by admin on October 29, 2009
- US Navy Photo by Cheif Yeoman Alphonso Braggs
A global call to protect the North and South Poles was launched at the Antarctica monument on Mount Victoria by a team of peace walkers who are travelling around the world promoting peace and nonviolence. The World March for Peace and Nonviolence, which started in Wellington on 2 October and is travelling through 90 countries in 90 days, calls for both poles to be declared World Peace Parks in order to ensure that they are not destroyed by conflict, militarism or environmental disasters.
“The Antarctic could be an area of intense territorial and resource conflicts,” said Alyn Ware, Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau. “However, the interested countries negotiated the 1959 Antarctic Treaty which made the region a demilitarized and nuclear-free zone, managed by a cooperative regime. This is a very positive example to the rest of the world. We need a similar regime in the Arctic region where conflicts are heating up, nuclear-armed submarines are on the prowl, and environmental damage is escalating”.
The event featured remarks by the Hon Matt Robson, former New Zealand minister for Disarmament who added that the Arctic peoples have asked for help to protect the Arctic. “They have seen the positive start that we have made with Antarctic Treaty and they want a similar demilitarized and nuclear free zone up north. Alyn Ware and I thus worked with parliamentarians, scientists, indigenous peoples, academics and civil society leaders in Copenhagen last month to draft a declaration to promote the proposal for an Arctic demilitarized and nuclear-free zone.” Robson argued that it is urgent to protect the fragile environment that exists in the Arctic and it must be protected for our future generations.
Kate Smith, from Operation Peace through Unity, stated that “We are calling for the Antarctic and Arctic to be declared a Peace Parks in order to provide absolute protection in this fragile environment” and furthermore that“we invite people to support the Antarctic Peace Park declaration, and to initiate a similar one for the Arctic.” As the peace march travels around the world we are called to support the protection of the Arctic as it carries global importance, the World Peace March will be promoting its appeal in public forums, to key governments and to international organizations including the United Nations, Arctic Council, Nordic Council and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
To read the full article click here
by admin on October 29, 2009
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey in Japan for Assembly of Mayors for Peace
A Nuclear Abolition Torch, lit in Japan on August 5, will be carried around the world on the World March for Peace and Non-violence to promote the abolition of nuclear weapons. The torch was lit from the Hiroshima Flame, a central feature of the Hiroshima Peace Park, in the lead-up to the 64th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of the city. The Hiroshima Flame was lit from the embers of the nuclear explosion in memory of those who perished. It will remain alight until all nuclear weapons are eliminated.
The Nuclear Abolition Torch was re-lit in Nagasaki on August 9 – the anniversary of the nuclear bombing of that city – at a ceremony in front of Te Korowai Rangimarie (The Cloak of Peace) – a sculpture donated by New Zealand to the Nagasaki Peace Park in 2007. The torch is part of the Nuclear Abolition Flame project, which includes both online (virtual) actions as well as actual events around the world to promote nuclear abolition and the achievement of a global nuclear disarmament treaty. Everyone is encouraged to spread the Nuclear Abolition Flame.
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey has brought the torch to Aotearoa-New Zealand for the World Peace March events here. Bob was in Japan for the Assembly of Mayors for Peace – an association of 3000 cities calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons – at which he was elected a Vice-President. Thanks to Mayra Gomez (Bolivia/Aotearoa) who organized the torch-lighting ceremonies.
by admin on September 16, 2009
A global peace movement begins September 17, 2009 and kicks off in New Zealand with the lighting of the Abolition Flame. The Abolition Flame lighting ceremony will take place at Glen Eden Intermediate School in Waitakere, West Auckland and will be carried on The World March for Peace and Non Violence. Mayor Bob Harvey explains that the significance behind the location of the ceremony is to bring the message of peace to youth, “The flame is a message about what kind of world we want these children to inherit…our homes, neighbourhoods and schools are responsible for passing on a peaceful culture.”
The World March for Peace is the first of its kind. The march will literally span the earth calling for the end of nuclear weapons and violence of all kinds. The March will last 90 days and span 90 countries, ending in the Andes Moutains on January 2,2010.
For more information click here
by admin on August 28, 2009
Members of la Maison de Vigilance at the Eiffel Tower, Paris (Photo: www.maisondevigilance.com)
In Paris, the Abolition Flame lighting happed on August 6th, which was during a fast for Nuclear Abolition. Some of us managed to go 7 days with water only, in order to commemorate Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. We were 25 people involved in this fast organized by La Maison de Vigilance de Taverny but with also many other people from Abolition 2000, Mouvement de la Paix, Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire, Pax Christi, Non-violent Movement, etc.
