The May 2 Rally & March for Nuclear Disarmament, Peace and Human Needs
Culminated with the
International Peace & Music Festival
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 47th Street, between First and Second Avenues

MUSIC * ART FOR KIDS * INFORMATIONAL TENTS AND TABLES * EXHIBITS *STORYTELLING

On Sunday, May 2nd, the Rally and March culminated with a vibrant, dynamic, fun International Peace and Music Festival. Over 50 organizations displayed their literature and networked with the thousands of people who attended.   There was a tent where people had the opportunity to talk with survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In addition, Sakue Shimora, a survivor of the bombing of Nagasaki, spoke from the stage. We also had a fabulous line up musicians and storytellers from around the world. Click here for bios! Scroll down for information too about the inspiring exhibits.

MUSIC –

• Earthdriver – a New York City based world funk band
• Matters – an international group of musicians from the US, France, Japan, Italy and India that bring a message of peace and hope.
• Cacibajagua Taino Cultural Society – an inter-Tribal, inter-generational community of indigenous Caribbean singers, musicians, and artists
• The Drummers for Peace of Japan – a renowned group from cities all over Japan to perform who inspire all efforts for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament.
• Utagoe Chorus of Japan – spread peace songs at grass-roots, contributing the struggles for peace.
• Catherine Lecoq – a renowned actress and singer from France
• Deux Ex Machina (Divine Intervention) – an International group, featuring SahjKaya, whose music is a mix of Reggae music, African percussion & rhythms with song and Spoken Word

STORYTELLING

Under the International Peace Dome, storytellers entertained and inspired the crowd.

Kumosuke Kubo, a well known storyteller from Hiroshima told a story about ants that keep harassing all the US presidents ever since 1945. The ants are punishment for evil deeds done and never acknowledged.

Hortencia Colorado, Chichimeca Otomi, is co-founder of Coatlicue Theatre Company. Through their work they give voice to their experiences as Indigenous women addressing social and political struggles and weaving them with traditional stories.

BunKen Nagano performed the poem “A Thousand Winds” with classical guitar. BunKen is a musician and poet who plays notes full of graceful gentleness that resonate with truth.

The Aogiri Club – The Society of A-bomb Aogiri’s Dream shared the story of hope of the Aorigi trees that grew back quickly in Hiroshima despite the belief that there would be no vegetation for 75 years after the bomb.

ART FOR KIDS AND GROWN-UP KIDS – The Pikadon Project facilitated the creation of Postcards for Peace.  The postcards had an image of a mushroom cloud transformed by artist Seitaro Kuroda into a vessel of peace. Beautiful artwork was created that be sent to a peace festival that is taking place in Hiroshima.

EXHIBITS –

A pyramid of boxes containing millions of petition signatures from around the world that will be delivered to the UN was displayed.

Wooden Blocks from Hiroshima inspired people with its messages of peace.

The Abolition Flames that have been carried around the world were also on display.