In Wellington, the spokesperson for the March and World Without Wars, Rafael de la Rubia, gave a speech that has already drawn world-wide acclaim from people of widely diverse cultures, beliefs and generations. Numerous activities, projections, and artistic and musical expressions in favor of peace and non-violence took place in schools, streets, squares, halls and cultural centers with the aim of launching this unprecedented mobilization proposal to demand the eradication of nuclear arsenals, the end to all wars and the rejection of all forms of violence.
Pau Segado, Spokesperson for the World March in Spain, was charged with reading the Manifesto of the March in Madrid. In this document, called “An Open Letter from an Ordinary Citizen to the World’s Powerful”, a call is made to all the powers and developing countries with nuclear armament to remind them that “…you will be responsible for the social atmosphere that we breathe in the coming years”.
“We are resolute”, Segado proclaimed, “in working for the disappearance of wars and the elimination of violence. This yearning that the majority of human beings have elevated in their hearts since ancient times today is charged with new meaning hence we are able to be in tune as one voice across the planet….We want a world without armed aggression, without invasions, where military spending is reduced. Let’s give a new direction to military budgets targeting them for the benefit of civil society which needs it so much!”
In his speech, Rafael de la Rubia thanked all those who have made it possible for the March to begin “…in a soft way, without resources, without support of the powers that be, or companies, through word of mouth…” The organization World Without Wars began the movement which in a short time attracted the support of hundreds of organizations. The spokesperson had a word for the Humanists, for the worldwide network of Mayors for Peace, for Federico Mayor Zaragoza of the Cultural Foundation for Peace, for the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament, for the Network Abolition 2000, the Summit meeting of the Nobel Peace Laureates, and the thousands of intellectuals, artists, scholars and sportspeople who have joined the initiative alongside presidents, mayors and spiritual leaders. He also mentioned M. Gandhi and M. Luther King as the greatest promoters of non-violence, and Mario Rodriguez Cobos (Silo), the creator of Universal Humanism.
But it is the special support and adhesion of the thousands of people from varied cultural, ideological and generational backgrounds demonstrated all over the world that has really made it possible that “…for the first time in history in a common cause: a great march…will go around the world moving the human consciousness and the heart…”
Photos Press Conference, Madrid:
Photos Press Conference Barcelona:
Photos celebration Madrid:
Photos Wellington:
Videos Wellington:
In Spanish:
Quality downloads:
*(Translation provided by James Williamson)*