We lit the flame in front of the Eiffel Tower. We stood 7 days at Mur pour la Paix, Champ de Mars, Paris, with a long streamer that said ” ABOLITION DES ARMES NUCLEAIRES”, which is now certainly on all the photos taken by tourists when they shot the Eiffel Tower !!! On our T-shirt is written a simple message - “a nuclear weapon free world is possible”. The flyer we distributed was also brief: ” we want France involved in the nuclear disarmament ! We want a nuclear weapon Convention for the total elimination by 2020! ”
More on our web site www.maisondevigilance.com
Abolition Flame at the Eiffel Tower at night (Photo: www.maisondevigilance.com)
by admin on August 27, 2009
Hiroshima Flame to travel the world for nuclear abolition
A torch to be lit from the Hiroshima Flame on August 5 will be carried on a march around the world 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.
The Hiroshima Flame, which stands in the Hiroshima Peace Park, was lit from the embers of the nuclear explosion in 1945 in memory of those who perished. It will remain alight until all nuclear weapons are eliminated.
The World March for Peace and Non-violence will carry the Nuclear Abolition Flame around the world, starting from New Zealand on 2 October 2009 – the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday – and then travelling through 90 countries involving millions of people in concerts, rallies, exhibitions, conferences and other events along its route. [click to continue…]
by admin on August 27, 2009
In a his June 3 article for Embassy Anthony Salloum discusses what he terms “the renaissance of nuclear disarmament” that has been developing over the past few years, culminating with President Barack Obama’s April 5 speech in Prague in which he said,
“So today, I state clearly and with conviction America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.” [click to continue…]
by admin on August 6, 2009
15th Annual Sadako Peace Day
Thursday August 6
6:00 pm
Sadako Peace Garden
La Casa de Maria Retreat
800 El Bosque Road
Montecito, California
Admission is free. More information at http://www.wagingpeace.org/
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation co-founder and President David Krieger will be the featured speaker at the 15th Annual Sadako Peace Day ceremony.
Dr. Krieger’s theme will be “New Hope for Nuclear Disarmament.” He will discuss the remarkable opportunity for progress provided by new U.S. leadership on the issue, in particular President Barack Obama’s commitment to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
Dr. Krieger is a leading advocate for nuclear abolition and has been working nationally and internationally toward that goal for 27 years with the Foundation.
The August 6th Sadako Peace Day ceremony will also feature poetry from several local poets, including Santa Barbara’s poets laureate emerti, Perie Longo and Barry Spacks.
Bob Sedivy will provide beautiful, evocative music on the shakuhachi, or traditional bamboo flute.
[click to continue…]
by admin on August 6, 2009
Hiroshima Day Commemoration
Thursday, August 6
6:30 pm to 9 pm
Quaker’s Friends House - 91-a 4th Ave, Ottawa
The evening’s activities include:
6:30 pm Make Lanterns
7:30 pm Program with Hiroshima Survivor Kouchi Matsumoto,
Clive Doucet, Paul Dewar
8:15 pm Vigil Walk to Brown’s Inlet - Craig and Homewell in the Glebe
8:30 pm Launch of Peace Lanterns in Brown’s Inlet
Everyone Welcome!
by admin on August 6, 2009
The Halifax Peace Coalition is organizing two events to coincide with Hiroshima Day on August 6th.
Premiere Dartmouth Screening of “The Strangest Dream”
Director Eric Bednarski will be in attendance on Tuesday, August 4th from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Helen Creighton Room, Alderney Gate Public Library, 60 Alderney Drive (Alderney Landing), Dartmouth, for a free public screening of “The Strangest Dream”. “The Strangest Dream” is a new award-winning film about the history of nuclear weapons and the disarmament movement. It profiles nuclear physicist Joseph Rotblat, who worked on the Manhattan Project but then dedicated his life to nuclear abolition and later won the Nobel Peace Prize. This screening is held to commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in August of 1945 and to call for global peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. Director Eric Bednarski, a Halifax-based film-maker, will answer questions after the film. Organized by the Nova Scotia Voice of Women, the Halifax Peace Coalition, and Physicians for Global Survival.
Fifth Annual Peace Day – Thursday August 6th, World Peace Pavilion, Dartmouth
An event remembering the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki in 1945 & the Halifax explosions of 1917 and 1945 at the World Peace Pavilion, Alderney Landing, Dartmouth Waterfront Park (east of the Ferry Terminal) from 3:30-5:30 pm on Thursday August 6th.
A number of activities will be taking place, including paper crane folding from 3:30-4:00pm and painting from 4:00-5:30pm. Event participants include: Joan Smith - Mi’kmaq Drum Song; Kojo, Raging Grannies; Poet and Minute of Silence - Roger Davies; Singers Bob Anthony; David Roback with Sandy Greenberg; Dramatic readings “Childhood Memories” - Halifax Explosion 1917 and Bedford Explosion 1945. All are welcome to this free public event. This event is held to commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan in August of 1945 and to call for global peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. Organized by the Nova Scotia Voice of Women, the Halifax Peace Coalition and Physicians for Global Survival.
Contact Tamara Lorincz, Halifax Peace Coalition
http://www.hfxpeace.chebucto.org/
AbolitionFlame.org 
