Dear Friends,
The World March for Peace and Nonviolence continues its journey across the planet. When I last wrote, the March had just completed its Asian leg, and the marches through the Middle East and the Balkans were winding down as well. In the last few weeks the marchers have traveled throughout Europe and are now in northern Africa. We are preparing to welcome them here in New York next week.
Here are a few of November’s highlights:
Prague Falls for Marchers
In Prague, the marchers met with the vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies and other members of the Czech Parliament, and with Jan Tamas an other leaders of the successful effort to stop the development of the US “Stars Wars” missile base in the Czech Republic. On their final night, five thousand people, mostly youth, gathered in Wenceslas Square to participate in a “Peace Party” hosted by some of the country’s best-known singers, actors and entertainers as well as the NY’s Harlem Gospel Choir.
World March Meets Nobel Peace Laureates
In Berlin, the marchers were officially received by the 10th Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, and entrusted with disseminating the Summit’s “Charter for a World Without Violence” by laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire. Silo, the founder of Universalist Humanism and an inspiration for the World March, addressed the Summit with a talk on “The Meaning of Peace and Nonviolence in the Present Moment.” Referring to the World march, he said “For the first time in history an event of this magnitude has been put in motion by the participants themselves.”
Italians Welcome the World March by the Thousands
Thousands of people joined in marches and public demonstrations in support of the World March in cities throughout Italy, including 2000 children in Milan’s Piazza Duomo and 1,600 people in Turin who came to the Teatro Regio to attend a performance Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, held in the March’s honor. In Novara, the marchers denounced the Italian government’s decision to purchase 131 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, which can carry nuclear weapons and have a completely offensive purpose, and in the Vatican a delegation received a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.
The March Crosses Spain
Five thousand Madrileños marched along the Paseo del Prado to the Puerta de Sol. Pau Segado, the March spokesperson for Spain, called on President Zapatero to withdraw Spanish troops from Afghanistan, and denounced the government’s “double game” of promulgating peace while selling weapons internationally. In Mallorca, American marchers Charles Lasater and Sinthya Penn met with the President and Vice-president of the Regional Parliament and led a local march in Palma with 2,000 people, the largest peace demonstration ever seen on that island.
On to Africa
The World March entered Africa on November 19, traveling through the Moroccan cities Nador, Marrakech, Guelmim, and the capital Rabat, where they met with members of Parliament. In Tan-Tan they marchers danced with the tuaregs, or desert people, and attended a tea ceremony in a desert tent in the Sahara.
In a historical ceremony, a Peace Torch was passed from the Liberian delegation of the World March to the delegation of Sierra Leone on the Mano River Union Bridge, the border between the two countries. In the 90s, both countries were involved in civil wars which have lead to hundreds of thousands of killed and mutilated people. The wars have become known all over the world for the abuse of children as ‘kid soldiers’, and in both countries have many traumatized people still working on reaching reconciliation.
Coming Up: The World March Comes to the US
The Marchers arrive in the US on November 30th!
See www.worldmarchinnyc.org for activities planned in NYC
December 2 is “World March USA Day.” While the team of marchers divides and visits Washington, San Francisco, Red Bluff, and Los Angeles, people in cities across the country will be organizing local events in support of the March and its proposals. See www.worldmarchusa.net for more info.
Pass the word. Thanks. in Peace,
Dennis
Dennis Redmond
US Coordinator
World March for Peace & Nonviolence
info@worldmarchusa.net
www.worldmarchusa.net
www.theworldmarch.org
PEACE IS ON THE MOVE – MARCH WITH THE WORLD IN SAN FRANCISCO! www.worldmarchusa.net
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