In August 2006, cyclists from all over the world (including 2 of us from Nottingham) will leave central London and embark on an amazing journey across Europe to the Middle East, on the second historic Peace Cycle to Jerusalem!
Cycling through 12 different countries they will meet with politicians and public to raise awareness of the 38 year occupation and call for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine. After touring parts of Israel and the West Bank, the cyclists will finally ride into Jerusalem in September 2006.
In the last five years
3,871 Palestinians and 1,084 Israelis have been killed.
722 of those Palestinians and 121 of those Israelis were children.
29,786 Palestinians and 7,633 Israelis have been seriously injured.
9,492 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails, many without trial.
4,170 Palestinian homes have been destroyed, some with the families still inside.
This has to stop
We believe that every one of those deaths and injuries was unnecessary and the direct result of the occupation and the hatred it breeds. Peace cannot exist between two people when one is occupying and oppressing the other. Israel's occupation of the Palestinian Territories is illegal under International Law and must end immediately, without preconditions or demands. Our message is that lasting peace can only be achieved when justice and equality exists for all.
We believe that acts of violence will lead to more acts of violence.
Our hope is that acts of peace will lead to more acts of peace.
The Peace Cycle began as a completely new initiative in 2004, and the inaugural ride that year proved to be a great success, making national headlines in almost every country it passed through. The group of cyclists included people whose ages ranged from 12 to 60, whose faiths included Muslim, Jewish, Christian and none, and whose nationalities included British, Irish, Swiss, German, American, Australian, Italian, Swedish, Greek, Palestinian and Israeli
There are still opportunities for people to join the ride, for some or all of the way from London to Jerusalem.
Thank-you for your support.
www.thepeacecycle.org