7-04-06, 9:03 am
The biggest event of the WPF came on the second day of the gathering, as an estimated 10,000 people marched in the 'Walk for Peace, Justice and Sustainability' to a rally [at] Sunset Beach in Vancouver's west end. (See photos of the walk on page 6.)
The rally was headlined by 'Peace Mother' Cindy Sheehan, who moved many to tears with her powerful call to end the violent U.S. occupation of Iraq now, before the death toll rises even higher. Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq while serving in the US military, embraced Iraqi journalist Nermin al-Mufti and said she shared the pain of Iraqi mothers who have also lost their sons and daughters to war.
Other rally speakers included BC Teachers Federation President Jinny Sims, anti-globalization activist Walden Bello from the Phillipines, progressive Mexican Bishop Samuel Ruiz, Bev Jacobs of the Native Women's Association of Canada, and South African teacher's leader Thulas Nxesi. Buffy Sainte-Marie got the crowd to their feet with a performance of her anti-war anthem, Universal Soldier.
At the opening plenary of the WPF on June 23, Ono Reiko of the Japanese Confederation of A- and H-Bombs Survivors' Organization concluded an emotional address with an appeal for 'No more Hiroshimas! No more Nagasakis! No more Hibakusha! NO MORE WAR!' Several U.S. mayors used the plenary to condemn the Pentagon's bloated military budget.
'I fear that my country, the United States of America, is failing to affect real leadership,' said Jennifer Hosterman, mayor of Pleasanton, California, referring to the responsibility of mayors around the world to take action on national and international issues that affect their communities.
Greg Speeter from Cities for Peace emphasized that local officials must address issues of environmental degradation, poverty, and violence 'with fewer and fewer resources.' Speeter bemoaned the size of the U.S. military budget versus the amount spent on environmental protection, health care, and anti-poverty programs. 'Thirty-one per cent of the children in Chicago live in poverty,' said Speeter. That's up from 25 per cent when the Bush Administration came into power.... The amount of money that Chicago spends on war each year could provide a college education for every high school graduate and build ten schools in the city.'
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, whose pro-business NPA majority initially opposed the WPF when they were elected last November, congratulated current city councillor David Cadman and former councillor Ellen Woodsworth for their efforts in creating the forum. He acknowledged that 'hearing stories of cities that have endured war was a real eye opener for me.'
Alfred Marder, President of International Association of Peace Messenger Cities spoke about 'how millions of voices are demanding an end of the madness endangering our planet'.
Derek Corrigan, the mayor of Burnaby, BC, urged citizens everywhere to pressure their cities to join the 1300-strong Mayors for Peace and help create a global solidarity for world peace.
Buffy Sainte-Marie and Somali-born hip-hop artist K'Naan drew a crowd of over 2,000 to Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre during the WPF for a benefit concert for campaigns to eradicate the antipersonnel explosive devices that kill and maim more than 10,000 civilians a year.
Another highlight was the strong presence of the World Peace Council, which re-launched its 'Peace Messenger' in newspaper format to coincide with the Forum. Speakers from the WPC and its affiliated national organizations took part in a number of forums and panels, and a special seminar featuring top WPC leaders presented the long-standing anti-war group's priority campaigns on global issues. The seminar was the first major public event featuring the newly re-established Canadian Peace Congress, which is now active once again as a WPC affiliate.
Orlando Fundora, Cuban president of the World Peace Council, used the WPF to call for an end to state-sponsored torture in Guantanamo and in Iraq, and to ask all governments to abide by the UN Convention against Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Fundora, a victim of torture at the hands of former Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, presented his demands on June 26, the day that the UN General Assembly has declared as International Day in Support of Torture Victims.
From People's Voice
