Cycling for Peace, Oil Independence

Dear Pink Sisters,
My name is Michele Darr and I am an activist and mother of 6 children
riding my bicycle across the United States with my partner and 3 of my
youngest children; my 11 year old daughter, Tala, and my 20 month old
twins Willow and Grace; as a demonstration of a lifestyle free of oil
dependency. We began our quest from Portland, OR on March 17th, 2007,
and are projected to arrive in Washington DC the first week of
September. Supported by Veterans for Peace, CODE PINK and others, we
planned our route to take us through the southern United States
including Crawford, Texas to pay homage at Camp Casey. In the wake of
Cindy Sheehan's announcement to America, we decided to craft an open
letter to George Bush prior to our arrival, declaring our intention to
keep Cindy's torch burning brightly. Thank you, Sisters, for all of the
support and love you have continued to give us throughout our Journey.
May there be Peace in our Time,
Michele and the Catalysts of HOPE(Healing Our People and Earth)

Dear George W Bush:

We wish to acknowledge some of the truths you have presented about the war
and occupation of Iraq. When you told us that the troops are fighting to
preserve the American way of life, you spoke truth. You were also right on
when you said that Americans are addicted to oil. Inspired by heros and
heroines such as Brian Willson; double amputee and Vietnam Veteran; and
Cindy Sheehan; warrior and outspoken mother of fallen US soldier Casey
Sheehan; we are on a mission to help transform the cycle of oil
dependency, so that US soldiers won't be compelled to fight or die any
more for our voracious, out of control, oil consumptive habits. This is
our tribute to the country we love, this is our sacred tour of duty.

The Catalysts of H.O.P.E.(Healing Our People and Earth) began riding our
bicycles across the United States for Peace and Sustainability on
17-Mar-07 in Portland, OR. All the way down the west coast and beginning
to travel across the south, we and our message have been supported by
Americans from all walks of life. We've had as many as 15 riders at one
time, but our core has consisted of two adults, an 11-yr-old, and
20-mo-old twins. We're a traveling family, dedicated to recognizing and
reconciling our complicity in perpetuating a system that allows US;
1/16th of the world population; to consume over 1/4 of the Earths
resources, and to produce nearly 1/2 of the waste. Our wanton lifestyle
choices and disregard for the repercussions that
those choices will have on the futures of our children and generations to
come are combining to create a state of perpetual war, terror, poverty,
resource depletion, and ultimately threaten our very survival as a
species. By being the change we wish to see in the world and encouraging
others to do likewise in their own manner, we're striving to reclaim the
soul of our nation and heal the damaged ties with each other and with the
world outside of our borders.

These past 2 months have been tremendously eye-opening for us. By trusting
in and relying on the kindness and concern of our fellow citizens in this
great country, again and again we've witnessed the genuine goodness and
concern people innately have for one another, especially children.
Through countless conversations with Americans of nearly every stripe,
political affiliation and ethnicity, we have also found that our shared
vulnerability as human beings on this fragile, endangered planet have left
many of us overwhelmed and unsure of what part we have to play in the
outcome of the course we are now on. Many have bought into the notion
that they are too insignificant to have any impact on the seemingly
insurmountable problems we face as a country, and instead have lamentably
invested precious resources; especially time; into fleeting, transient
material gain, thereby further isolating themselves from the very networks
of support that could make the shift to sustainable community possible;
family, friends, neighbors, and co-inhabitants of a small planet with
limited resources. Therefore, the challenge before us is to take heart
from successful people's movements from around the world (e.g.:
http://www.sarvodaya.org) and to restore the collective belief in the
power of humanity to transcend our perceived differences and unite for the
common good.

We are appealing to the very best in your human nature, Mr. Bush, as we
absolutely do not accept that any human being is a lost cause or is beyond
redemption. The movement towards reconciliation and peace is living,
breathing proof that another world is possible. We expect to bicycle into
Crawford, Texas, on the last weekend in June and would welcome the
opportunity to discuss our experiences on this journey and on our past
journeys throughout America, the Middle East, and Africa. We will also be
in Washington, DC during the second half of September, further providing
excellent opportunities to communicate with our elected officials. We've
got a lot to talk about.

May
there
be
Peace
in
Our
Time,
The
Catalysts
of
HOPE

Supported by organizations such as Veterans for Peace, CODE PINK,
Sarvodaya USA, Whitefeather Portland Catholic Worker, Oregon Peaceworks,
and many others, The Catalysts of HOPE (Healing Our People & Earth) are
continuing to trek across America and welcome any and all dreamers to join
us in whatever capacity each determines appropriate.
(http://www.catalystsofhope.org)

As you come to know the seriousness of our situation----the war, the
racism, the poverty in the world-----you come to realize it is not going
to be changed just by words or demonstrations. It's a question of risking
your life. It's question of living your life in drastically different
ways. - Dorothy Day