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The Peace Cycle is on it's way!

IMCista | 19.08.2004 12:46 | World

THE PEACE CYCLE COMMENCES

Saturday 14th August was an historic day, as cyclists from all over England commenced ‘The Peace Cycle’ – a cycle ride from London to Jerusalem. The cyclists left Hyde Park from a farewell rally attended by hundreds of supporters. They cycled to Newhaven where they crossed the channel by ferry to Dieppe and continued to Paris. Yesterday evening an event was held at Bastille, attended by French dignitaries, supporters and members of human rights groups.
(Please click this link to see the cyclists in Paris):
 http://paris.indymedia.org/article.php3?id_article=24835

The Peace cycle took over a year of planning, and is an effort by citizens from all across Europe and parts of the wider world, to raise awareness of how the occupation is poisoning society in Israel and Palestine, preventing any chance of peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people.

The cyclists from London will be joined en-route by cyclists from all over Europe. The final ride into Jerusalem is due to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the Intifada, at the end of September.

The farewell rally was addressed by a wide range of speakers including Palestinian General Delegate to the UK Afif Safieh, comedian Jeremy Hardy, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Mike Cushman (Jews for Justice for Palestinians), Ismail Patel (Friends of Al-Aqsa), and organisers of the Peace Cycle, Laura Abraham and Brian Moran.

Ismail Patel stated: “The intensity of effort and toil on the part of the cyclists over the coming 6 weeks cannot be understated as they will be cycling over 2,000 miles. However, this is almost insignificant when compared with the suffering of the Palestinians over the past 56 years. We all hope that the time, energy and dedication of the cyclists will go towards bringing peace and harmony in the Holy Land for people of all faiths.”

The clear message permeating from all speakers was that the 56 year occupation of Palestinian land must come to an end to enable reconciliation to begin and peace to last.

For more information please see: www.thepeacecycle.org

The Peace Cycle 2004

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"With the inaction of the official organs of the international community towards the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Gush Shalom sees The Peace Cycle initiative as filling a
vacuum, encouraging us not to give up the struggle for a peace based on the Green
Line as the border between Israel and Palestine - in order to start living side by side -
as good neighbors." Gush Shalom - the Israeli Peace Bloc, June 2004.

IMCista