Following a meeting with the Director of Women’s affairs in the Ministry of Youth & Sport, Ramallah in August 2000, a decision was taken to organise a Women’s Study visit to Palestine. Then came the intifada, the meeting was delayed until December 2001 and held in Amman Jordan with the theme of “Women, Peace and Democracy”.

Many projects came from this meeting funded by the European Parliament YOUTH Programme. There was also the idea of an activity which would bring women together in one project and attract a lot of publicity, so this started as a joke and now we are taking “Follow the Women – Cycling for Peace” seriously.

Aim

 To show solidarity with women from the Middle East
 To focus on the issues in a different way, to attract a different media view
 To create peace/to say ‘Stop’ this is enough violence

Cycling
Let us do something together, something different to attract the media in many countries

We could…..

1. Cycle together through the Middle East with European and Arabic women. Starting in Beirut, Lebanon to Damascus, Syria to Amman Jordan where the women’s cycling group will be joined by many other women for a conference to decide further action.

2. Women could cycle on one specific day in all the European countries before the Middle East ride to raise money, show solidarity and gain media coverage.

When
October 2003. Cycle ride to last for 8 days followed by 3 day meeting in Amman.

Countries involved so far:
Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, France, Finland, Denmark, Basque Country and UK. Arab and Israeli women living outside their countries


If you have any ideas, questions, or comments contact detta.regan@virgin.net