REPORT FROM NYC
Michigan Joins Anti-nuclear & Anti-war Networks for May Day Rally in Central Park
May 2, 2005 by Kim Joy Bergier

“NO NUKES! NO WARS!” were some of the chants as around 40,000 activists from around the world marched by the U.N. to rally in Central Park, Manhattan, New York, in support of strengthening the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Significantly, the two major networks, “United for Peace and Justice”, a WAND partner against the Iraq war and “Abolition Now!”, which advocates what its name implies, united for the first time, to plan this historical demonstration.

May 2 to 28, world leaders and citizens from many countries are at the United Nations to discuss the fate of the beleaguered Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) during its 5 year review conference. As on UFPJ’s web: “ While ignoring their own NPT disarmament obligations, the nuclear weapons states are selectively and hypocritically accusing other nations of seeking nuclear arms.”

The weather warmed up after a couple of rainy days so the spring flowers and flowering trees added to the colorful, nonviolent and positively shared experiences. Some musicians with processional instruments and colorful outfits inspired many of us in the march to dance as we marched over 2 miles through the streets of sky scrapers. Those of us who had attended the Chicago anti-war march and rally on 3-20-04 (where there was an excess of law enforcers) were pleased to see few police, inspite of it being NYC, post 9-11!

After arriving in at Heckscher Ballfields, S.W. corner of Central Park, peacekeepers directed us into a huge human peace symbol (avoiding the muddy ball field) to be photographed from a helicopter view.
Of about 60 to 70 activists from Michigan who were able to make to the May Day Rally in NYC, 51 including this writer, went on an overnight bus organized byWAND member Sigrid Dale. WAND Michigan was among the sponsors of the Buses Against Bombs. Some WAND members from Michigan also went on their own to the May Day Rally, including Joan Israel and her husband Ken. Besides some “usual suspects” from metro Detroit peace organizations, there were 21 new activists, including 11 teenagers (9 from Royal Oak’s Dondero High School) and Judge Claudia Morcom! We met friends from Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (as OREPA is an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the NPT review conference), Kevin Martin (Executive Director of Peace Action) and other peace activists from Michigan.

Highlights including hearing Dr. Helen Caldicott, Daniel Ellsberg, Ray McGovern, and Ann Wright (1st whistleblower after U.S. war on Iraq though having served 30 years in military then as U.S. Diplomat). There were representatives from a dozen countries from around the world and several interactive booths. These included signing colorful banners & a wooden block to be added to International Law Campaign wall. For more information on this growing wall see: www.a-vr.org or e-mail: buero@a-vr.org, phone: 49-6221-58-50-791.

However, what really made this event especially meaningful was to have over 1000 Japanese, lead by Mayor Akiba of Hiroshima, and Mayor Itoh of Nagasaki, including & inspired by around 24 Hibakusha. (Hibakusha literally means the survivors of “hell on earth”. This refers to the survivors of the U.S. atomic bombs that destroyed Hiroshima, on 8-6-1945 and Nagasaki, on 8-9-1945.) Mayor Akiba and Mayor Itoh have launched an “Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons”. They enrolled over 100 Mayors from around the world to come to New York to demand immediate negotiations to eliminate all nuclear weapons under strict and effective international control.

Mayor Akiba in saying that this was the first day of the rest of our campaign, concluded: “We can and must win, so let us win it!” We were encouraged to continue the campaign to have as many Mayors as possible to become “Mayors for Peace”.

First check the list of current Mayors who have signed the statement of support for NPT: www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/mayors/english/campaign/listmayoralstatement For the Mayors’ statement with instructions see: www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/mayors/english/campaign/action3.htm

See also a statement signed by 32 Nobel Laureates, 237 organizations from 40 countries, and 53 members of parliament!