Meet Linda Speel, west coast organizer of the PeaceRoots Alliance. Through that organization, she and her husband, Richard Speel, are working towards a peaceful, just and sustainable world. The PeaceRoots Alliance represents Farms Not Arms, More Than Warmth, and Conscientious Objectors, programs that aim to promote peace to war veterans, children, and young adults. Farms Not Arms connects farmers with wounded combat veterans to help them heal from the ravages of war. More Than Warmth sends quilts to children in Afghanistan and Iraq to provide comfort and teach peace. Conscientious Objectors is a resource for individuals morally and ethically opposed to war.
Linda enjoys making quilts, but even more, she likes to dye fabric. She tie-dyed a giant peace sign onto a piece of cotton, dyed another piece for the back, and brought them to me to quilt together. In the picture of Linda standing next to the quilt, you can see the scale of the piece — or peace, that is. What you cannot see in the picture is that in a circle around the peace sign, these words are stitched: Imagine Peace, Practice Kindness, Give Love.
Linda created this quilt as a fundraiser for the PeaceRoots Alliance, so you will have an opportunity to see the quilt and speak to Linda as she sells raffle tickets at events around the county over the next six months. The drawing for the quilt will take place in October. The Peace Quilt will be on display this weekend at the quilt show in Sebastopol as part of that city’s annual Apple Blossom Festival. For more information about the PeaceRoots Alliance, visit their website at www.peaceroots.org.
