The Peace Cycle 2005 - A Unique International Event
Claire Ranyard | 08.04.2005 13:57 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles | London
The annual bike ride from London to Jerusalem to raise awareness of the situation in Palestine is now being planned and riders for this year can sign up via the website www.thepeacecycle.org.
The inaugural event in 2004 was a huge success. Twenty five cyclists rode from London, across Europe to Jerusalem in 7 weeks, and many more joined them for smaller sections of the route. Along the way the cyclists held media events and public rallies to raise awareness of the occupation of Palestine and how it affects people’s lives.
In each country they passed through they received national media attention and were greeted by prominent peace groups and politicians. They even received an invitation to meet with Yasser Arafat at his compound in Ramallah shortly before he passed away.
The ride was an enormous challenge and many of the cyclists had not undertaken anything like it before, but they all described it as one of the most amazing experiences of their lives, in both a physical and emotional sense.
The Peace Cycle 2005 will be the second ever
London to Jerusalem Bike Ride!
It will leave central London on Sunday 7th August and will travel through the Benelux regions, Switzerland and part of Italy and then on to Turkey and the northern Middle East countries before crossing into Israel and the West Bank. The ride will again take with it a message of solidarity and hope for a just peace for all people in the Middle East and beyond.
One cyclist from last year described The Peace Cycle as "...a great journey of adventure, self-realisation and tears - be prepared for a fantastic challenge!" and another felt that, "the most powerful aspect of The Peace Cycle for me was our reception in Palestine.”
Despite some recent small steps towards peace talks in Israel and Palestine, the people of Gaza and the West Bank are still suffering the daily humiliation of checkpoints, restrictions of movement, demolition of their homes, and general discrimination and injustice. It is now as important as ever before, to raise awareness of this situation and demand justice and equality for all people, as being the only way to a lasting peace.
We welcome people of all backgrounds, abilities, ages and faiths to join the ride for justice and peace – whether for one day, for part of the way, or for all of the way to Jerusalem!
End the cycle of Violence – Join the Cycle for Peace
For more information on joining The Peace Cycle
please see our website: www.thepeacecycle.org
In each country they passed through they received national media attention and were greeted by prominent peace groups and politicians. They even received an invitation to meet with Yasser Arafat at his compound in Ramallah shortly before he passed away.
The ride was an enormous challenge and many of the cyclists had not undertaken anything like it before, but they all described it as one of the most amazing experiences of their lives, in both a physical and emotional sense.
The Peace Cycle 2005 will be the second ever
London to Jerusalem Bike Ride!
It will leave central London on Sunday 7th August and will travel through the Benelux regions, Switzerland and part of Italy and then on to Turkey and the northern Middle East countries before crossing into Israel and the West Bank. The ride will again take with it a message of solidarity and hope for a just peace for all people in the Middle East and beyond.
One cyclist from last year described The Peace Cycle as "...a great journey of adventure, self-realisation and tears - be prepared for a fantastic challenge!" and another felt that, "the most powerful aspect of The Peace Cycle for me was our reception in Palestine.”
Despite some recent small steps towards peace talks in Israel and Palestine, the people of Gaza and the West Bank are still suffering the daily humiliation of checkpoints, restrictions of movement, demolition of their homes, and general discrimination and injustice. It is now as important as ever before, to raise awareness of this situation and demand justice and equality for all people, as being the only way to a lasting peace.
We welcome people of all backgrounds, abilities, ages and faiths to join the ride for justice and peace – whether for one day, for part of the way, or for all of the way to Jerusalem!
End the cycle of Violence – Join the Cycle for Peace
For more information on joining The Peace Cycle
please see our website: www.thepeacecycle.org
Claire Ranyard
e-mail:
info@thepeacecycle.org
Homepage:
http://www.thepeacecycle.org