The World March will begin in Wellington, New Zealand on October 2, 2009, the anniversary of Gandhi’s birth, declared the International Day of Nonviolence by the United Nations.

It will pass through all climates and seasons, from the hot summer of the tropics and deserts, to the icy cold of Siberia and Antarctica.

So why was our Kiwi cousins chosen to kick start the first World March?

· They are a nuclear free nation

· New Zealand was the first country to grant women the right to vote

The first and only country to establish a Minister of Disarmament (the act of laying down arms/ weapons), Hon. Phil Goff

What can we do?

· Teach the ideas of peace and nonviolence through your virtues programme. Ideas such as respect all life, rejecting violence, sharing and listening with others, preserving the planet and rediscovering solidarity (unity, harmony and team spirit)

· Celebrate our many cultures in the Cook Islands and have a Multicultural Day

· Plan and have your own peace walk on 2^nd October 2009; invite people from your schools community to join in, make it a family day

Celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday with a party

The New Zealand website for the World March has a number of fun activities for Peace in the school, workplace and community, check them out www.worldmarch.co.nz:

· Create your own peace circle just like Favona School

· Hold your own peace concert

· Create a peace garden

Design and produce a Peace Flag to fly during the month of October