From The Intelligent Optimist Magazine
Winter 2017
Swords into plowshares
Gun violence is painful problem in the U.S. Each year some 12,000 people die in homicides—more than 30 every day. A double amount of people commit suicide. Would that be different with different gun laws? Statistics from other western countries seem to indicate that. RawTools was established in 2013 in response to the Sandy Hook shooting when a 20-year old man shot 20 children between six and seven. Inspired by the biblical passage in Isaiah—“…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”—the initiative offers anyone to have their gun turned into a garden tool. “We hope the tools that we create out of guns points our communities toward nonviolent alternatives,” says RawTools. Returning to the garden is a big step towards disarming hearts and forging peace. More info | RAWtools.org | By Jurriaan Kamp
