Author Archive

The great Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho penned this in his blog this week.

“Life is like a big bike race where the goal is to fulfill you personal legend.

At the start, we are riding together, sharing the camaraderie and enthusiasm. But as the race progresses, the initial joy gives way to the real challenges: tiredness, monotony and doubts about our own abilities.

We notice that some have withdrawn. They are still running, but only because they cannot stop in the middle of a road. They are numerous, pedaling alongside the support car, talking to each other and performing only their obligations.

Eventually we distance ourselves from them and we are forced to face the loneliness and the surprises of the unknown curves with the bikes. And after a while, we begin to wonder if it’s worth the effort.

Yes, it is worth it. Just don’t quit.”

I would say, “You have NEVER lost, until you have stopped trying” or “Winners never quit and quitters never win”. His is probably better (…and why he is one of the top selling writers in the world!)

Doing The 92

My friends at www.doingthe92.co.uk were kind enough to highlight me this week and I would like to thank them and also bring their site to your attention. As you can see, many people have driven or taken public transport to all the 92 league grounds. I know at least one mad fool who cycled to them all (lol) but they also told me of this incredible man below who has walked to no less than 800 grounds. I’d like to meet him and if anybody has contact details please do let me know. I take my hat off to this man!

Jan Heidenstrøm

Great start to the day: I heard from my friend Jan Heidenstrøm this morning that his new CD is out and doing well. For those who want to know more please visit his site and ….enjoy! Who knows: this year Sivert Høyem and next year perhaps Jan himself! It would be good to get Jan over to Spain and get him some gigs in the Scandinavian clubs and bars on the costas! Let’s see!

The situation in the Western Sahara is becoming more and more tense – I have had reports of journalists with full accreditation being refused flights in and of another death of an innocent. This time a young boy. As always with the refugees, they are the world’s forgotten. If you can publicise their plight in any way, please do so. Details as always courtesy of Martin Dewhurst on Ecademy.

BIG DAY
Finally, it’s the BIG DAY for “The Shirt” project. Each year the Norwegian State TV Corporation has a mass auction with all the money raised going to charity. (Think Red Nose Day in the cold!) This year the Norwegian Refugee Council is the nominated charity which is a huge boost for the NRC and also for the project as Bjørn is heavily involved in the event. The number and quality of the lots is truly amazing and you can bid on anything from deluxe beds to luxury holidays, from the hat the Chancellor wore for his budget speech to memorabilia from celebrities and football clubs. As Norway is such a football crazy country, the bids for football items are expected to do well. As for music, the official song for the 2010 TV Auction is “Prisoner of the Road” which was written and sung by Sivert Høyem.

Prisoner of the Road (3:46 min)

Enjoy!

The official song for the 2010 TV Auction is “Prisoner of the Road” which was written and sung by Sivert Høyem.

Prisoner of the Road (3:46 min)

Enjoy!

All is set for a huge day for Bjørn Heidenstrøm and the project. Where is he? He is with 300kilos weight of shirts donated to the project at Lerkendal Stadium, Trondheim for the auction. The shirt will again be on display at the pitch and if you have donated a shirt, you are making a piece of history because should RBK take just one point they will take the Norwegian title with two games to spare. Bjørn has always been a talisman for the home side and never on his tour of Norway has an away side even got one point!

So, good luck to Bjørn today and all of us involved in the Shirt project trust that a huge amount of money will be raised. Enjoy!

Updates from Martin Dewhurst

Please note: there are comprehensive and regular updates to this tragic story here

Thanks to Martin for updating us:

Exodus
Breaking News

1. URGENT! URGENT! Hundreds of Moroccan military vehicles head to Camp Liberty. Have also cut off all communication-

2. Without doubt, Morocco is losing roles, reason, and its dubious credibility with the international public opinion, maintaining this siege senseless and avoiding the entrance of the camp of food, water and medicines. Camp, consisting remember children, elderly, unarmed women and children.

