Activists walk for ‘day of peace’

BY BILL BRADLEY

Criticism of Canadian involvement in Afghanistan erupted at Tom Davies Square during the celebration of peace Sunday.

Organized by the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association and the Sudbury Interfaith Dialogue, the event featured speeches, candle lighting, a moment of reflection and the Sudbury Youth Singers with David Buley. Almost 60 people showed they cared about making the world a more peaceful place by walking from a peace rally at Memorial Park downtown to Tom Davies Square.

United Church minister Edwin M. Erion made a number of poignant comments about the war in Afghanistan where more than 90 Canadians have died in the conflict. The minister said Canadians he talked to still thought the armed forces were peacekeepers and not designed for active combat as in Afghanistan.

“Our forces should be standing between opposing forces to ensure peace, not fighting themselves. That is the history of our troops, whether in the Golan Heights or Cyprus,” said Erion.

Lets give peace a chance, he and others speakers said at Tom Davies Square Sunday afternoon on the International Day of Peace.

“This is out third year celebrating this international day of peace. It was begun by a United Nations resolution in 2001,” said organizer Niranjan Mishra with the multicultural organization.

“We want people and their children to think about peace wherever they are so there will not be violence anywhere,” said Mishra.