Nicolás Blanco

More than 500 people congregated in the centre of the city to celebrate the beginning of the World March for Peace and Non-violence. An enormous float for peace, community groups and 106 dissemination stands completed the festive atmosphere. Celebrities such as Maximiliano Guerra, Jorge Marrale, Juan Leyrado, Miguel Cantilo and Raúl Porchetto attended the celebration.

31 August 2009. The Trial Court of Chimaltenango ordered the immediate arrest of Felipe Cusanero Coj, the ex military commissioner responsible for the disappearance of six people from the village of Choatalum during the “internal armed conflict”, and sentenced him to 25 years in prison for each person disappeared. This legal ruling is a landmark in the history of Guatemala.

At the summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to be held in the city of Bariloche, Argentina, Evo Morales, the President of Bolivia, will propose a continental referendum on the establishment of US military bases in Colombia. In recent declarations he has called for a defence of the interests of Latin American peoples.

Spokespersons from the Humanist Movement have planned protests in front of Peruvian embassies to condemn violent tactics used against the Amazon people after the massacre of indigenous people in Bagua brought on by the actions of the Peruvian government.

A few days after endorsing the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, informs the whole country of his decision to support the initiative for nuclear disarmament.

Colombian soccer play, Carlos (The Kid) Valderrama, has endorsed the World March for Peace and Nonviolence inspiring others to participate in his nationally televised video spot asking for the end of wars and for complete nuclear disarmament.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner recently confirmed her support for the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, an initiative of the Humanist Movement. She also said she would be pleased to welcome the marchers when they pass through her country.