For 18 years, Pastors for Peace has led a caravan to Cuba bringing tons of humanitarian aid and friendship despite the US blockade on goods to Cuba and ban on Americans’ travel there. This year the caravan’s cargo includes hundreds of donated bicycles collected by volunteers: full-sized bicycles, not as abundant in Cuba, can serve as primary transportation for so many in need on the island.
The July Caravan to Cuba also features a Hiphop Without Borders Exchange, a cultural celebration featuring some of the world’s finest hiphop, in workshops and performances with Cuban musicians.
Read in the Reformer.com about one local group who collected bicycles to help the Cuban people, and began their trek to Havana from Vermont.
Visit the Pastors for Peace website here, or check out this short documentary (8 minutes) created by Canadians who joined the Caravan to Cuba in 2006 describing every aspect of the humanitarian journey. Good job, all!
For 395 days, an Iranian couple has been bicycling around the world to promote peace, heal it’s country’s image, and heal the environment by planting trees. They are now in the United States (currently in Seattle, Washington). Their compelling story has been featured on both BBC and CNN. I currently live in Japan, and am hoping to host them for a few days in the fall when they arrive in the far east.
With a steep drop in urban homocides leading the way — 10 percent decline from 2006 in major cities — the FBI’s preliminary crime report for 2007 reveals good news across the board in categories of both violent and property crimes. 
