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AN APPEAL
Coordinating Council of the Club of International Marine Brotherhood (CIMB)
(peacemaking international - patriotic public organization)
May 28, 1996 Nakhodka
Brothers and Sisters!
In July 1992, our organization made an attempt to implement an "International Peace March" from Nakhodka, through cities of Russia and former Soviet republics, to the war zone of Pridnestrov'ye. During those days, the "Nakhodka Worker" published an article containing: our opinion about the situation that had developed there; a description of our goals and tasks which we wanted to achieve during this march of people's diplomacy, a non-violent, citizens' peacemaking action; and a request to all businesses and organizations, to all citizens, to help with donations.
In the former USSR nationality conflicts were already blazing, and in that article (interview) were the words, "If we don't come help our neighbor put out the fire today, then tomorrow the fire may come to our house". At that time, a symbolic "Peace Camp" stood in the center of town for several days, the third up to that time. People expressed understanding, but in everyone was felt a certain "far east" aloofness from the problem, which seemed particularly "far west". The International Peace March did not take place. We had almost no funds, not a kopeck was given in donations....
Time passed, more stormy for our country. Time and again and with serious cause we continued our work in the city and outlying regions. Know that we did everything that we had the strength to do.
During those years "in the west" (as we say seaside), only already closer, in Chechnya, criminal incidents had grown into a civil war, the "reckonings of the politicians" resounded in the clanking of the tracks of "federal" tanks. And coffins began arriving at the homes of our seaside families. FROM THERE.
CHECHNYA....even in the kitchen it seems, people are tired of arguing about who is right or wrong in this war. The question of using violence on her land should be closed on principle. Allegorically, the interests of the opposing sides, "plusses" and "minuses", have capitally fused, have even melted together at points of contact. The current of the war can flow endlessly in the battery of death it has formed. PEACE can be established on the basis of goodwill, on the basis of negotiations. And in order that this finally become reality, this current must be stopped by inserting into the circuit of violence not a semi-conductor of the "peacemaking forces" type, but a non-conductor, an insulator, a kind of NEUTRAL matter.
Only UNARMED PEOPLE of various nationalities, faiths, coming from varied countries and territories of the Earth, but identical in their sincere and convinced refusal to accept war as a possible solution to the problem, can become this NEUTRAL, PEACEMAKING medium. They must be PEOPLE OF GOODWILL, PEOPLE WITH PEACE IN THEIR HEARTS. And it is very important, that they not wear the faces of GOVERNMENTS or NATIONALITIES, representing Yeltsin or Dudaev, but only themselves, creations of God, endowed with FREEDOM, CONSCIENCE, and COMPASSION.
With these thoughts today begins with us, but with you the new "International Peace March", Nakhodka- Chechnya, will continue, and God grant that it not meet with failure. Quite naturally, not every one of you, for various reasons, can take direct part, but you can show your solidarity by assisting with all the means at your disposal in spreading the news, in transportation, in donations, sharing what you can, money or things that will be essential on such a long road and for a task that is far from simple. And in Chechnya itself, food, medicines, and other things are needed today by many.
As one Chinese wise saying goes: "The road of a thousand li begins with the first step." And it has been made. Let our path west be good, following the sun. Let its rays shine love on us and
LET THERE BE PEACE IN YOUR HOME!
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THE LIFE ARMY (pr.) IS LOOKING AT AMERICA