On March 2, 2009 (Monday) The Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc. participated in the public launching of the WORLD MARCH FOR PEACE & NONVIOLENCE campaign & network in the Philippines.
The network of participating peace organizations and interfaith communities assembled around 8:00am in the morning at the Peace Bell area of the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Among these were: World Without Wars (the campaign secretariat); Ang Komunidad (Humanist movement); Sowing Peace network; Binhi ng Kapayapaan, Inc.; GZO Peace Institute; GenPeace network; Interfaith Center for a Culture of Nonviolence; Peace Rainbow Mission; Rotaract, SangHabi, Inc.; Integral Arts Metta, Inc.; UP Kontra-Gapi; BMP; KPML; and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna).
With high spirits & strong determination the group proceeded with the march along Quezon Avenue despite the drizzle that started to fall from the thick clouds covering the sun that day. Armed with color flags, organizational banners, and just a few umbrellas the group marched counter-flowing the traffic on the rain-blessed highway chanting "Bawat Hakbang Para sa Kapayapaan" (each step for peace) to the tune and rhythm of Hare Krishna drums, cymbals and several indigenous Cordillera flat gongs.
At the Bantayog ng mga Bayani the group proceeded with forming the human peace sign. This was followed by interfaith prayers led by The Peacemakers' Circle and representatives from different faith traditions, namely: indigenous, Hindu, Tibetan Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic Christian, and Vaisnava (Hare Krishna).
After a short solidarity message from the convening organizations, several organizations expressed support and endorsement for the campaign. The Declaration of the World March for Peace & Nonviolence was then read together led by several representatives from the different sectors present. This was followed by a public signing of the World March Covenant on a tarpauline banner.It was a simple yet profound launching event that left everyone with cheerful smiles, peaceful hearts, and an eager anticipation of the succeeding peace activities that will gather them (and many more to join) together as these build up to the big event later in October. During that time the international delegates will be arriving in Manila for the third leg of the first and longest peace journey in the globe today, the World March for Peace and Nonviolence.
See more photos of this event here
Watch the Youtube video clip:
Check out: www.martsamundo.net (for local events) and www.marchamundial.org (for international events)
