In the context of the 3rd World March for Peace and Non-Violence, two events were organised in Prague, Czech Republic.
They were organised by the co-operation of several organisations.
On 10 November, a documentary video from the Ficnova festival – ‘Balcan Blues’, on the topic of reconciliation after war, was screened at the Opent Tibet House. In a positive atmosphere, speeches followed on the theme ‘How to achieve peace’. Peace, a word that is forbidden in Europe today!
On 11 November, again in Prague, in the Old Town Square, artists from different cultures and countries performed. There were numerous participants despite the severe cold.
A Request – Prayer for World Peace was made, led by Simona Hertusova of the Pravíkov Study and Reflection Park, together with members of different religions and even atheists. It was a profound and moving experience, showing how the rift between different cultures and beliefs is sometimes intentionally created to divide people.
The intervention of Rafael de la Rubia, initiator of the March, was very interesting: ‘We distinguish between different types of violence. Not only physical violence, but also economic, racial, religious, gender, generational, psychological and moral violence….
In general, we see that there are people interested in taking positions to extremes and creating social conflict. They live on conflict and their highest expression is war. We will have to decide, each of us, whether we want to live in a world where conflicts increase, or whether we want to live in a world where we learn to cooperate. Conflict leads to self-destruction. The future opens with cooperation’.
The March will continue in the Czech Republic with various activities until 5 January with an event at the Pravíkov Study and Reflection Park, while it will officially end in Costa Rica.