I came to know of this grassroot initiative from my recent involvement with the virtual chapter of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Awareness of this important movement is somewhat lacking within the United States, where it is most needed. The respect we have lost in the world community and the harm we are causing through our unabated militarism and economic imperialism must be restored, healed and balanced through the sustained attention, determination and united effort of the peace-loving citizens everywhere - the invisible 'silent majority' here at home and abroad.

THE WORLD MARCH: A HUMANIST PROPOSAL

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence was launched during the Symposium of the World Center for Humanist Studies held at the Park of Study and Reflection in Punta de Vacas, Argentina, on November 15, 2008.

The World March aims to generate consciousness of the dangerous global situation in which we are living, a situation marked by the heightened probability of nuclear conflict, a renewed arms race, and the violent military occupation of foreign territories. The World March is a proposal for an unprecedented social mobilization, advanced by the Humanist Movement through one of its organizations, World Without Wars.

Since its initial proposal things have developed very quickly. In just a few months the World March has received the endorsement of thousands of people, pacifist and nonviolence groups, a variety of institutions, and renowned figures from the worlds of science, culture, and politics, who are sensitive to the urgency of the moment. It has also inspired an enormous diversity of initiatives in more than 100 countries, becoming a rapidly growing human phenomenon. We are facing the global failure of a system whose methodology of action is violence and whose central value is money.

THE PROPOSALS OF THE WORLD MARCH

To avoid a future nuclear catastrophe we must surpass violence today, demanding:
• nuclear disarmament at a global level;
• the immediate withdrawal of invading troops from occupied territories;
• the progressive and proportional reduction of conventional weapons;
• the signing of non-aggression treaties between countries;
• the renunciation by governments of the use of war as a means to resolve conflicts.

It’s urgent to create consciousness for peace and disarmament. But it is also necessary to awaken a consciousness of nonviolence that rejects not only physical violence, but all forms of violence: economic, racial, psychological, religious, sexual, etc

The March will consist of two parallel initiatives:

1) Between October 2nd, 2009 and January 2nd, 2010, an international team of marchers will cross the planet from New Zealand to Argentina, meeting with heads-of-state, talking to the media, and participating in large marches and rallies in cities on each continent – all the while bringing awareness to the March’s urgent proposals and gathering the stories and wishes of the people with whom they meet.

2) During this same 3-month period, as their journey progresses around the globe, thousands of nonprofit organizations, civic groups, religious congregations, students and university groups, and concerned individuals in towns and cities around the world will do their part by organizing local events that bring the message of ! the March to their immediate communities. These events will include local marches and peace walks, art exhibits, concerts, nonviolence workshops, film nights, theater and dance performances, community forums, murals, potluck dinners, sports events, and more. The goal is to produce aconverging diversity of voices aimed at raising consciousness of peace and nonviolence and collectively building the path to get there.

<> HOW CAN I HELP <>?

It’s not too late to get involved and add your voice to the World March along with HH Dalai Lama and many wise elders around the world. Here’s how:

1) Endorse the World March as an individual or organization by going to our website: www.worldmarchusa.net

2) Organize an event or action in your neighborhood, workplace, school, or community in support of the March between October 2nd and January 2nd. We have set aside December 2nd as “World March USA Day” and are aiming to have hundreds of events organized across the country on that day.

3) Merge it with an existing event of yours scheduled during this 3-month period; consider designating it “In Support of the World March” and add it to our calendar of events. Your support can be shown by including info on the March in your program, by having a short presentation before or after the event, or by incorporating the themes of the march into the content of your event.

4) Volunteer with efforts to welcome and host the international team of marchers when they visit NY, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. November 30 – December 3. We need people to help with logistics, press, publicity, graphic design, fundraising, and outreach. (info@worldmarchusa.net).

5) Spread the Word! Talk about the march with your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and fellow students, and refer them to our website:www.worldmarchusa.net.

Thanks for joining us in the largest grassroot mobilization for peace and disarmament in history! Please keep the volunteers and marchers in your personal meditation and metta prayers. See some videos here and youtube.

Namaste

Posted by Mita (Susmita Barua). See my article at Shambhalatimes