Thousands formed living symbols of peace and disarmament all over the world
On the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of the war in Iraq, on March 17th, New York, La Paz, Sydney, Rome, Toronto, Mumbai, Bogota, Mexico City, and Nairobi were among the 60 cities in which thousands of people formed gigantic human symbols of peace and disarmament. The manifestations, internationally coordinated by the Humanist Movement, echoed common demands: „Invading troops must be withdrawn. Occupied territories must be returned. Nuclear arsenals must be dismantled.”
Europe saw a particular density of peace symbols. Thousands of people with torches rallied in cities and towns including Rome, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Budapest, Brussels, Zürich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Berlin, Athens and Moscow. The events in Europe also marked the kick-off of the international campaign „Europe for Peace”, which aims to achieve the following goals.
- A Europe without nuclear weapons: to seek the withdrawal, by the United States, of all their nuclear devices that are present in USA-NATO bases and to have them dismantled and the elimination of the French and British nuclear arsenals, as the first steps of beginning the programme of global nuclear disarmament under the supervision of the UN.
- To declare nuclear weapons illegal in accordance with the judgement of the International Court of Justice in 1996..
- The cancellation of any agreement to install or expand the military bases of foreign powers on the territory.
- To withdraw the troops of European countries from occupied territories.
- The search for diplomatic mediation and dialogue to solve conflicts.
Europe for Peace