World March for Peace & Nonviolence San Diego

World March Kickoff San Diego - Picnic for Peace and Nonviolence

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:27:54 -0700

The historic first-ever World March for Peace & Nonviolence is starting Oct. 2 in New Zealand, going through 90+ countries in 90 days.

KICKOFF EVENT FOR SAN DIEGO -- "PICNIC FOR PEACE & NONVIOLENCE"

When: Sunday Oct. 18 from 1 - 4 pm

Where: Cottonwood Creek Park in Encinitas, just west of I-5 near Moonlight beach.

Bring your lunch. Activities will include “Dances for Peace” bringing cultures together, a Symbolic March, plus Paper Plate Poetry for Peace (inspired by an activity to build understanding in Israel and Palestine). You’ll also have a chance to make a Video Message for peace and nonviolence.

Add your voice to millions worldwide to speak out for a new world of peace and nonviolence - it's time! Pass the word to friends and family -- let's get a big crowd together for peace!

This will be a simple and human scale picnic (non-commercial) with a focus on opportunity to enjoy the company of like-minded people following different paths to peace and nonviolence in the world and each person.

LET US KNOW IF YOU’RE COMING: please let us know by sending an email. Hope to see you there,

Volunteers needed: Help welcome. Also, if anyone knows how to pass the word through new media (twitter, Facebook etc.) please let us know.

Here’s a PDF flyer in both English and Spanish you can email to friends or print and post.

The World March will come to the West Coast and pass through San Diego on December 3rd with a cross-border communication event where the core Marchers will cross into Tijuana to continue on to the final celebration January 2, 2010 high in the Andes in Argentina.

For more information, questions, or to volunteer contact us at worldmarch.sandiego@gmail.com 760-208-2597.

UN General Assembly President Meets World March Spokesperson

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:27:51 -0700

In a meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, the President of the UN General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto, met with Rafael de la Rubia, International spokesperson of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence. Miguel d’Escoto called the World March a "new paradigm for the 21st century.” From left: Dennis Redmond, US coordinator of the World March; Nicole Myers, US spokesperson for the World March; Miguel d'Escoto; Rafael de la Rubia, others unknown.

Bolivian President Evo Morales Endorses the World March

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:25:52 -0700

The World March for Peace & Nonviolence has received the endorsement of Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, and he is encouraging all Bolivians to join in. Morales is the fifth head-of-state to endorse the March, and Bolivia is the first nation in the world to incorporate in its Constitution the rejection of war as a means of resolving conflicts.

