The World March for Peace and Nonviolence starts on October 2nd in New Zealand and will finish on January 2nd, 2010 in Mendoza, Argentina. Rigoberta Menchú will be welcoming the march on the Mexican frontier as it passes into Guatemala.

“For me, peace is well-being; it means having food, tranquility and enjoying life (…). This is what’s missing in the world,” she declared. “I’d like to call on all the youth to participate in this movement for peace — to affirm their self worth and their connection with other people. Aside from encouraging all the women to participate too, I’d like to give them this advice: The youth should be made aware that they can change the future of humanity; that they can change the world by participating in an action such as this: a global action for peace.”

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence is a humanist proposal aimed at creating a consciousness of the dangerous state of world affairs, a situation which is clearly marked by possible nuclear conflicts, weapons proliferation, and violent military occupations of foreign territories.

Rigoberta Menchú is a K’iche’ Indian woman who has dedicated her life to peace and justice. With her commitment, she has brought vindication to the indigenous people and peasants by bringing justice to the many genocide victims in Guatemala, and by defending those who have been victims of discrimination and racism.

Winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 enabled her to build the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation where she works on national and international initiatives such as the Indigenous Initiative for Peace. This initiative helps the poorer sectors of society through projects that bring education, production and infrastructure.

Also, Menchú was an active participant in the signing of Peace Agreements in Guatemala between the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca -URNG- (Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit) and the Government of Guatemala. As a result, she was appointed “Good Will Ambassador for Peace Agreements”, a position she held until 2007.

To see the video of her endorsement, go to: