ALBUQUERQUE PEACE WALK
Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, after weeks of preparation, we at the gandhi peace walk are proud to announce the completion of our first community walk for peace. Sunday morning I got up and put the finishing touches on the walk. After 4 months on the road and endless planning and organizing my dream of doing peace walks across America was finally becoming a reality. Albuquerque was to be our first. The first of many may I say
We got to the Center for Peace and Justice around 12:45 and set up our table inside with t-shirts, water, and information about the Gandhi Peace Walk. We had designed special t-shirts for the day. After a few last minute details, everything was ready. Now all we needed were some peace walkers and this little story of ours would be complete. I was a little nervous about who would show up or maybe it was who wouldn't show up. I did my best to let go of the expectation remembering a line from a wise friend of mine, "Dermot," he said, " whoever shows up is meant to be there and those who don't aren't." I do my best to remember it often and especially more so today. Around 1:30 we had a crowd of about 20 people outside which suited me just fine. There were souls from all walks of life. I greeted everyone and asked each of them to say hello to someone they did not yet know. I gave an outline of the walk with a few jokes thrown in for good measure. Then my dear friends, we were off and walking. Like a group on a mission to save humanity we walked through the streets saying hello to people, giving the peace sign and even having passersby join us. As we walked, I talked to a lot of the walkers. I asked them about their views about peace and how we could achieve it. Everyone was in fine spirits as we made our way around the Albuquerque university. I remember thinking as I looked out over the crowd, "My God, it's really happening, this is our first Peace Walk." I was so happy my ears were twitching and hair started to sprout from my head.
My dear readers, there was a feeling of such joy and excitement in my heart that I can still feel it today. There were times along this walk when I wanted to give up and go home, but something deeper was calling me forward. Maybe it was just my scorpio stubborness that wouldnt let me give up or maybe it was that part of myself that knows anything is possible when you put your heart and mind on it.
We walked 2 miles around the edge of the campus, ending up back at the Center for Peace and Justice. Then we sat in a circle to have a wee chat about what peace means to each of us. Everyone shared his or her delight about coming out and walking for peace. Michelle, a 10-year-old girl from Albuquerque, started the discussion. She said that this feeling of peace comes from the inside and that if we wanted more peace in the world then we had to look inside first. She pretty much summed up Gandhi's quote about being the change we wish to see in the world. Other people shared ways they found to create more peace in their lives. They agreed that at times it was both frustrating and challenging. Some talked about their disappointment with the way the government is handling the war in Iraq and also the state of the economy right now. I'm sure, Dear Friends, you can all relate. What I loved most about the day was this round chair sharing. It was very touching to hear people talk about peace and how each of us wanted more of it in ourselves and in the World.
For me, the day was a huge success. We were able to bring people together who had never met each other and for a few hours we all walked together as friends and shared our feelings about peace. Something like this seems small, but it only takes one snowball to start an avalanche.
We sold some t-shirts and interviewed people for the peace walk documentary that we are making. Everyone left feeling a little more, dare I say, "peaceful" and a little more hopeful about the future of our beautiful, ever changing planet.
Gandhi said, "real change will not come from the governments of this world, but from the people at a grassroots level." I would agree, and that's why we will walk for peacefull change all the way to Washington D.C
Well, now you have the rest of the story. I hope you enjoyed our newsletter and that you found something inspiring that you can take with you to help on this topsy, turvy road we call life. My Dear Friends, as we say in Ireland, "That's about it mate!"
EVENTS
Peacewalk planned for Amarillo Texas on Sunday, Nov 30th
More info to come.
BIG THANKS
A BIG THANKYOU to all the people who walked with us on Sunday. We are sincerely grateful for your kindness and support. And to Michael Weatherhead our documentarian, we will miss you buddy, thanks for everything. Take care for now :)
GPW Daily Diary
Would you like to know what we get up to on the road?
Go to website for a link to my Daily Diaries and then click on My Blog :)
GANDHI T-SHIRTS
Dear friends we are now selling t-shirts to help with gas and food costs. If you would like to support the walk by buying one, please e-mail me at
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or if you would like to sell five t-shirts in support to some of your friends, we will give you one free for yourself. T-Shirts are 20 dollars. More info will be available on our website in a few days :)
SUPPORT OUR PEACE WALK
The walk is primarily being run on kind donations which are gratefully received at www.gandhipeacewalk.org
or if you would like to make a tax deduction for your donation please mail a check made out to earthways/gandhipeacewalk at 20178 rockport way, Malibu CA 90265. The Gandhi Peacewak is a project of Earthways a non-profit 501(C3) organisation.
Please FORWARD this newletter to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.
Peace and Truth,
Dermot Butterly, aka Gandhi Rollingstone :)
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We invite you to promote peace within yourself and in your Communities.