Below is the article from the official Bolivian news agency announcing the endorsement, which was received in person by Tomas Hirsch, spokesperson for the March in Latin America.
  Morales se suma a los 10 millones de marchistas mundiales por La Paz y la No Violencia  La Paz, 14 mayo (ABI).- El presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, aceptó la invitación del candidato a la Presidencia de Chile, Thomas Hirsch, para adherirse a la Primera Marcha Mundial por la Paz y la No Violencia que contará con la participación de por lo menos 10 millones de personas en varios países del mundo, según el líder humanista chileno.   El promotor de la movilización llegó el jueves hasta el paceño Palacio de Gobierno donde se reunió con Morales quien, según sus propias palabras, “expresó su total respaldo al evento mundial” que comenzará el 2 de octubre en Nueva Zelanda y recorrerá 104 países para concluir, el 2 de enero de 2010, en la frontera entre Chile y Argentina, al pie del Monte Aconcahua.   “Hemos tenido una muy buena reunión con el Presidente (Morales) y nos ha confirmado que va a estar presente en la marcha cuando entre a Bolivia, a fines de diciembre de este año. Ha ofrecido apoyo y su respaldo a la iniciativa porque comparte la idea de que América Latina, que es el primer continente libre de armas nucleares, siga siendo el lugar de resguardo de la paz”, dijo al momento de dejar la Sede de Gobierno.   Hirsch aseguró que el motivo para pedir la adhesión de Morales a esta actividad era por ser un personaje mundial reconocido por su compromiso con la paz y la no violencia y que “para nadie escapa en nuestra región, que Bolivia es el primer país del mundo en incorporar en su Constitución el rechazo a la guerra como vía de resolución de conflictos y el rechazo la fabricación, mantención, traslado o uso de cualquier tipo de armas de destrucción masiva”.   Reflexionó, por eso, que ahora era más urgente avanzar con fuerza hacia la disolución de arsenales nucleares, el retiro de tropas de territorios ocupados, la reducción de los presupuestos bélicos de los países para dedicar esos recursos a la verdadera necesidad que tienen los países como la salud, educación, trabajo, vivienda o la previsión social.   El portavoz presidencial, Iván Canelas, confirmó, por su parte, el respaldo de Morales a la Marcha por la Paz y la No Violencia, “no sólo porque el Presidente es defensor de los derechos humanos, la paz y el medio ambiente, sino porque ha ido promoviendo campañas a favor de la paz, como lo establece la Constitución por todo el mundo”.   “El Presidente ha expresado que nos sumemos todos los bolivianos a esta marcha que se realizará a nivel mundial”, dijo.   A finales de diciembre, este mitin internacional, al que adherirán destacadas personalidades del arte, la cultura, el deporte, los intelectuales y representantes de gobiernos, ingresará al país desde Perú por la localidad de Desaguadero.   En Bolivia se realizarán actos en Tiawanacu, a 72 km de La Paz, para luego partir por la frontera con argentina y concluir en el Aconcahua.   La convocatoria a la marcha fue lanzada durante un Simposio que se realizó en Argentina, el 15 de noviembre último.   El mitin pretende crear conciencia frente a la peligrosa situación mundial, marcada por la elevada probabilidad de conflicto nuclear, por el armamentismo y por la violenta ocupación militar de territorios.    Es una propuesta de movilización social sin precedentes, impulsada por el Movimiento Humanista a través de uno de sus organismos, Mundo Sin Guerras.   La propuesta inicial se ha desarrollado muy rápidamente. En pocos meses la Marcha Mundial ha suscitado la adhesión de miles de personas, agrupaciones pacifistas y no-violentas, diversas instituciones, personalidades del mundo de la ciencia, de la cultura y de la política sensibles a la urgencia del momento. Mam/cc AB

World March Organizer Speaks at United Nations

Thu, 7 May 2009 10:09:52 -0700

Pressenza New York, 2009-05-07 – The Chilean Mission to the United Nations organized the first presentation of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence inviting international spokesperson Rafael de la Rubia, President of World Without Wars (Spain) to address UN Delegates of the Third Committee and NGOs from the Nonproliferation Treaty PrepCom.
De la Rubia explained the background and objectives of the March and the growing list of international endorsers including Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner and the hundreds of diverse and well-known personalities, organizations, and educational institutions from all the continents.
Summarizing his reasons for coming to the United Nations, de la Rubia said: “The World March has the basic objectives of creating global awareness that peace is the only path forward and that today it’s necessary to accompany this peace with the methodology of nonviolence so that we may truly pass into a new stage for Humanity."
De la Rubia proposed that the Heads of State endorsing the World March make a joint declaration of support at the opening of the next UN General Assembly in September. Another vital connection with the UN is the date when the march begins, October 2nd, the International Day of Non-violence as declared by the United Nations. He added, "on December 1st, the World Marchers who are going around the world will bring their message directly to the United Nations after two months of traveling through several continents."
Delegates attending from countries such as Argentina, China, Iran, Uruguay, Syria, Guatemala, Poland and Burkina Faso were receptive to the March and promised to take the information back to their respective governments.
Gladys Acosta, Chief of UNIFEM, Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed enthusiastic support for the March connecting it to their worldwide campaign, "Say No to Violence Against Women". Similar endoresements were offered by other NGOs on the spot.
Subsequently, first contacts were made with the Chinese delegation in order to define a way forward to facilitate the passage of the World March through China.
Belén Sapag of the Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations gave the opening remarks explaining Chile's interest in supporting the march. She also introduced US World March spokesperson, Chris Wells who gave a brief introduction about the significance of a world march that promoted peace and nonviolence that will "give voice to the silent ones".
The World March for Peace and Nonviolence will officially begin on October 2, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand and end on January 2, 2010 in the Andes after passing through 7 continents. theworldmarch.org

World March for Peace & Nonviolence San Diego

World March Kickoff San Diego - Picnic for Peace and Nonviolence

UN General Assembly President Meets World March Spokesperson

Bolivian President Evo Morales Endorses the World March

World March Organizer Speaks at United Nations

World March for Peace & Nonviolence San Diego