Logbook, from land

Tiziana Volta Cormio, member of the International Coordination team of the Mediterranean Project Mar de Paz, tells us in this logbook, written from the ground, how the first maritime route of the World March was born.

This is what happened: the difficulties, the objectives achieved, the meetings, unexpected things ...

The exit

Our first maritime march. When in September I met Lorenza of the Association la Nave di Carta we had already exchanged a long series of emails to finish the project.

He told me that “everything is different by sea, fascinating but different”.

«Of course» I thought, but only now, fifteen days after the departure of the Bamboo that I understood, I began to understand concretely.

The March at sea, even for those who follow it from land as it is happening to me, is really a unique experience, especially at a time when we are experiencing climate change day after day.

I remember the October 27 in Genoa, the day of the game. It was hot, a heat completely unusual for the time. The Bamboo's crew managed to get on the ship. For me it was the first time, a challenge with myself since my balance was always a bit unstable.

It was a pleasure to meet the commanders, the crew, the demonstrators of peace at sea. Together we think about how to present the exhibitions that would be taken from port to port; The flyers, the final details.

I also found myself sewing an eyelet on the flag of the March.

We had not thought that eyelets were needed to raise the flag on the ship.

And then the meeting with Maurizio Daccà del Galata who offered us the mooring and hospitality in front of the museum.

We thank you for your hospitality before the Galata and by donating the book of the first World March for Peace and Nonviolence we hope it will be the beginning of a collaboration between us, where the sea will be a great protagonist as always.

It is 17.00:XNUMX p.m. The ship must leave earlier than scheduled. A change of weather is coming, it is better to anticipate it. "Hello Bamboo that everything is going as we hope, that you can be that messenger of hope for peace, the beginning of the union between all of us, with whomever you meet on your journey through the Western Mediterranean."

Between Genoa and Marseille

"And it's good that we had to anticipate the harshness of the sea" I think I see the images and videos that come to me on the section between Genoa and Marseille. I'm nervous, and a lot.

I am beginning to wonder if it is worth making those beings in the boat suffer the efforts that they are making. Certainly Peace, certain Non-violence but ...

genova_marsiglia

genova_marsiglia2

And then I receive reassuring phrases, they make me understand that the sea is also this, a continuous confrontation where every moment can be everything and the opposite of everything, where from the white waters you see a dolphin that glides in a serene come and go .

I calm down and let the Bamboo come to quiet Marseille.

Marseilles

It was the last stage we included in our itinerary. There was no point in not touching France. Everything was studied thinking about the encounter with the Peace Boat in Barcelona.

The Olympique de Marseille seemed like a bet, since I didn't know much about the local situation. Martine, who had proposed me to go to Africa, advised me to get in touch with Marie.

When I first heard it, we said to each other “we will try to organize what we can”…. we never listen to songs about peace, so we participate. Simple but very heartfelt moments.

This is the spirit of our trip. We are not looking for “hit and run” moments, but to create the foundation for ongoing dialogue and confrontation.

Barcelona

How exciting to see the photos of children's drawings about peace from all over the world in the Peace Boat room (I immediately address the President of the association "The Colors of Peace" who responds enthusiastically.

Lorenza and Alessandro continue to send me images, videos to keep me constantly up to date, distant but close.

The intersection between the ship and the ship has been a success.

It all started during a conversation with Rafael last July while he was in Milan for the Italian premiere of "The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons."

Now the images of Pressenza's documentary, Accolade 2019 Award, run through that room.

Now Nariko's testimony, Francesco Foletti's photographs that tell the story of the journey through the trees of the Peace of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The famous glaze: on the same day in New York we managed to organize a screening of the same documentary and video exhibition of the trees that survived the atomic attacks of August of 1945. Distant but close.

It was time to rejoice, but unfortunately my mind was elsewhere, Tunisia and the forecast of the bad weather I saw and again the anguish attacked me. What to do?

It was time to rejoice, but unfortunately my mind was elsewhere, Tunisia and the forecast of the bad weather I saw and again the anguish attacked me. What to do? The march at sea is teaching me to be patient, to also guide my emotions, my great fears.

Between Barcelona and ...

Commander Marco had warned me: there will be about 48 hours of radio silence. The sea conditions are complex, but they will try to reach Tunisia.

I spent two nights without sleep. Occasionally I was searching with the ipad www.vesselfinder.com… nothing. Del Bamboo just a location near Barcelona… The sea is always rough.

With the promoter committee of the Second World March, we try to have some moments to coordinate the Tunisian stage. I remembered his first desire to welcome the ship on its way to the Mediterranean.

I send an email and check “An Unexpected Possibility”. From there a continuous signal, when would the Bamboo reappear? At one point, at 4:10 am on Friday the 8th, I send an email “They are already visible in the north-west of Sardinia”, someone answers me.

Where will they stop? I see them in the Gulf of Asinara.

Cagliari

Bamboo arrived in the calm and warm waters of Cagliari on Saturday 9 in November afternoon.

The commander, the crew, the peace walkers at sea exhausted after almost four days of very rough sea, very cold.

He finally stopped at a place to rest and recover.

An unexpected but joyful stage, full of moments of great significance but above all the rediscovery of the human dimension that is so lacking now.

This second World March for Peace and Nonviolence is possible because there are human beings, no matter what they do and what their role. It matters that they put their humanity in the March.

Cagliari3

Cagliari4

Tunisia has been postponed. We will go there before the conclusion of the second World March (March 8, 2020). All contacts will be notified, but in the meantime new possibilities are being opened up with the unexpected stop on Sarda land.

The days pass, time evolves constantly hour after hour, in such an unusual way or rather in the usual way for this moment of great climatic passage.

We are waiting to know what will happen to the new stage, Palermo. We hope everything is as planned.

The children have been waiting for the arrival of the peace boat for months received with open arms by the Naval League.

But it will be the sea that will give us the answers, that friendly and hostile nature, that keeps reminding us of our true dimension.