COAT's Global Appeal 'No more violence!'
In the wake of September 11, the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) created a web site containing a global appeal and pledge of nonviolence. This appeal, that could be signed online, was initiated in an effort to help mobilize global understanding and support for nonviolence.
One of the most interesting aspects of this appeal is that everyone who signs on is able to enter a short comment. It has been really interesting to scroll through the growing list and to see where people are from, what organizations they belong to and to read their peace messages from all over the world.
During its first ten days, more than 10,000 people, from 105 countries, endorsed the appeal/pledge online! At present, about 16,000 from about 120 countries have signed.
The appeal is now available in seventeen languages: Croatian, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Czech, Dutch, Esperanto, Estonian, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Macedonian, Polish, Serbian and Spanish.
Please encourage friends, family, colleagues, politicians, NGOs, media contacts and others to endorse the appeal!
Text of the Global Appeal/Pledge
Deeply saddened by the suffering and deaths of thousands in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, we, people of many different backgrounds from around the world, join with millions of others to denounce these latest acts of terror against innocent civilians. We believe that military retaliation in response to this mass murder will only accelerate the cycle of fear, anger and violence.
We urge our political and religious leaders to heed our appeal for nonviolence. We will not be swayed by calls to support further violence. We will respond to cries for revenge with caring, calm and reason. Violent retaliation and war will only lead to greater losses of life. This, in turn, will only serve to breed more anger, hatred and terror.
Instead, we support the rule of international law. The perpetrators of these crimes, and all other crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and war crimes, should be brought to justice. No individual, group or government should have immunity from international law.
As we mourn for those whose lives were lost on Sept. 11, 2001, we also mourn for all those around the world dying from the violence inflicted by terrorism, war or the lack of food, medicine, water and housing.
Pledge of Nonviolence
Standing firmly together, we will embrace nonviolence to stop the cycle of violence from spiraling even further out of control. We join in solidarity with others around the world to build our common security through disarmament, dialogue and social justice - not through violent attacks and military might.
We pledge ourselves to support nonviolence as the way towards a peace with justice.
Source: <http://www.flora.org/coat/>
Thanks! Technical support for creating, maintaining and hosting COAT's global appeal/pledge for nonviolence was made possible by generous volunteer help from: Krishna Bera, Mike Gifford, Paul Gross and Russell McCormond.