From India to Pakistan - a 2869 km cycle ride for Peace

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Bangalore, India, November 1st 2008 : it’s an exciting moment ! 30 young Indian cyclists from the Born Free Art School in Bangalore are kicking down the pedal and setting off on a long cycle trip “in favour of peace” intended to lead them 30 days and 2869 km closer to the Pakistan border.

This trip, a true sporting and organizational challenge, gave these 30 youngsters the opportunity to send the whole world a strong message to rally and support causes as dear to them as: the establishment of peace between Pakistan and India, which have been torn apart from one another for so many years; the fight against child labor; cycling as an ecological means of transportation.

On the day of the departure celebration, over 3000 letters in favor of peace between the two countries had already been collected. Many more arrived during the trip. At each stopover town on their tour, the youngsters organized various attractions in the streets, schools and other public buildings, in order to meet the local populations and people with whom to discuss topics related to their journey. During the cycle ride, many Indians from nearby places joined in to share this exceptional event, following along the caravan for ten or so kilometers.

On the 3rd of December, the last day of the trip, the youngsters arrived at the Indo-Pakistani border. Even if they could not cross the border, a group of young Pakistanis came to meet them, taking their share of the fight in doing so. Unable to talk to each other, facing themselves a few hundred meters apart, the message passed along: the hope for peace is there!

Update: Friday 29 May 2009

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