An inspiring journey across the globe has united hundreds of thousands of people in the name of peace.

After travelling 200,000 kilometres, the international team of the World March for Peace and Non-Violence arrived on January 2nd, at the Park of Study and Reflection, Punta de Vacas, in Argentina.

Endorsed by the presidents of Chile and Argentina and actress Penelope Cruz, this landmark initiative was, “the largest manifestation for peace and non-violence in history and the first at a planetary scale,” according to its co-ordinators.

Hundreds of thousands of people have participated in the March, as have more than 3,000 organisations. A group of almost 100 marchers formed different base teams that carried out four distinct routes: intercontinental, Middle East, the Balkans and Southeast Africa. During the 93 days, from when the March began in Auckland, New Zealand, they passed through more than 400 cities in 90 countries.

The 20,000 people who gathered for the closing event, heard addresses from activists who had travelled the globe to spread the message of peace. Rafael de la Rubia, the international spokesperson for the initiative, began by stating that the March was: “building upon other great transformative actions of humanity.”

During the journey, the marchers were received by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, national presidents, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, parliamentarians and hundreds of mayors. The reception from the public was highly enthusiastic, such as when 80,000 youth greeted the international base team at a concert in Chile and 12,000 school children in the Philippines formed a giant peace sign. “It’s an experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” says Gemma Suzara, of the Philippines. “The giant peace sign led me to think, that if we really work together as one body and we believe in ourselves, we can surpass any limit.”

The marchers slept in makeshift homes, Buddhist monasteries and even in an old fallout shelter. There were threats of a tsunami, earthquakes and typhoons, and they walked in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees celcius to below zero.

During the tour, they encountered the effects of violence as they sought to spread their message of change and hope. They met people made homeless by typhoons in the Philippines, families torn apart by wars in Korea and Palestine, as well as visiting memorials to the millions who died in the wars of Europe and Asia. They travelled through places where torture is still being carried out and witnessed the border conflicts between countries such as India and Pakistan.

“On the journey, everything seemed to happen to us, including some moments of great meaning — moments of connection with the people we met, communicating in a way that surpassed language, culture, race and beliefs,” says Rafael.

At the closing event at the Park of Study and Reflection, in Argentina, Bhairavi Sagar from India praised the example of Mahatma Gandhi. She referred to him as the Father of Non-Violence and “a man who dedicated his whole life so that our country achieved freedom and because of whom, I am standing here today as a free, unchained, human being.” Drawing on this inspiration, she added: “Now, it’s my turn to give to the future generations; to put in my bit; to leave them a world worth living, in dignity and happiness.”

Tony Robinson, a World March team member from the UK, travelled with his group through 30 countries. “In Japan,” he says, “we met the Hibakushas — the survivors of the Atomic Bomb. One of them said to us: ‚Äòthank you, thank you … This is so important!’ I was translating her words, while I was also trying not to break into tears … I felt strong empathy with the terrible suffering that the woman had lived through, alongside the feeling of not being worthy of her gratitude.”

The speeches continued and Giorgio Schultze, the European spokesperson of the World March, recalled some of their positive experiences: “We crossed the wall that divides Israel from Palestine. And now, more than 200 social leaders are asking us to help them build a non-violent army, to communicate and open doors towards reconciliation and start a new era of peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Jews.”

When the sun had slipped behind the mountains of the Andes Range, the event came to an end and everybody turned to greet each other with words of peace and joy, sharing in a sense of achievement and purpose.

Contact: www​.theworldmarch​.org

20,000 people gather in Punta
de Vacas to welcome the World March
for Peace and Non-Violence
Photo: copyright Rafael Edwards / Pressenza

Article copyright courtesy of Pressenza
Contact: www​.pressenza​.org