After having crossed more than 20 countries, the World March for Peace and Nonviolence stopped over in Paris this weekend. On foot, on bike, on roller skates, by car, by bus, by boat and even to the cinema, the Parisian and international “Marchers” put the emphasis on nonviolence.
On Friday 6th November, the delegation of the international team arrived in Paris. They were welcomed to the Trianon Cinema for the showing of the documentary “Rachel”, which is part of the series “Nonviolence Goes to the Movies”.
After the discussion which followed, in the presence of the director Simone Bitton, several topics were discussed. Amongst them were the use of nonviolent measures in conflict situations and the involvement of young people in the peace cause. In this respect, the Belgian, Pierre Hennico, the youngest Marcher of this delegation, told of his own experience: “Violence is often caused by fear of the Other and nonviolence starts when we overcome fear of the Other”. He claimed that “nonviolence is a culture that’s moving forward”.
On Saturday 7th November, an open tour bus was transformed into the Peace and Nonviolence Bus and crossed Paris with a hundred marchers and organisation members on board, with the aim to make Parisians aware of the 5 manifestos of the march. Alain Ducq, the French spokesman for the March emphasised the goals that concern France the most: “…France must pull their troops out of Afghanistan and close the military bases in Africa and the Persian Gulf; France has to set an example to the rest of the world by respecting the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that was signed in 1992…”
After a stop in front of the Bastille Opera, singer and composer, Graeme Allwright – who attended the launch of the March in Wellington, New Zealand – sang his nonviolent version of the Marseillaise and was joined by Parisians who gathered on the square. For once the Bastille fell for nonviolence!
On Sunday 8tn November, a festive parade made the heart of Paris beat to the rhythm of music and slogans for the peace and nonviolence cause. Batucada and brass bands encompassed the procession made up of about thirty organisations and several hundred well-wishers. The march started on the Place de la République, in the presence of Edgar Morin who came to show his support, and went on to the “Balle au bond” barge at the foot of Notre-Dame where there was a public meeting with the media. For this occasion, the international delegation for the March witnessed key moments experienced during the course of the March. Then the associations presented their initiatives for the 3 month time frame of this global action, and several key figures came to show their support, including the researcher Christian Vélot and Mrs Danielle Mitterrand.
On Monday 9th November, before continuing their journey, the Marchers and the French spokesman, Alain Ducq, met Alain Marc, the Defence Ministry’s chief of staff, to whom they presented the official Manifesto of the March and the 5 actions applicable to France.
*(Translation provided by Heather Armiatge)*
