Peace Train participants share why they are taking the trip to New York; Peace Train concert to be held March 5

For Katherine Murray of Abbotsford, B.C., being part of Peace Train #2 to New York on March 2 is something that grows out of her spiritual life. 

"Being aboard the train is the action side of my spiritual commitment to peace, the beliefs and values that have formed me," says Katherine, who was on the first Peace Train trip from Vancouver to Ottawa last November. 

She also likes being part of the Peace Train because of the culture of peace it creates. 

"It's a very collaborative effort, with people from all walks of life, faiths and approaches coming together for one reason, to promote peace," she says. "I like how it builds bridges between people towards the goal of promoting peace." 

She was also inspired to take part in the trip to New York for the third meeting of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) by what Elizabeth May, Green Party Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands, said at the meeting with members of Parliament in Ottawa in November. 

"She said the Peace Train was helping to revive the peace movement in Canada today," Katherine said. "That has stayed with me, and I want to continue to support that movement, help keep the momentum going." 

Along with that, she is “deeply concerned about increasing global tensions, divisions, and conflicts and want to be intentional in the work of creating peace.” 

James Toews of Nanaimo, B.C. is also on the Train because of the growing international tension in the world.

“This is a time when the U.S. is treating the United Nations as irrelevant and even malevolent to its interests,” says James. 

For him, this is a time when organizations like the United Nations is needed more than ever. 

“We need a place where we can dream about a better way,” he said. “A place where those who want to walk in the way of Jesus when he said “Blessed are the peacemakers.” 

Dreaming in a “season of nightmares feel risky,” he added. “But there are dreams and dreamers who do bring hope and healing. May we be amongst them.” 

For Christophe Elie of Ottawa, his decision to be part of the Peace Train to New York can be traced back to when he was 12 years old and heard Cat Steven’s Peace Train song for the first time. 

“That song is one of the puzzle pieces that make up who I am as a political folk artist,” he said, adding his mother was involved in the Civil Rights movement “and she’s had a big influence on me through the years.” 

Christophe has also been interested in the United Nations for a long time, “so to board the Peace Train to attend meetings there and play a show for peace is really a dream come true.” 

When he heard Elizabeth May was inviting people to join her on the trip to the meetings in New York, “it was never a question of if I attend, but how I was going to make it happen,” he said. 

Nuclear weapons are “an unnecessary threat to the survival of humanity. That’s why a Treaty prohibiting them makes the most sense. By eliminating them, we could see the Doomsday Clock actually tick backwards.” 

Christophe will be performing at An Evening of Music and Words for World Peace with New York-based Friends of Kolker, Spook Handy, Alyson Faith and others on March 5, 7 p.m. the Common Ditch Social, 74 Broad St., 2nd Floor, Manhattan.  

There will also be speakers from Peace Train Canada, Amnesty International and Project Ploughshares. 

Tickets are $15 or pay what you can. Proceeds will go to a peace-related charity.