The first American meeting of World without Wars and without Violence to organise the 3rd World March for Peace and Nonviolence (3MM) took place in San José, Costa Rica, on 18 and 19 November, at the headquarters of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED).
By Giovanny Blanco Mata
The activity took place in a bimodal, face-to-face and virtual form, during which representatives from 14 countries (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Spain) were exchanged,
Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Spain). Rafael de la Rubia attended from Spain and Cecilia Flores from Chile.
The two-day event was attended by 54 participants from humanist, non-violent, human rights, trade union, trade union, inter-religious, artistic, educational and university organisations.
The meeting framed the organisation of the 3MM, highlighted the actions that we aspire to repeat from previous Marches, as well as prepared plans to organise actions by country and continent, with a view to this global action that will start from Costa Rica on 2 October 2024 and arrive on 5 January 2025.
Eight work groups were formed: five virtual and three in person, which presented their conclusions and proposals; from promoters for nonviolence in schools and social networks, university forums, to the creation of community mats and itinerant notebooks for peace, were some of the various initiatives that were registered in the synthesis of the meeting.
In addition, an American Promotion Team was formed, which will have the function of coordinating and articulating continental initiatives. The work commissions of Networks and Dissemination, Regional Actions, Translation, Manifesto, Register and Memory were created.
The participants agreed on the importance of involving more countries and cities in the organisation of the World March, as well as promoting the integration of more young people, organisations, women, indigenous peoples and other historically excluded sectors.
The participating organisations were: World without Wars and Violence from Spain, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. The Community for Human Development of Argentina; the Centre for Humanist Studies of the Americas; Silo’s Message; the State Distance University of Costa Rica; University of the People of Mexico; Word Beyond War; College of Psychologists of Peru; Circles of Nonviolence and White Brigades of Peru; Parks of Study and Reflection of Paravachasca, La Reja, El Retiro Rio de Janeiro, El Remanso, Joquicingo and Las Nubes; Servicio Paz y Justicia Latinoamérica; Red de Solidaridad con Palestina; Sociedad Juglar Pacuacua; Territorios Seguros; Foro Interreligioso; Comunidad Transformación; Iglesia Luterana; Centro Cívico por la Paz de Heredia; Mesa Nacional de Dialogo Social y Productivo; Movimiento Estudante de Secundaria y Universitaria
and University Students’ Movement and the Viva la Paz Festival of the Municipality of Montes de Oca, Costa Rica.
To come together and advance in what unites us, articulating actions and creating alliances with the organisations, universities and institutions that have already joined in supporting the 3MM, is the great challenge that we will precipitate as organisers and promoters of this planetary mobilisation.
Our invitation is to continue to add more voices from all over the Americas so that in the face of the urgency of these times, we unite today more than ever and together we continue to walk, embracing our common objectives of peace, justice, defence of human rights and promotion of active nonviolence.
