Thursday, March 20, 2008

Leg 9. Critical Mass

This ride will be considered the last leg of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND) UBC's Outdoor Adventure Relay. From April 19th to the 27th we have dedicated athletes skiing, biking, snowshoeing, climbing, and paddling a torch from Whistler Mountain to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Our goal is to raise awareness about Darfur, and pressure the Canadian government to take a leading diplomatic role in seeking a resolution to the crisis.

The Critical Mass Leg involves cycling on roads in Vancouver for 1 or 3 hours, at a leisurely pace.

There will be no sign up for this leg. Just show up one of the two times & places listed below.

Critical Mass Part I - Deep Cove to Norgate Park (16km)

First Meeting Point
Panorama Park, Deep Cove, North Vancouver (Close to the Kayak Shop)

When: we leave at 11:30am sharp ;) Please start arriving at 10:30am to get a bunch of free stuff we have for you!

Route: Straight! See the map above or follow this link. This route curves and winds, but you pretty much just have follow the same street while it changes into a lot of different names.

From Panorama Park to Gallant Rd. Naturally turns left on to Deep Cove Road, which will turn into Dollarton Hwy, which turns into Main Street, which turns into Cotton (you're through ½ of North Van already!) keeping right to make sure you go along 3rd which leads onto
Marine Drive. Turn left from Marine Drive on to Tatlow. Turn right from Tatlow to Norgate Park (your first right).

The first group of cyclists will meet up with those gathered at the Second Meeting Point, for Park II.

Critical Mass Part II- Norgate Park to Vancouver Art Gallery (7km)
Second Meeting Point
Norgate Park (Going East along Marine Drive you need to right on to Mcguire to get to the Park. Going West along Marine Drive you turn left on to Tatlow.)

When: we leave at 1:45pm (We also have free stuff for people at the Second Meeting Point, so please get there around 12:45pm)

Route: See map above or follow this link. Left on to Marine Drive, and on to Lions Gate bridge. There are clearly marked signs that lead to a bike path, this takes you around the south on-ramp for cars. Remember - safety first! Over Lions Gate bridge, and along the Stanley Park Causeway. Up the causeway along Georgia until Homer, which is the Vancouver Art Gallery.

We are aiming to arrive at 3:00pm to the greeting of a huge rally crowd. What to expect at the Art Gallery.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

About the Event

What's the Plan?
A ski, snowshoe, climb, cycle, and paddle relay from Whistler Mountain to the Olympic clock, Downtown Vancouver in April 2008. We will pass a torch from one group to the next along the relay, which will culminate in a rally in downtown Vancouver on April 27. The idea is inspired by "Dream for Darfur" (www.dreamfordarfur.org), which organizes Olympic torch style relay marathons around the world to connect the Olympics and Darfur.

Why do this?
(1) because, whether or not it is our mandates as individuals, organizations, or governments, genocide is all of our business. There is no excuse for indifference;
(2) because it will be fun;
(3) because we feel that freedom from rape and murder in the desert is a natural extension of the "freedom of the hills" that we enjoy in Canada. We feel that genocide is something with which this world could do without;
(4) because there is now a connection between outdoor sports, the Olympics, and genocide. Olympic hosts have a responsibility to be stewards for huam rights. We aim to raise awareness of this and force the agenda back into the public's, media's, and government's attention;
(5) because we feel that Canada can do way more to bring a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Darfur;
(6) because we want to be part of the solution.

What do skiing, cycling, and Darfur have to do with one another?
With the 2010 Winter Olympics here in Vancouver and with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the time is right to draw attention to this issue of Darfur. The Olympic vision is one of fairness and unity, reminding us that we, the inhabitants of the globe, are one people and responsible for one another. As Olympic hosts, Canada and China have a responsibility to be leaders of human rights. Canada and China should lead the world community in bringing a peaceful end to the conflict in Darfur. Over 400,000 innocent people have now been massacred. China buys 90% of Sudan's oil and supplies the weapons that are being used to carry out genocide. The Canadian government has become weak on Darfur. A Canadian envoy to Darfur led by Sen. Mobina Jaffer was terminated by the current administration. Taking a leadership role in preventing gross human rights violations in Darfur is a project with which Canadians resonate, across political affiliation. We have concrete recommendations about how the Canadian government can take a leadership role in Darfur.

What are we getting out of this?
The truth is that we are doing this because we feel that it is the right thing to do. We stand to gain nothing financially from this, just the satisfaction that we did not stand idle as genocide took place. We are active members of the outdoor and globally conscious community; we wondered what good adventure has in the bigger picture. This is our way of connecting what we love to do with what we believe is right. We feel a responsibility as global citizens to defend human rights and work for peace.

If you feel the same way, we welcome and encourage your involvement.