ChoosePeace.INFO

A post by Haykey Kaariainen from New Zealand (www.slida.co.nz)reminded me of the idea of creating an "OPEN SOURCE HUMAN POWERED VEHICLES PROJECTS" website. I haven't learned to build WEB SITES yet. I would like to begin creating one that later would be improved by YOU, well intentioned, more talented and better informed people (as with LINUX). I had been thinking of a similar Web Site to get people joining to build my Self Sustainable ECOVILLAGE dream in some land I own and have available in the Andes and the Amazon jungle... but... well, that's another topic...
I am a natural born inventor, an invention adict, and love the idea of HUMAN POWERED VEHICLES, like bicycles and its variations. Over my life I have designed some devices trying to improve bikes and make them more versatile (I dream of a healthy world of healthy human beings travelling in HPV). At first, I did not think of getting international patents for them, for sometimes they have been invented before; neither a national one because in Perú, where people is so inventive due to necessity, and manual work so cheap, no one respects or enforces patents, they just copy everything. At certain point I thought of letting people see and copy my designs at some bikers' meetings... and sometimes I wonder if it would be necessary to patent some designs to own the right to let others use them and prevent some selfish and greedy company to own them. I wonder if there is a well intentioned organization out there in the 1st world which would patent this kind of inventions to keep it free to develop it in a LINUX way. If any of you know about such organization, please, tell us.

Me and a few of my friends have been riding around Birmingham on weekends for the last couple of weeks. We were thinking that it would be lot more fun if we had more people riding along. We should arrange a bike ride on one of the weekends..I am ready for the very next one which is June 3/4

Usually its a good idea to start off early in the evening, around 5 PM or so and ride for about 1 hour 45 minutes. So far we haven't planned our path for next week, but we are thinking about going somewhere towards the Legion field and onwards to Ensley or thereabouts.

I don't know how add this to events list where people can RSVP, but you can contact me by clicking on my profile contact button.

I hope we can organize something pretty soon.

Kicking around some ideas for building our own bike trailer out of re-cycled bike parts. We're thinking of this for touring cross-country with some pretty wild ideas. i.e. a mini-shelter for sleeping, solar panels, cargo storage, etc. We have an idea...can it be built? Also looking at getting a 2 person recumbent bike. Twice the manpower, fewer "lost" issues i.e. one person being separated and far behind or lost (it's happened to us before), can talk side by side, etc. More legpower to haul more weight. Especially if we're hauling a mini-shelter/storage. I think it would be super cool.

Lots of bugs to work out.....cool start of a project though.....

Check it out http://www.re-cycle.org/trailer/Trailerbw.pdf

http://www.2cancycle.com/

Cars, trucks, and buses are the number one source of toxic air emissions in America. You can tell the EPA to implement stronger standards against these toxic pollutants to preserve our health and environment and follow the law. You can go to Earthjustice to send your email at the following url: http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/mobile_sources

Deborah Mauldin performing Japanese Butoh

ChoosePeace.info's final City Ride of Alabama EarthFest 2006, the World Tour of Birmingham, brought a taste of culture on a beautiful sunny day! Hosted in conjunction with the Birmingham International Festival, we traveled between four countries; India, Japan, Ireland and Morocco and were welcomed with some incredible performances and a taste of each country courtesy of TRIA Market.

For more of this photographic journey click "read more" -->

The Ride of Silence- May 17, 2006, 7:00PM

To Honor those injured or killed while cycling.

To raise awarenes and share the road.

The Ride of Silence is a free ride with cyclists riding no faster than 12 mph., two abreast, and remaining silent during the ride. All cyclists are encouraged to join.

All across the country The Ride of Silence will roll. In more than 120 cities and eight countries, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of those rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in dallas in May 2003 after endurance rider Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

Click "read more" for more information -->

Jillyfish on top of the world


Saturday's Peddle/Paddle was the event that I was most looking forward to! It was designed like so many biking adventures that Jillyfish and I had while in Hawaii. Often when visiting another place, one explores it, discovering its natural terrain and wondering at its scenic overlooks, exploring its rivers/oceans/lakes, etc. My view of Birmingham changed dramatically once I began to bike commute much as I did in Hawaii. I was quite stunned at how similar its terrain and natural beauty it was to the rainforest side of the Big Island of Hawaii. Although the forests were dissimilar in the types of plants and trees, both areas are very lush and green, with long climbs of reasonable inclination to get to town.


Click "read more" for the complete pictorial -->

I love to ride my bikes, in fact my favorite poem describes a bicycle rider, and the occasions where the words of the poem coincide with a personal experience of riding hold special memories. Such a ride occurred this past Saturday when my wife Kaye and I rode with SI on one of the Birmingham Scenic Tours. The ride, the companionship, the weather and the picturesque scenery all came together that brought to life the words of “The Silent Wheel”. I hope SI plans many more such adventures and I trust other will join us in the future and judge for yourself the reality and the peace found in the words of a poet.

Good Morning, fellow Wheelmen; here’s a warm, fraternal hand,
As with the rush if victory we sweep across the land!
If some may be dissatisfied to view the way we ride
We only wish their majesties could wander by our side!
For we are good philanthropist-
Unqualified philanthropist-
And would have our happiness to any one denied.
We claim a great utility that daily must increase;
We claim for inactivity a bright and grand release;
A constant mental, physical, and moral help we fell,
Which make us turn enthusiasts, and bless the silent wheel?
– Anonymous

Neon Glow Riders at Jones Valley Urban Farm
ChoosePeace.info completed our first series of City Rides on Sunday April 2nd. We explored Birmingham and learned a lot about how the past and future of Birmingham melds as we visited the Railroad Reservation Park, saw a demonstration field of Phytoremediation at Sloss Furnaces, learned of plans of a future Urban Farm that spans an entire city block downtown and its plans on integrating the farm into the community, we learned of UAB's movements towards forming a more traditional campus, including a greenway through the campus area, and we adventured up the Vulcan Trail as we learned more about Red Mountain Park.


click read more for the full story....