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Visiting Scholar Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution George Mason University
Diane Perlman is a clinical and political psychologist, devoted to applying knowledge from psychology, conflict studies and social sciences to designing strategies and policies to reverse nuclear proliferation, to drastically reduce terrorism, and to raise consciousness about nonviolent strategies fo tension reduction and conflict transformation. She is co-chair of the committee on Global Violence and Security for Psychologists fro Social Responsibility and the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence, Division 48 of the American Psychological Association. She moved from Philadelphia to Washington, DC to start a social science think tank to channel knowledge about effective strategies, based on sound social science to members of congress, media, think tanks, academics, and activists. Some of her writings can be found on her websites, www.consciouspolitics.org and www.humanchainreaction.org
Sunday, November 6, 2011 Tar Sands Song, Video, Action
On November 6, 2011, exactly one year before the 2012 US presidential elections, thousands of people will surround the White House to inspire President Obama to vote against the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 What Free Health Care Looks Like - Sort of (8 comments)
On August 4, 2010, on President Obama's birthday, 1200 uninsured people received a gift. Well actually, it should not have been a gift, but a right to health care.Sadly, 500 people were turned away.There are 50 million uninsured people in our country. Many who came had lost their jobs. People were given EKGs,tests for blood sugar, cholesterol,hemoglobin,HIV AIDS, urine tests,eye exams,breast cancer and follow up appointments.
Thursday, June 10, 2010 The Nuclear Power TRAP
The first step in liberating ourselves is recognition. The structures that imprison us are very powerful. The stakes are as high as can be.Can we liberate ourselves from the scourge of war and of poisoning the Earth? Can we collaborate to test the limits of what might yet be possible.
Sunday, May 9, 2010 OUTSIDE THE DETERRENCE BOX (2 comments)
Instead of fighting over whether deterrence works, let's ask when it might work, under what conditions, for how long, and when it might have the opposite effect of provoking an attack. Does deterrence work - compared to what? Are there better ways?
Sunday, December 6, 2009 Universal Environmental Rights (6 comments)
As the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change coincides with Human Rights Day, let's consider whether our 2009 world calls for amending the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and whether it is appropriate to elevate our basic needs for survival to the level of universal human rights.Here is a draft proposal to amend the UDHR in honor of Copenhagen.Suggestions, endorsements or strategies for its use are most welcome.
Friday, January 30, 2009 Letter to President Obama from Conflict Analysis Professionals for Enduring Security (2 comments)
We are interdisciplinary conflict analysis professionals devoted to the study and practice of violence prevention, tension reduction, conflict transformation and reconciliation. Like you, we are deeply concerned for our friends, colleagues, relatives and all citizens of Israel and Gaza. An appropriate response will require expert intervention to heal wounds and reverse cycles of violence.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Political Hysteria: Call for Immediate Pre-Election Calming (3 comments)
I speak as a registered Independent, post-partisan, concerned American. Civil Republicans are harmed by the disturbing rhetoric coming from the McCain campaign. The Obama campaign discourages booing and demands more respectful behavior. As a clinical and political psychologist, I worry that social/emotional forces will intensify fear, and confusion that could disrupt a golden opportunity for unity, healing...
Saturday, September 27, 2008 Pressuring Iran: Self Fulfilling Paranoia and the Law of Opposites
War is not a last resort. In today's world, it is the worst resort. We do not support Israel by bombing enemies into escalation. We can, however, eliminate "enmity." What works are strategies capable of reducing tension, preventing violence and transforming conflict that require higher-level nonviolent strategies, complex, long-range thinking, tension reduction, and correcting underlying causes of conflict.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren on Evil (13 comments)
The presence of evil is a stimulus to dig deep inside, bring out the best in ourselves and others, and figure out what is necessary to rescue people from that layer and prevent others from being sucked into it. Might you call this God's work? If people are created in the image of God, does it follow that we are responsible for preventing, healing and transforming evil, and redeeming people, groups and nations when possible?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 The 2006 Elections: Fraud? No Fraud?
This simplistic, two-dimensional thinking ignores the fact that there was a lot of fraud: that the margins were larger than the actual numbers indicated, that the Democrats probably lost some races in which more people voted for them.
