FROM: "Mark Heley" <markheley@lycos.com> Date: Mar 18 fév 2003 19:20:57 Europe/Paris Objet: London Peace March Répondre à: markheley@lycos.com Yellow Solar Warrior Galactic Moon Alpha 12 London Peace March There has been a feeling in our kin community that there would soon be an event that would strongly bring us together as a positive voice for change in our community. It seemed that the Peace March could be the focus that would ignite people into action about the way our world is run and catalyse a demand for something better. As it turns out, we weren't wrong. Members of the European Caravan, PAN London and Green Angels gathered together the night before the March at the angelspace, home of the Green Angels, in Borough just south of the river near the city district of London. Together there we made banners of peace and a hunab ku flag for the next day. Including one giant one with PEACE in rainbow letters written across the top. Thanks to the generosity of one new kin, Gary Magnetic Dragon, we were also able to have 13,000 Peace Flag flyers printed to distribute as we went along. The banner making workshop was beuatifully harmonious with some kin coming all the way from Totnes in Devon after seeing news of the event on tortuga.com, although some of us only got a couple of hours of sleep before the big day began. Already in the morning the atmosphere of anticipation was tangible in the city. The last demonstration had gotten 400,000 to turn out, but there was nothing like as much public feeling about the absurdity of this proposed war at that point. This time, there had been much more focus in organising and, unlike the last time, coaches from all around England- at least 1500 of them, in fact, - would be bringing people. What would it be like? The prospect was already the biggest demonstration for perhaps 20 years or more , or possibly even in British history. We walked along the south bank of the Thames to one of the two beginning points of the marchand there was already crowded streets and many people long before we reached Blackfriars bridge. When we crossed over to the Embankment, this wide street along the north bank of the Thames was totally full with people holding placards, waving flags, blowing horns and whistles and slowly making their way forward. When we looked back across the bridge the south bank was already almost the same all the way down to the next bridge, half a kilometre down the river, and beyond. And this was only the beginning of one of two assmebly points. The atmosphere was excellent with everyone friendly and the diversity of the crowd was greater than at any other gathering I think I have ever been at. There were families with kids, older couples, organised political groups next to street entertainers. Middle class England, Big Issue sellers, muslims, christian groups, trade unions, the old ,the young, all sizes, all colours. The receptivity to our Peace flyers was truly heartwarming. Everyone wanted one. everyuone was curious about the symbol with the three red dots in the circle. A few even recognise it as the Roerich Banner Of Peace. Everyone I offered one to took one. Some asked for more for their friends, for their homes, for their cars. Even the policemen took them. The one exception was the policemen stationed outside of Downing St.- the home of the British Prime Minister- who I asked if he wanted one. He looked at me and smiled and said, "Yes..., but, no thank you." and winked. I got the message. People were putting the peace flyers in their hats, taping them to their backs, pinning them on their 'No War' placards, waving them in the air. At one moment I looked up around Trafalgar Square from where I was handing out the flyers and all I could see were dozens of banners of peace. Then when we headed down Piccadilly it seemed like hundreds. I know it was only a tiny corner of the whole massive march, but it seemed like everyone had one. The idea was to seed this symbol of the unity of human culture and the positive power of peace into the popular consciousness so that people could see there is another choice beyond just war or 'no war'. The idea worked. People are ready to choose something new. It took us all afternoon to reach Hyde Park and by the time we were there the speakers had finished, but the atmosphere was remarkable. Peaceful, Exuberant, Joyful. People high on people power. Smiling. Dancing. Then making fires out of their placards to keep warm as the sunset. People aren't going to accept this war and that brings joy to my heart beacuse things are changing. I knew intellectually that they would have to, but now I know in my heart they are. Right now. Right here. On this planet. There is an outbreak of peace. An outbreak of humanity and an outbreak of sanity. More than a million on the march. More than 2 million in the park. These are police estimates. 3 million in Rome, 2 million in Madrid, nearly 2 million in Barcelona. Berlin, Paris, Lisboa, Porto, Glasgow, New York, this list goes on. More than 15 million in Europe! Are you listening Mr Blair and Mr Bush? No media based distractions can take away from the truth that this is the greatest single mass movement in all of human history for ANYTHING. All together now: " We don't want your bloody war! We want Peace!" inlakech White Galactic Wind Check out pictures of us on the march at the official website of PAN London, www.wavespell.net