Odyssee 2001

10 years in preparation, 20 countries to be visited in the Mediterranean, one of the most politically unstable regions of the world this is the sound of the Constanta, A Roumanian Navy Helicopter carrier converted to a peace and solidarity vessel steaminout of Marseille harbour in France this week.

The brainchild of Richard Martin anarchist theater director and Director of the International Institute of Meditrerranean theaters the boat is setting sail to bring a message of peace, solidarity and hope to the peoples of the Mediterranean.

Odyssee 2001 as the project is called was orginally conceived to celebrate 2500 years of theater in the region but no project in the Med can avoid geo politics and despite pressure the Constanta has been refused entry into Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, Israel and some of the Balkan states.

After stops in Spain and Morocco this week Constanta will be docking in Algeria scene of recent large demonstrations to protest at state repression in Kabyle province against the Berber people. Later, in mid July Constanta will enter Italian waters coinciding with the G8 counter summit due to converge on Genoa Italy.

With the authorities decision to close off entry to genoa by air, road and rail it remains to be seen whether the Constanta will be able to bring a message of Peace to the scene of what promises to be the largest anti corporate globalisation protests in history. Will she be allowed to symbolically shake hands with the less than peaceful warships lining up as luxury hotels for Presidents Bush, Chirac and no doubt other world leaders forced to take to the high seas to avoid confrontation with the anti globalisation movement.

Further information on odyssee at  http://www.lafriche.org/accueil/odyssee2001/