Peace Breaks out at the Forum

8 July 2006 - Next Saturday (15 July, 9am to 4pm) sees International gathering of local people coming together at the Forum, to share information and insights with each other and the public about their work for peace and justice. Invited by a member of the Muslim community the gathering will include people of many faiths and understandings. They who share a concern about the suffering caused by conflict and injustice in many parts of the world.

A wide range of organisations are taking part including: Cycle for Peace, Palestine Society, Jewish Peace Group, Quakers, CND, Pax Christi, United Nations Association, GreenParty, Campaign against the Arms Trade, Stop the War Coalition, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Interfaith Link , R.C. Justice and Peace Group, Norwich Peace Council, Zaytoun Palestinian Olive Oil Group.

The focus will be on the Middle East, as we watch with horror the ever more vicious cycle of violence in Gaza.

The need for Bridge building initiatives such as the Cycle for Peace is more urgent than ever. This is a six week epic bike ride from Norwich via London to Jerusalem. Norwich cyclist Fares Hatoum will start the ride from Norwich on August 4th. Anyone who wishes to is invited to join him and to cycle for peace on some of his journey.

Some cyclists will go all the way, some part of the way, but they are all making this incredible journey for one reason - to call for justice for the Palestinian people and a real and lasting peace for all the people of the Middle East.

The ride brings together 50 cyclists, who are now in training, on an awareness raising journey of several thousand kilometres. They will leave London on August 6th and go through Europe, to Israel and the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and finally Jerusalem in September.

Cyclists and and hosts from many nations, aim to raise awarenes and reverse the cycle of violence that results from mutual fear and ignorance.