3. The Intergroup on Western Sahara Solidarity with the European Parliament denounced the situation of the 12,000 Saharawi men, women and children peacefully protesting outside the major cities of the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

These 12,000 Saharawi literally emptying Laayoune, Smara and Bojadour to protest against the untenable political situation and socio-economic genuine inhabitants of these territories.

4. On the other hand, members of the Intergroup on Western Sahara denounced newly established camps are being monitored by the Moroccan army. The MEP’s expressed deep concern about current events and asked the Moroccan government to withdraw its security forces in the area.

The Intergroup stresses once again that the EU should demand that the Kingdom of Morocco to respect international law and all UN resolutions relevant to enable the people of Western Sahara to decide for themselves their own future through the holding of a referendum on their right to self determination.

Apologies for the translations here;

5. About half past eleven, dozens of trucks of the Moroccan army attacked the protest camp, held in Laayoune. The military has thrown stones against the Saharawi at that time trying to access the site, causing injuries and even an accident that has left eight people in a LandRover in the hospital. The occupation forces are using bulldozers to surround the camp by building a barricade of five feet, made of stones, trying to avoid the LandRover access to the camp in the desert.

6. (Comment) Sahara In The Heart outrage at the lack of reaction by the international community.
Powerless to do anything for my brothers Saharawi occupied territories.
Revulsion at the thought that there are beings so ruthless as the Moroccan repressive forces.
And above all, proud of my people who are resisting with patience and heads held high and his dignity intact.
From a variety of sources close to the people involved in the exodus.

Martin Dewhurst

One of the stalwart supporters of the Shirt project has been Martin Dewhurst from England. He has been actively working to improve the plight of refugees for many years and I was delighted for his support and guidance when I was in the UK.

Today he has uploaded a powerful article onto Ecademy. I precis here but suggest you read the whole article and watch the moving videos on the Ecademy site. Sadly the whole refugee issue is a real Myth of Sisyphus story so the initiatives of people like Martin and Nathaniel (day 127 +29) are so vital.

Martin says,
Whilst this may not hit the BBC News headlines anytime soon, thousands of civilians have made their way out into the desert from the Western Saharan cities of El Aaiun, Smara, Dakhla and Bujador.

On a Saturday, up and down the UK we gather in our thousands in support of football teams, we wear scarfs, shirts and hats emblazoned with our clubs colours, we swarm like ants in and out of grounds, then when its all over return to our homes.

In the Sahara, Western Sahara to be specific, an entire nation of people are united under a banner that is outlawed from display, in fact if you fly the banner you’ll be beaten, arrested and tortured or worse.

The banner that unites these people is a National Identity, it’s a culture, a heritage, a nomadic history of life and survival in the deserts of North Africa, and like a football fan that recognizes one of his fellow supporters in the street, the Saharawi recognize one another as brothers and sisters of one Nation unified from birth, even their language, Hassānīya Arabic, is different from the language of their oppressors.

If you have the good fortune to ever visit these people and live with them, stand amongst them to get some fractional sense of the strength of their culture and inherent values, you will experience social cohesion at a whole new level from anything you may have encountered, at least in the Western world before.

Ultimately we’re all human beings, beyond our family, cultural and national boundaries. What moves me beyond words is moments like these when Family, Culture and Nation are brought together in common cause, the Saharawi in this case are moving as one, they have a shared purpose, the right to their self determination, the right to decide their own future and to seek their independence on the land they call home.

Freedom, Liberty or Death is the powerful credo that unites every Saharawi man, woman and child. Freedom to seek their independence, liberty from their oppressors and the final choice Death, is their resolve, to die in the desert rather than live under the oppression and aggressive regime of the King who illegally annexed their land and continues to this day to plunder their natural resources.

