Peace For Prosperity – Support The VPA Peace March & Rally, March 8, 2009, Kingston

We are seeking your support in organizing a group of your organization’s members to participate in the Peace March and Rally, scheduled for Sunday, March 8th, 2008. The March will begin at 3 pm from three routes (Police Officers Club, Eastern Peace Centre & Cross Roads)

Since 2005, The Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) has partnered with PALS (Peace and Love in Society) to strengthen and expand the peace movement in Jamaica through an annual Peace Campaign to promote a message of peace and provide tangible manifestation of the strength of the peace movement across the island.

For the 2009 Peace for Prosperity Campaign, we request that you adopt the peace campaign theme “Peace for Prosperity – Invest in our Children – Invest in Our Future”, and incorporate peace-building activities within your organization’s existing community outreach programmes and events for 2008.

During the week of March 1 – 8, we are asking that your organization spearhead a major focus on peace building among the public so badly affected by violence in the country.

Proposed activities include :

• Wearing something blue
• Tying blue ribbons to car antennas
• Distribution of flyers/ leaflets
• Participation in a Peace March on Sunday March 8th at 3.00pm.  The march for Kingston will culminate at Stadium Car Park.

A number of community activities will also take place throughout the month of March, including sporting and cultural activities, forums targeting violence prone communities as well as school based activities carried out by PALS and the Citizens Education Programme (CEP).   The calendar of activities is attached.

The annual peace campaign brings together all agencies and stakeholders to provide a tangible manifestation of the strength of the peace movement.  It is also a time for all organizations to bridge the divide and work together for one common cause. 

We hope that your organization will be able to participate and support especially through the provision of educational material for distribution. The planning committee meets at 13 Gibraltar Way on Fridays at 10 am and we welcome the attendance of your representative at these meetings to ensure this campaign’s success. Please contact Jaevion Nelson at 702 2079 or email jaevion.nelson ATT gmailDAT.com or Julia Manderson 702 2079 for further information and/or to discuss your involvement.

PEACE MARCH FOR MARCH 8

Following Peace Day on March 3, there will be a major march for peace in Kingston on Sunday March 8th in which communities, civic groups, churches, business entities and the general public are invited to participate.

The routes for the march are as follows:

1. Police Officers Club →  Trafalgar Road →  Lady Musgrave road →  Fairway →  Stanton Terrace →  Herb McKinley Drive →  Stadium Car Park
2. Eastern Peace Centre on 121 Windward Road → ( coming from Bellevue Hospital) → Up Mountain View along Arthur Wint Drive→Stadium Car Park
3. Cross Roads → Caledonia Road → Tom Redcam → Stadium Car Park

The march will end at the Stadium Car Park and parking will be available at the Police Officer’s Club.