Peace Train Canada

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Peace Train Canada leaves Vancouver for Ottawa on November 15, 2024 carrying a group of peace seekers. Tracking across this great land, the iconic train will unite Canadians across the country committed to the basics of justice, freedom, security, and well-being for all people.

(Google “Peace Train Playing for Change” to hear our theme song.)

Peace Trainers want to inspire our leaders to re-invest in Canada as an independent, intelligent, diplomatic middle power that is willing to:

• Uphold justice and self-determination as the foundations of security

• Name and address the true causes of violent conflict

• Help create the conditions for preventing war; de-escalating violence; conflict resolution, and post-war reconciliation and rebuilding.

The spirit of the Peace Train is carried not only by “peace trainers” riding the train but also by “peace trackers” – the thousands of individuals and peace organizations linked in and on board, virtual car after car, supporting the train from where they are.

The Peace Train project is not a protest but an effort to lift up all those who will rise to the current global challenges of resisting polarization, rampant self-interest, and an industrial war machine that is out of control.

If we don’t want war we must prepare for peace. Waging peace is not a neutral, passive aspiration, but a high-intensity engagement requiring fearless determination in the face of asymmetrical power structures that breed trauma, injustice, and immense human suffering.

The nature and scale of human generated conflict and climate disruption is a call to examine our shared values and potential. We can do better. The only way out of our assured destruction is to enable mutually assured freedom, stability, and security. As Romeo Dallaire says, “Let’s be very clear; the era of “the other” is over.”

CANADA’S PEACE BUILDING LEGACY AND FUTURE

We have an honourable history of peace efforts in Canada. In 1957, Lester Pearson received the Nobel Prize for his work in helping create the first United Nations peacekeeping force. Canadians came to identify the nation's peacekeeping role as the country's top contribution in international affairs.

Canada’s participation in UN peacekeeping missions has declined since the 1990s. In December 1992, Canada contributed 3,825 personnel to UN peace operations. In contrast, only twenty-two military personnel are deployed today. The Federal government progressively withdrew financial support for the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre until closing it on November 28th, 2013.

We call upon our government to re-establish a center of excellence for peace and justice and to re-establish Canada’s role in the world as a peace-maker.

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PROJECT TIME TABLE

Nov 15 Peace Train (Via Rail Canadian) leaves Vancouver, picking up supporters and holding events at various train stops across the country.

Nov 19-20 Peace Train arrives in Toronto and connects with Corridor trains to Ottawa.

Nov 20-21 Meetings with organizations, politicians, and officials

Nov 22-23 As many people as possible from Windsor, London, Toronto, Kingston, Montreal and Quebec City take the Corridor Train to link up with us in Ottawa for public events on Parliament Hill.

Supporters can join us on the train anywhere along the route or join us in Ottawa by other means (plane, bus, auto). Even if you cannot join the train, there are many different ways to contribute. We need musicians, poets, media techs, letter writers, political and spiritual leaders, artists, journalists, filmmakers, and other peace advocates.

For more information go to:

Facebook: Peace Train Canada

Webpage: www.peacetraincanada.com

Gofundme: Peace Train Canada