It is our goal that the maximum number of people have the opportunity to participate in the March and to help show the world that Americans want peace. Here are a few of the possibilities:

1. Develop a project or initiative in support of the march.

Initiatives can range in scope from forums and arena-size concerts to community potlucks, walks, and poetry readings: however you want to express your desire for peace. Other proposals include: nonviolence film festivals, art exhibits, bike rides, cooking demonstrations, ballroom dance competitions, conflict resolution workshops, prayer vigils, acts of civil disobedience, and neighborhood murals. There is space for everything the imagination is capable of conceiving!

Initiatives can be developed by individuals, community groups, schools, universities, religious congregations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and towns and municipalities. Initiatives are being planed between October 2, 2009 and January 2, 2010, when the international march is underway.

2. Organize or join in a “converging” march as part of the World March. Peace Marches can be planned within cities, connecting cities within the same state, between states, or even between countries (there are already marches planned between Toronto-Buffalo and Vancouver-Sacramento).

3. Promote nonviolence education on October 2, the “International Day of Nonviolence.”

We invite all Americans, but especially parents and teachers, to be involved in “teaching nonviolence” activities on this day. (See “Toolkit for Universities.”)

4. Help to celebrate “National World March Day” on December 2nd.

Find out what plans are underway in your city or state, and if nothing is being planned, help to get something going where you live. These events can be of any shape or size – what is important is that they happen!

5. Welcome the international marchers in New York, Washington, San Francisco or Los Angeles between November 30 and December 3rd.

6. Make a commitment to nonviolence on your daily life.

Nonviolence is not just an organizing tactic, it is also a profound philosophy and an attitude in front of life. Gandhi taught us to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The transformation of violence in society begins with us – in the choices we make and in how we treat others. The time of preparation for the March is a time for all of us to examine how we “live nonviolence” in our own lives.

7. Spread the word!

Help to get the message of the march out to as many people as possible by talking to your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.

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