Worldwide Vigils to take place -
Global Vigil for the Global Village


For Immediate Release
Friday, 07 January, 2004

Issued simultaneously in San Francisco, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Hamburg, Brisbane, Grand Canary Island, Copenhagen, Zagreb, Vienna, Geneva –

Global Vigils will take place on Sunday, 9 January, Monday, 10 January and Wednesday, 26 January 2005 in cities across the planet.

The earthquake and tsunami hit Asia on Sunday December 26th, 2004. We did not mourn immediately because we knew so little. Soon, a fuller understanding of what happened crossed our consciousness. We realised that the earthquake and tsunami HAD hit Asia – but it had also hit the whole world.

Some municipalities around the world and, to a lesser extent, some countries, have observed vigils. While we applaud these efforts, we feel more is needed. We have seen a trauma delivered to the earth and to humans like no other in recent memory.

Towards that end, we need to pause, reflect, grieve, ponder, and heal. And we need to do this on a global scale. We need to connect and reconnect. With our neighbours next door, neighbours across the border and neighbours across the continents.

Why? Because the world must catch its breadth. And because each individual needs to say, "I must catch my breadth." This Global Vigil isn't about death tolls or mainstream's fascination with which country is giving the most money etc."

This is
about taking some time to stop and think, reflect and connect - break from
the media madness and have your own thoughts and your own real feelings.

In Toronto, vigil locations are as follows:
Sunday, 9 JANUARY: Multiple Toronto locations, meet at 4:30 pm at any of the four gatherings. Withrow Park, north end of the Park; Trinity Bellwoods Park, by the Wolf and Tree Installation art Grange Park, by the wading pool; Dundas Square, (Yonge and Dundas) Streets, Downtown.

Monday, 10 JANUARY: Dundas Square 4:30 - 6:30 pm; York University, Vari Hall Foyer 5 pm

Wednesday, 26 JANUARY: Details to follow


– 30 –



For more information:
Himy Syed •  globalvigil@gmail.com •  http://www.globalvigil.tyo.ca

Confirmed Candlelight Vigil Locations

Sunday January 9th:

NORTH AMERICA:

CANADA
Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
Multiple Toronto locations, meet at 4:30 pm at any of the four gatherings...
Withrow Park, north end of the Park;
Trinity Bellwoods Park, by the Wolf and Tree Installation art
Grange Park, by the wading pool
Dundas Square, (Yonge and Dundas) Streets, Downtown.

Vancouver, British Columbia. Two locations:
Outside Vancouver Art Gallery, on Georgia Street 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm;
Wreck Beach at UBC, weather permitting, bring candles for lighing at sunset 4:30pm - 5:30 pm

U.S.A.
Berkeley, California - West Entrance to the UC Berkeley Campus (Oxford and University) 4:30 pm - 6 pm
San Francisco, California - Ocean Beach, below the Cliff House 4:30 - 6:30 pm
New York City, New York - Washington Square Park Arch, meet at 5 pm onwards
Chicagoland, Illinois - Water Tower Plaza at Chicago and Michigan Avenue, 4:00 pm onwards
Cambridge, Massachusettes - Harvard Square from 5:00 - 6:00 pm on

ASIA
Karachi - Quaid-i-Azam Park, Front Entrance 4 pm - 5 pm

EUROPE
London, U.K. - Hyde Park, Speaker's Corner 4:30 pm
Hamburg, Germany - Ida Ehre Platz in Hamburg 16:30 - 17:30
Grand Canary Island, Spain - Plaza de Saulo Toron/Las Canteras Beach 17:30 - 18:30


Monday January 10th:

North America:

MEXICO
Mexico City, Mexico - Angel de la Independencia on Avenida Reforma

CANADA
Toronto, Canada - Dundas Square 4:30 - 6:30 pm; York University, Vari Hall Foyer 5 pm
Vancouver, Canada - Outside Vancouver Art gallery, on Georgia Street side.

U.S.A.
Memphis, Tennessee - vigil at the intersection of Poplar and Highland streets 5 - 6:00pm
San Francisco, California - United Nations Plaza, Market Street 5 pm - 7 pm
Berkeley, California - Downtown Berkeley BART Station, Main Entrance 4:30 pm - 6 pm
Sacramento, California - The North steps of the Capitol Building ( L Street side ) 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Chicago, Illinois - Federal Building, 220 S. Dearborn 5 pm - 6 pm
New York City - Union Square 5 pm - 7 pm
Ithaca, NY - Ithaca Commons 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Woodstock, NY - Main St. and Mamaroneck Av. (at the fountain on the corner ) 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Washington, D.C. - Gather at Dupont Circle 4:30 onwards
Honolulu, Hawai'i - Hanoa Valley, University Ave and Dole St. from 5:00 pm
Baltimore, Maryland - Charles & Center Streets 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Cambridge, Massachusettes - Harvard Square from 5:00 - 6:00 pm

ASIA:

Pakistan: Karachi - Clifton seaside, near amusement park main entrance
Pakistan: Islamabad - Shah Faisal Masjid , after Sunset Prayers done, outside in front of the main steps

Israel: Jerusalem - Hagar (Paris) Square, opposite Terra Sancta 18:00
Israel: Tel Aviv - Tnuva Junction 17:00 - 18:00

EUROPE

France: Paris - By the Pyramid at the Louvre 4:00 pm - 6 pm
France: Aubenas - Place du Chateau 17:00 - 18:00 pm

U.K.: London, England - Trafalgar Square 4:00 pm onwards
U.K.: Manchester, England - Manchester Town Hall, 'Peace Garden' around back 16:30 - 18:00
U.K.: Dundee, Scotland - Dundee City Center (outside Boots) 17:00 - 18:00 pm

Germany: Hamburg - Ida Ehre Platz in Hamburg 17:00 - 18:00
Germany: Bonn - Outside Bonn Cathedral 17:00 - 18:00

Switzerland: Geneva - Place de la Cite 18:00
Switzerland: Bern - vor der Heiliggeistkirche (beim Bahnhof) 17:00 - 18:00
Switzerland: La Chaux-de-Fonds - Place Espacite 16:30-18:30

Austria: Vienna - Stock im Eisen Platz 17:00 - 19:00

Croatia: Zagreb - Trg Bana Jelacica (Jelacic Square) 17:00 - 18:00 pm [vigil not confirmed yet]

Italy: Trento - Casa per la Pace 17:30-18:30
Italy: Reggio Emilia - Reggio E. main square 18:00 - 19:00 pm

Denmark: Copenhagen - Axeltorv 16:30 - 18:00

AUSTRALIA

Brisbane, Australia - King George Sq. 16:30 - 18:00

Wednesday January 26th
One full month since the disaster,
Memorial Vigils to take place on this day, worldwide.

The website where you can post you local vigil information is available by emailing:  GlobalVigil@gmail.com, HiMY SYeD