Organizations Endorse Upcoming “World March for Peace & Non-Violence”.

(New York) The historic election of Barack Obama has inspired Americans with a sense of new possibilities.

Yet the recent attacks in Mumbai, raising tensions between two nuclear states, provide a stark reminder of the urgent need to lessen tensions around the world.

Carried by this hope mixed with a clear-eyed recognition of the need for action, New Yorkers marched from all five boroughs Sunday, December 7, meeting on the steps of City Hall to announce a historic undertaking that aims to raise awareness across the planet of the need for nuclear disarmament.

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence will begin on October 2nd 2009, the International Day of Nonviolence, and travel over 6 continents and through 100 countries ending in the Andes mountains of Argentina in January 2010.

The March will unite the voices of millions of people worldwide in a call to dismantle all nuclear weapons, end war and military aggression, and reject all forms of violence – physical, racial, religious, economic, sexual and psychological.

At the Press Conference, the March received the support of Council Members Melissa Mark-Viverito and David Yassky, and a wide range of New York City organizations and educational institutions.

They declared their commitment to create a diversity of events during the 3 months that the March makes its way across the world.

Dr. Rikki Asher of Queens College, for example, spoke of her university’s “vital role in creating curriculum that addresses peace and war in the hope of moving to new levels of awareness both inside and outside the classroom…We will be planning a number of projects including a musical peace program, a peace and art exhibit, and a cross-campus peace seminar.”

Other organizations endorsing the project included Peace Action New York,  the Federation of Indian Associations of NY/CT/NJ, Queens Community House, Brooklyn International High School, the Center of Cultures, Military Families Speak Out, the Shanti Fund, the Community of Silo’s Message, the World Can’t Wait, Light Millennium and Movimiento por La Paz en Colombia.

Dennis Redmond, US Coordinator for the March, hopes that this unprecedented initiative will inspire simultaneous activities in all 50 states. Matthis Chiroux, of Iraq Veterans Against the War, expressed a sentiment the organizers believe is shared by a growing number of Americans.  “Our bombs are too big, our bullets are too accurate and life is too precious.”

Worldwide, the March is receiving unprecedented support from leaders from different walks of like including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu, acclaimed conductor Zubin Mehta, Colombian rock star and “King of the Latin Grammy” Juanes, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and world-renowned intellectual Noam Chomsky.

For more info:

http://www.worldmarchusa.net/World_March_USA/Welcome.html

www.worldmarch.info