| On May 10th 2007, the day we started our trip, we were average Iranian citizens who saw themselves under the shadow of an imminent threat. A war that had already devastated two of our neighbors, Iraq and Afghanistan, was now staring us right in the face. And the same propaganda machine that had, a few years earlier, prepared the public opinion for the invasion of these countries, was now intensely focusing on us; capitalizing on the same fear and ignorance to justify greater economic sanctions and eventual military actions against our country.
We felt overwhelmed, misunderstood and isolated in a world that unfairly viewed us, or so we thought it did, as a bunch of terrorists staunchly seeking nuclear weapons for evil purposes. We could not afford to be silent. We had to be heard! We had to remind the people of the world of the great civilization that was, and is, ours. Share with them the richness of our culture and the depth of our spirituality. And reassure them, that as a nation, we have not initiated any aggression against any other country for the past 260 years!
With the ambition to spread these messages, and yet with realistic expectations, we packed our bags, took our bicycles and embarked into a long journey across the western hemisphere. We knew that the task that we had undertaken was an almost impossible one. Truly, it was more the sense of responsibility than optimism that had driven us to this project. After all, how could a dozen Iranian citizens on bicycle have any significant influence on the western public opinion against the constant negative propaganda of media giants? Or again, how could they change the course of international politics in a world governed by corporate interests, ideological conflicts and geostrategical calculations?
But as we pedaled through the European and North American continent; from the ancient alleys of Rome to the green hills of Passau to the crowded boulevards of Paris, Los Angeles and New York, and as we met with thousands of people from the four corners of the western world, a new and unexpected hope began to emerge within us.
We encountered an impressive number of individuals rising up against injustice and going beyond their ways, to defend the rights of other human beings living thousands of miles away from them. We were witnessing a true spirit of universal compassion breaking through the boundaries of personal egos, nationalities and religions and gradually expanding all over the human family. A 58 year old British man who had been camping in the Parliament square of London for over 6 years to protest the suffering of Iraqi civilians, affirmed to us in the most determined voice that “Not a single Iraqi child shall be killed in my name”. We came across an American woman in Washington D.C who was staging three weeks of hunger strike to protest the military threats of an American Senator against Iran. “I am fasting with my spirit” she said, clearly demonstrating, in her words and actions, that the spirit of humankind is truly one. In Chicago, we joined with thousands of other people who were gathering from London, Buenos Aires, San Francisco…to voice, each in their own way, the sufferings of people living in Baghdad, Kabul and Jerusalem.
Something strange and extraordinary might be on the verge happening! Maybe, through the beating drums of war, the loud explosions of cluster bombs, the poisonous dust of depleted uranium and the heart-wrenching cries of agonizing mothers; we are witnessing the painful, yet miraculous, birth of a new integrated world, and the emergence of a higher level of human consciousness.
On July 23rd 2007, the day our long trip ended, we were no longer average Iranian citizens, but engaged citizens of a new world!
We have traveled thousands of miles for peace, but it only seems like a first step on the long and difficult road that is ahead of us. A road to world peace, that we are now more determined that ever to cross.
| [28 Sep 07] :: Miles for Peace returns Home. |
The team returned home in two groups of 4 and 7 people. on July 18th and July 19th 2007.
Mehdi Shayan residing in US left the group on July 16th and Ali Nasri living in Canada, left on July 19th. |
| [28 Sep 07] :: July 18, 07 Financial Crisis and anxious to return home ! |
With gods help and attention and despite all the difficulties during this journey Miles for Peace managed to successfully end its mission of two and a half month traveling and promoting peace and officially
end the trip in Washington DC.
With all the financial problems that the group encountered through out the whole trip, and despite the teams calls for support, there werent enough help received to meet all the needs. The team had to borrow money, one more time to pay for the return tickets. So far Miles for Peace had some 60 thousand dollars debts to pay [...continue] |
| [28 Sep 07] :: July 16, 07 Miles for Peace in Democracy Now. |
Following the meeting with Senator Liberman, Ali Nasri and Leslie Angleine had an interview in Democracy Now On Monday July 16th which lasted some 17 minutes.
