NZ launches world peace march
23 Sep 2009
A 90-day World March for Peace involving millions of people in nearly 100 countries is to take its first steps in New Zealand - the country recently affirmed by the Global Peace Index (GPI) as the most peaceful nation on earth.
The march will officially begin in Wellington on 2 October - United Nations International Day for Non-violence, and the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
Events are being held throughout New Zealand to coincide with the World Peach march, and celebrations surrounding the start in Wellington will set the scene for a series of concerts, festivals, forums, and demonstrations as it travels the globe.
Peaceful New Zealand
The World March for Peace and Non-violence is run by Mundo sin Guerres (World without Wars), an international organisation working to prevent war and promote non-violence.
New Zealand was chosen as the starting point for the world march in honour of the country’s history of peace activism and accomplishments, according to Rafael de la Rubia, Mundo sin Guerres founder and international spokesperson for the march.
"We chose New Zealand because it is the first country to grant women the right to vote, to legally ban nuclear weapons, and the first and only country to establish a Minister for Disarmament, so we are pleased at the recognition now given to New Zealand by the Global Peace Index," de la Rubia said.
According to the GPI - an independent analysis of 144 countries using 25 concrete indicators - New Zealand ranks first because of a number of factors including its peaceful foreign policy, relatively low rate of violence, restrictions on weapons and low level of military expenditure.
World Peace March
World Peace March has been endorsed by seven heads of state, other international figures including former US president Jimmy Carter, Queen Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan, Nobel laureates the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu,United Nations Development Program head Helen Clark, and celebrities like Penelope Cruz, Jane Fonda, Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Pete Seeger, Lou Reed, Yoko Ono, Pedro Almodóvar, and Zubin Mehta.
Sarah Onyango, the grandmother of US president Barack Obama, has also backed the march and asked others to support the initiative.
Onyango says she shares the ideas of her grandson who has initiated a path of dialogue and nuclear disarmament.
"The World March should involve the young, the old and even the orphans and should be a turning point to developing everyone.
"I hope everyone will come together and take responsibility for transforming the world into a world without wars and a world with abundant openings of reconciliation and prosperity," said Onyango.
Wellington celebrations
The Topp Twins, New Zealand’s popular musical and comedy duo, will perform at a special concert at the start of the march in Wellington.
Jools and Lynda Topp are just back in New Zealand after winning the People’s Choice section of the Toronto Film Festival for their film The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls.
The twins have been at the forefront of New Zealand peace activism for 30 years - adding humour and music to campaigns to abolish nuclear weapons, end apartheid, protect the environment and promote understanding.
The concert will also feature performances by Sala-Marlene Taylor, winner of the national secondary schools’ Peace Song competition, Shagufta Zia (Pakistan), Jesse Rivest (Mexico), Graeme Allwright (France) and Carlos Navae (Canada), along with a special video message from Tara Gandhi, grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi.
Campaign core group
A core group of 25 peace campaigners will follow the march including 46-year-old Juanita McKenzie, a mother of five from Lower Hutt, near Wellington.
After the start, McKenzie will fly to Australia, India, Asia, Russia, Europe, Africa, the United States and the Andes in South America.
The marchers will cover about 10km every day by foot, and use other forms of transport as they complete their whistle-stop tour of 45 countries in three months.
Mrs McKenzie says peace campaigns and demonstrations are in her blood - she and her mother were both arrested for protesting against the 1981 Springbok tour.
Her five children aged 5 - 19 were very supportive of her plan, McKenzie said. "They say, ‘Mum you’ve got to do it’. I think it might be good for them."
Auckland peace dragon
In Auckland, a rainbow peace dragon formed from the sails of the Greenpeace flagship, the Rainbow Warrior - bombed in Auckland harbour by the French Secret Service in 1985 - will also make a rare appearance to commemorate the World March for Peace.
The dragon will be carried along the Auckland Peace Heritage Walk, stopping at Marsden Wharf beside the Rainbow Warrior mural.
Recovered from the wreckage at Marsden Wharf, the sails feature whale’s blood and nuclear-free symbols. They have been recycled into a constructive symbol of peace.
The walk will be part of an Auckland Heritage Festival event on Sunday (27.09.09).
Peace flame
A torch lit from the Hiroshima peace flame and re-ignited at a ceremony in West Auckland, will also be carried on the World March for Peace.
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey originally lit the Nuclear Abolition Flame at the Hiroshima Peace Park where the flame burns in memory of those who perished in the 1945 nuclear explosion.
The torch will be carried to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons - ending up at the United Nations in May 2010 for a major inter-governmental conference on nuclear non-proliferation.
More information:
New Zealand lights torch for peace
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