Pedaling for peace

Hundreds of woman from over 30 countries embark on Follow the Women organization's fifth bike journey through Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestinians territories and Israel, in hopes of promoting regional peace

Reuters | Published: 10.22.09, 08:45

The situation on the ground is not always encouraging, but the wheels of peace continue to turn: Over 300 women from 30 different countries have spent the past few weeks pedaling through the Middle East in hope of promoting the peace process.

This is the fifth bicycle journey by the British "Follow the Women" organization, founded by 2001 European Woman of the Year Detta Regan.

The women embarked on their first bike journey in April 2004. "We were told that we would not be able to do it because women do not ride bicycles in the Middle East," Regan said, "They said men would throw stones at us and it was too dangerous.

"That just made us more determined to do it. To show the women in the region that we were not afraid and that we stood with them. In the end the men gave us flowers and let us kiss their children."

This year's trail included Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the Palestinian territories, and in the coming days the activists will also pedal in Israel.

The women were greeted with celebrations and official ceremonies in Beirut, and Jordan's Queen Rania announced her support of the organization.

Besides promoting peace in the Middle East, Follow the Women, which cooperates with the international Coalition of Women for Peace, also works to empower women in the region, and assist them with their problems and ensure their rights.

The use of bicycles was chosen, the women said, because they symbolize freedom of movement and are meant to encourage women to work harder for the peace process.

Hala Khoury, a Palestinian member of the organization, said, "We chose to pedal through the Middle East to demonstrate that we are moving towards peace."

She added that the women's journey symbolizes crossing political borders. "I hope that one day I can cross the border back and forth and meet with my friends in Jerusalem," she said.