Here is the link to the interview :
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/16/1330225 |
| [28 Sep 07] :: July 12, 07 Presenting Leslie with the trophy of peace. |
 In Appreciation of Leslie Angelines courageous act and her humble sacrifice to go on hunger strike for 23 days to oppose senator Liberman and stop a possible military strike on Iran, Miles for Peace presented her with the trophy of peace in front of the White House. |
| [28 Sep 07] :: July 12, 07 an Unexpected meeting with Joe Liberman. |
On the last days of Miles for Peaces stay in washington, Leslie Angeline (a member of the peace group CODEPINK) , who had been on hunger strike for 23 days to grant a meeting with Senator Liberman (who is among the main advocates of a military attack in Iran) , finally won this battle and made a 5 minutes appointment with
Liberman.
With Leslies invitation Ali nasri also joined her in this meeting.During the meeting which took some 15 minutes , Ali Nasri while explaining the negative and harmful consequences of any attempt but dialogue between nations , asked [...continue] |
| [28 Sep 07] :: July 11,07 Welcoming Party on behalf of various Peace Group |
Mile for Peace was invited to a party upon their arrival in
Washington on Wednesday night which was organized and co-sponsored by various peace activist groups in washington.
In this party where many
Iranians had attended as well , motives and goals of the team was explained and some questions were answered. People took picture with the peace trophy as well as talking to the team members and signing their banner.
A few reporters were also present and conducted
interviews with some of the members of the team. |
| [28 Sep 07] :: Jul 11, 07 Meeting at Keith Elissons office. |
On wednesday Miles for Peace attended a meeting at Congress Member Keith Elissons office and met with one of his staff members Mr Minh Ta.
In this meeting, the motives and goals behind Miles for Peace was explained for Mr Minh Ta and he approved of them all. In answer to his question of how he can be of any help to this movement, Ali Nasri said that to convey Iranian peoples message of peace and friendship to the rest of the congress members who are making the important
decisions with respect to Iran is one of our expectations, specially since we cant come to [...continue] |
| [28 Sep 07] :: Jul 11, 07 Meeting with David Weinberg ,Professional staff member of the the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. |
On Wednesday, the Miles for Peace team, attended an arranged meeting with DAVID ..
Ali Nasri, the spoke person of the team while criticizing Bush administrations policies in middle east, mentioned that the crisis and tension in middle east has been escalating since president Bush has been in the office. He also talked about the Iranian society and
the fact that people in Iran are pro democracy and are trying to achieve it , but wont accept an imported pre-packaged Democracy in the context of sanctions and threats and external pressure. He mentioned also that [...continue] |
| [02 Aug 07] :: The Miles for Peace team attend the US Congress and meet with members of the Congress |
On Wednesday and Thursday the Miles for Peace team met with members of the US Congress in order to convey the peaceful message of the people of Iran to the members as representatives of the people of the United States.
During these two days members of the Miles for Peace team, with the help of Peaceful organizations in Washington – especially Ms. Leslie Angeline, who had gone on a 24 day hunger strike to protest the harsh statements made by Senator Joe Lieberman about military strikes to be taken against Iran, met with four members of Congress, in their offices, and delivered a message [...continue] |
| [02 Aug 07] :: Presentation of the Miles For Peace emblem to the Washington National Cathedral |
| On Wednesday, during the Miles For Peaces news conference at the Washington National Cathedral, which was attended by various news agencies, on behalf of the people of Iran the Miles for Peace emblem was presented to the Archbishop of the Cathedral, as a representative of the residents of Washington. During the ceremonies Mr. Bryson, thanked the cyclists for this campaign of creating unity and understanding between all the people of the World – especially between the people of Iran and America; and prayed for peace and tranquility for all the people of the world. He concluded by handing [...continue] |
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