest blocks to movement is fear. This fear can only be removed when people feel their voices are being heard by government and when they have a say in their own lives and communities.

Those of us who believe in human rights and the truth - particularly the journalists and the media - should stand in defense of Julian Assange and Bradley Manning. We owe them a lot for telling us the truth of what is happening in our world, and that is why I would continue to support them.

I believe we are on the edge of a quantum leap into a whole new way of organizing and living as a human family.

We need now to build a culture of genuine nonviolence and real democracy.

The fact is that the American government and NATO have destroyed Iraq and Afghanistan. Their next targets will be Syria and Iran.

Setting aside human rights and international law to have an agenda of war and killing and occupation to me is totally unacceptable.

To stand up for peace and against war and for disarmament is very courageous here in America.