In times of great suffering people from all corners of the earth come together and find their greater power, this time, right now as I write, the Saharawi are mustering their power that has simmered patiently on the metaphorical fire for 35 years, with half their Nation living in tented refugee camps in the Algerian desert on the other side of the heavily mined berm that runs the length of the country and the other half living in a police state of oppressive rule and treated like third class citizens, this show of solidarity is saying, enough is enough, now is our time to show our togetherness.”

Thanks for allowing me to add this, Martin.

Prisoner of the Road

Bjørn has been very busy over the past few weeks promoting the annual TV auction in Norway. This takes place this weekend and I guess the nearest UK equivalent is “Red Nose Day”. Whatever, it is a huge event in the Norwegian calendar and I know Bjørn is delighted to be so involved. The official song for the 2010 TV Auction is “Prisoner of the Road” which was written and sung by Sivert Høyem.

Prisoner of the Road (3:46 min)

Enjoy!

Den Norske Skolen i Rojales (The Norwegian School in Rojales, Spain) were fantastic hosts to Bjørn as he cycled through Spain last year and with the support of Einar Lerheim and his colleagues, the pupils have continued to follow Bjørn. Bjørn gave an excellent presentation to the entire school and he was warmly received at the school where the pupils are mainly taught in Norwegian. Yes, under the Spanish sun, there is a little bit of Norway with Scandinavian blonds, lilts from Tromsø and Trondheim, Tønsberg and Torp …and everywhere in between. There are photos of brunost and Hardanger, Holmenkollen and Jotunheimen…………….and the Norwegian flag much in sight. Forever, Norway! Ja, jeg elsker dette landet!

Anyway, today Einar has kindly forwarded a “Good Luck” letter from the pupils and staff to Bjørn. They have also sent their new school photo. Thanks to all of you. Takk for flott initiativ. Mange takk. As I know this thread attracts Norwegian readers and because the children deserve their work to be enjoyed in the original Norwegian, I have added it unedited. My translation might not pass the teachers’ approbation! Jeg ber om unnskyldning.

Hola,Bjørn!
Vi vil gjerne få sende deg en hilsen i forbindelse med årets tv-aksjon. Husker du bilde vi tok sammen da du besøkte oss i Rojales i fjor? I år har vi laget et nytt skolebilde med symbolet for Flyktningehjelpen.
Håper du liker det. Symbolet er enkelt og innholdsrik, noe vi alle kan forstå og sette oss inn i.
Du vil alltid bli husket som ”sykkelmannen” med de gode historiene, og med et stort hjerte og engasjement.
Vi har allerede begynt å digge årets låt for tv-aksjonen, ”Prisoners of the road”, sterk låt…..
Håper du har det bare bra, og at det blir et kjemperesultat for årets tv-aksjon.
Lykke til videre, kanskje våre veier krysses igjen.
Stooore klemmer og varme tanker fra
Elever og lærer på DNSR.

Hi Bjørn
We wanted to send you these greetings for this year’s TV Auction. Do you remember the photo we took together when you visited us in Rojales last year? This year we have a new photo with the symbol for Refugee Aid. We hope you like it. The symbol is simple and xxxxx Something we can all understand and get behind.
You will always be remembered as “the cycle man” with your great stories, your big heart and commitment,
We have already started to digg this year’s song for the TV event, “Prisoners of the road” Powerful song.
Hope all is good and that there’s a fantastic result for this year’s event.
Good luck for the future …and perhaps our paths will cross.
Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig hugs and kind thoughts from
Pupils and staff at DNSR

xxxxx ….aggggh! A typical Norwegian word and pretty impossible to translate as just one word. Think, “comprehensive, all-inclusive, many-faceted” and with the implication of “correct”.

Flash Construct

One of the highlights of the whole project is how one meets new people all the time. Today I was delighted to have heard from Nathaniel Persky who sent me this information about his own efforts for refugees. It made me feel very, very humble. Keep up the great work, Nathaniel.

