YAW Handover event
March 1st, 2004
Ottawa, ON
It was a sunny and slightly chilly day in March when Ottawa youth volunteers were preparing for the Youth Against War signature handover event. Volunteers from the Youth Mine Action committee had been preparing for months planning the event, collecting and counting signatures from all over the world, and anticipating the arrival of Song Kosal. We were all very excited when the day finally arrived!
As students gathered at the University of Ottawa to start the YAW signature handover procession, the energy was electric. The first 20 in the procession carried signatures in green boxes and wore number cards representing the number of signatures they were carrying. Media were buzzing around taking photographs of participants and interviewing volunteers. The group attracted a lot of attention, gaining people and support as we waited for the start.
At 5.00pm bells rang out across the city at churches, heritage buildings, and the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament buildings - this marked the beginning of the march. The procession, led by Rehana Tejpar (an Ottawa youth volunteer) walked slowly along main streets full of rush hour traffic, over the Rideau Canal, where we met Song Kosal. We were stopped many times along the way by passers by lending us encouraging words and in some cases joining our walk to show their support. Kosal led the procession to the Tribute to Human Rights in downtown Ottawa where a crowd was already gathered ready for the ceremony.
Eva Morrison (Youth Mine Action Ambassador at Mines Action Canada) opened the ceremony, thanked everyone for attending and introduced guest speakers. Elodie, Button, a university student and long standing volunteer with the Ottawa Youth Mine Action Committee, described her involvement with the issue and introduced her friend and the treaty founder Song Kosal.
Song Kosal herself is a landmine survivor after losing one of her legs in a landmine incident at age 7 in Cambodia. She started the Youth Against War Treaty when she was 12 years old in an effort to help youth have a voice on this important humanitarian issue. Song Kosal brought much of the audience to tears while sharing her story, her message, and her drive as the ICBL Youth Ambassador. While she spoke the mood was solemn and still as everybody was hanging off her every word.
Following Kosal, Mia Raic and Josipa Dorvak (two Ottawa Youth Mine Action volunteers, both from mine-affected countries) explained the reason YAW chose India and Pakistan as recipients of the signatures. Landmines have been laid along the Kashmir boarder between these two countries. In light of their recent peace talk, we want to show our support of their inclusion of landmines in these discussions. The procession then walked up one by one to place the boxes of signatures between empty chairs with flags of India and Pakistan. As we read the number of signatures in each box from the placards the procession wore, Mia and Josipa read names of countries from where the signatures originated.
Simultaneously, candles were lit and carried by each audience member and the procession representing their support and commitment to Kosal's message - "We want no more war, we want no more landmines, we want no new landmine victims, and we promise to work for peace in the world."
In total, over 20,000 signatures have been collected form 75 countries around the world. In closing, Eva encouraged India and Pakistan to include landmines in their peace talks and for their commitment to no-use as a confidence building measure.
It was an honour and a privilege to meet Song Kosal. She exudes and energy of honesty and peace that affects everyone she meets. She truly is a remarkable person. I would like to also say thank you to Jesse Baltutis, Elodie Button, Monique St-Jean, and Rehana Tejpar of the Ottawa Youth Mine Action Committee, with special thanks to Rob Bechamp and Alfred Kanagasingham for assembling the signatures and to Mia Raic and Josipa Dorvak for embracing the importance of this handover and their commitment to planning the event.
Overall, the feeling of the day was positive and supportive. A strong message of support was sent to the governments of Pakistan and India by 20,000 youth from 75 countries around the world.
Thank you all for your continued support - together we make a difference.
Eva Morrison
Youth Mine Action Ambassador
Mines Action Canada
