Monday 30 January 2012

Isn't walking without money a bit crazy?

I keep getting asked if walking 1200 miles through the UK without money is a bit crazy? Not really in comparison to this dude...

Sunday 29 January 2012

Peace One Day update 27 Jan 2012

Peace walks for #peacedaypilgrimevents

How about organising a peace walk on my way through your city, town or village? Find out where I am walking at Rough Schedule. If I am coming near you then perhaps you and some friends can join me for a while to walk and talk about Global Truce 2012 and to inspire others to get involved. Get in touch through Facebook or email me at peacedaypilgrim@gmail.com
More anon. Maxim

Pirate Fishing - People & Power

Suggest venues to screen Peace One Day film #peacedaypilgrimevents

I am hoping to do a talk and screen one of the Peace One Day films at various venues during the walk including Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Please suggest any venues you know and any groups to contact.
Here is a trailer for "The Day After Peace"...


If you can't wait to see a screening, you can get hold of all the Peace One Day films here.

Saturday 28 January 2012

Peace chain around the UK

If I manage to walk around the whole UK with no money relying on the kindness of strangers to feed and shelter me, then surely it will have created a peace chain linked by kind, like-minded people which stretches from Derry in Northern Ireland to Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and London?...I like that.
More anon. Maxim.

Friday 27 January 2012

A reminder of why I am walking 1200 miles this summer...

Well it's mainly down to two people...

Firstly, Satish Kumar introduced me to the art of pilgrimage, which I understand as opening your heart to the kindness of strangers and placing all your needs in the hands of humanity.

At a time when the globe is quaking in its solar-system-boots over the financial meltdown and the newspapers are crammed full of self-interested bank execs claiming over-amped bonuses, one could be forgiven for thinking us humans have become a little self-obsessed in a trance-like pursuit of capital reward. 


Therefore leaving the constraints of the bank account behind and taking a heart full of faith, begs the question do we have what it takes? Showing that we do actually look after the wind-blown stranger walking past, possibly slightly sweaty-aromatic, is, in my opinion a worthy task.

The success of the journey lies in the hands of the same human spirit which will make Global Truce work.

Which brings me on to the second person. Jeremy Gilley is the chap whose efforts have led to the organisation Peace One Day.


More importantly, he single-handedly persuaded the British and Costa Rican governments to propose a successful resolution to the United Nations for the International Day of Peace to be set on the same day each year, 21 September, so that it could be marked by all.

But how useful can one day be?


Very, is the short answer!


It could sound like a state-gimic by showing a lofty nod to peace - oh go on then, have your day! - but it is so much more than that.


Since Peace One Day's visit to Afghanistan in 2007, more than 4.5 million children have been vaccinated against polio with 1.5 million of them done in JUST ONE DAY - on 21 Sep!!

Aid agencies and health workers around the world are ready to deliver their aid...but they just can't get into the dangerous places. These ceasefires allow them in and boy can they achieve life-changing work in just one day.

Defining violence

But it is not just about violence on the battlefields. It is about violence in our homes. It is about domestic abuse and child abuse. And it is about the abuse of our planet for monetary gain and insane consumerism.

Peace is not the final destination my friends, it is a way of life, it is a state of mind and it is an ideology. I am not a religious person but some of those books have got some cracking philosophy...be good to your neighbour...treat people as you wish to be treated...etc.


But it is no good popping off to the chapel, church, temple, synagogue or mosque for a quick bit of mind-tweeting a supreme being if we can't stop killing, raping and abusing our fellow men, women and children. I'm not demeaning religious reverence but lets get the our priorities in order. Lets get that sorted first and then go back into communion with whichever belief you have and say, look what we did!

So, the reason why Global Truce for Peace Day is so important is that it is the first step for us to celebrate a vision for the future and to inspire our children to do better than we have done. Because, maybe, just maybe, some time in the future, those children will ask...why not two days?


And, of course, I am not clever enough to solve world peace....but I can walk and I can talk so that's what I'll do....and what's the worst that can happen? I lose some weight, get fit, give up smoking, get a bit cold and meet some wonderful people.


More anon, Maxim.

1 person engaged, encouraged and empowered per mile?


I am thinking that it would be great if the walk can inspire 1200 people to mark Global Truce 2012 (21 Sep) in some form of another. That's one person for every mile walked. If each of those hold an event for 10 people, that would be 12,000 people enagaged!

The SiteFacebook and Twitter pages have been up since Monday. Thanks to those who have elected to support through "like", "follow" and "sharing". That means the message has reached 80+ people without taking the first footstep! Still, quite a long way to go to 1200 but you may as well aim high!
More anon, Maxim (Engage/Encourage/Empower)

2012 Holocaust Remembrance Day Message of Ban Ki-moon

Thursday 26 January 2012

What do you think about the site?


Hey folks. Starting to get some traffic for PeaceDayPilgrim.com which is good news. It would be great to receive some comments about the site and any suggestions. It is fairly new and there is not much content at the moment so expect that to be one criticism but anything on formatting, links to other social media etc would be great.
Also, invitations to stay with people along the journey are coming in already which is incredible. If you would like to meet up for coffee, a short walk or to offer some help the click Support.
More anon, Maxim.



Wednesday 25 January 2012

Peace is for children like Molly @peacedaypilgrim


Follow Molly's journey here

Social media update/Great photo from Nepal

Great to see 44 "likes" on the Facebook page and 6 "followers" on Twitter. Not a bad start. Thanks to the early supporters.
A great photo from Melinda Varcoe taken outside the town Namche in Nepal for Peace One Day's "My Moment of Peace"...

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Rough Route...do you live nearby?

Part of the adventure of the walk is not to plan too meticulously. Having said that we all use diaries and need to know roughly where we will be and when. To help with this I have sketched out a rough route. It takes in the Pennine Way, the Offa's Dyke Path and the Thames River Path. The rest will be along the quietest roads but taking in some of the big towns and cities too. You can find more about the route by clicking "Rough Route".
If you live or work nearby and would like to meet up to discuss Global Truce 2012 and what you can do to get involved then email me at peacedaypilgrim@gmail.com
More anon...Maxim

@PeaceDayPilgrim : What are you going to do for Global Truce 2012 and @PeaceOneDay ?



http://peaceoneday.org/en/action/what-can-i-do-on-peace-day