The World March for Peace and Non-Violence started well. Beyond the hundreds of events that took place to celebrate the March, its launch will bring about a change of attitude as well. In Brazil, a historical rivalry was transformed into partnership through the commemoration of the start of the largest ever international pro-peace initiative. Did you ever think you’d see the football fans of Palmeiras and Corinthias together, carrying the same flag?
In fact, this was just what happened during the March of the Invisibles, one of the activities to commemorate the first stages of the World March for Peace and Non Violence base team’s journey that began in New Zealand on October 2nd and will travel through six continents bringing the message of peace and consciousness-raising.
The football fans of Mancha Verde and Gaviões da Fiel together took to the streets and showed their legendary strength in brandishing the flags of the March. Surprised people passing by on the Avenida Paulista took photos in order to record the historical moment. From the buildings along the route, people rushed to the windows and did the same.
At the same moment, fans from Palmeiras and Corinthias expressed a common passion for peace and made a signal contribution by stating that “95% of people in the world are opposed to war, but they are invisible to the ones who hold power. When the “invisible” come together, they become visible even to the eyes of the ones who do not want to see”, explained Samuel Chaves, one of the organizers of the event.
This inspired the sobriquet “the March of the Invisibles”. It proved to be a very apt moniker, for apart from provoking an improbable union, their march incorporated other activists who had already chosen the same day and the same place to demonstrate. The outcome could not have been otherwise: the three demonstrations fused in the formation of the symbol of the Nonviolence.
On the following day, the 3rd of October, representatives from Gaviões da Fiel, did even more to spread the word about the initiative for world peace. They asked the President of the Corinthians, André Sanches, to permit the players of Timão to enter the stadium in Pacaembu bearing the slogan of the World March. With the authorization of its President and led by Ronaldo Fenômeno, the players showed their support for the World March in public during the match against the Athletic Paranaense.
Certainly Marcha Verde won’t be far behind and it is expected that they will also request the Palmeiras players to do the same during the team’s upcoming games.
*(Translation by Miren Maian Samper / Edition by Jenni Lukac)*