“Flash Construct (FC) is a Social Enterprise structured as a multi-faceted consulting firm. Through private investment FC creates a model where private business is the backbone of a humanitarian cause. With this model all parties involved can gain from the end product, enticing more business to participate in this innovative new social enterprise. Humanitarian Development is a key component to creating a better tomorrow.

Refugee camps are temporary models designed to supply the bare minimum in habitat resources to persons in need of a safe environment. Traditional models of humanitarian aid have a high success rate. FC focuses on the small percentage of locations where the traditional models, such as refugee camps, no longer function properly. When referring to refugee camps, FC selects camps that have stagnated for eight years or more. FC defines stagnation as a time when the flow of refugees into and out of the camp has not been sustainable, and where the infrastructure, whether physical or social services, has not been able to properly sustain the population for eight years or more. FC’s initial projects will be the Dadaab Refugee Camps in Northeast Kenya where the benchmark for this model
will be built. Through innovative new operating procedures, solutions can be found to rebuild the lives of refugees and displaced persons. A realist approach is used focusing on the resources and situations at hand, to find immediate solutions to help the refugee causes. FC builds financing for its humanitarian wing through for profit businesses. There is a finite amount of aid monies in the world which FC does not view as a reliable operating constant.

With the proper marriage of public and private sectors involved, a positive outcome for the inhabitants of these areas can be created. A
sustainable life cycle of betterment though motivational driven life changes. The key is sustainability. Remove the forced dependency on provided aid for survival. By implementing plans for job creation and bolstering the current education programs Flash Construct will give occupants of its projects the tools to succeed. The key to these platforms are perception catalysts. A perception catalyst is a concept to open the proverbal mind’s eye to a new idea, the concept of attainment through motivation. The adults can be given the potential to attain jobs, the motivational hunger to drive and succeed. Through these steps the inhabitants of their areas can reach out and better their own lives, buying and building solid roofs above their heads, providing food for themselves and their family, the empowerment of a community. Through these steps FC will to create a positive and sustainable life cycle.”

Bjørn On Tour

As some of you know from Bjørn’s English site he is out on tour at the moment. The big TV charity event of the year is next week (think Red Nose Day in the snow!) and Bjørn is very actively involved. He is taking the shirt on tour of many of the top grounds and today he is in Skien for the Odd-Viking game. (An interesting fact is that the home team have ALWAYS won when he has been present with the shirt! VIF, Brann, Viking, Haugesund)

(Edit day 127+26 Yes, Odd Grenland won too! He’s a talisman!)

In fact it is not the “whole” shirt as even this model with just 600 shirts weighs over 300 kilos and needs 15 strong people to manoeuvre it! Enjoy the day, Bjørn, and let’s hope you keep bringing luck to the home side. If you carry on like that you’ll end up at Anfield.

If any of you want the shirt to be presented at your club or want Bjørn to give a talk about any aspect of the project please do not hesitate to get in touch with him through this site or through Bjørn’s English site.

Photo kind permission of TA.

Ican Triathlon

A friend sent me details of the Ican Triathlon in Mallorca today. The first ever event was held a few weeks ago and was apparently a great success. Now I am considering entering next year’s event that will be held on Saturday, September 17.

Yes, always one to relish a challenge I checked out the site.
and see that they also have a half triathlon with a 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike and 21 km race. This looks fearsome enough but compared to the full ICAN at 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42 km race I guess it is a stroll in the park.

Anyway, it’s some time to go so watch this space! What I do know is that the event is taking place on the beautiful island of Mallorca which is one of my favourite places on earth. So, if nothing else, I see myself going to visit the event. I have friends who have a superb hotel on the island and they immediately set about putting together a spectator/competitor offer. See Sant Blai for more details of their unique venue and if I’m there at the same time I’d love to share un cortado or agua con gas with you. Actually, come to think of it, there is never a bad time to go to Mallorca. Perhaps I should go next week….I could make myself an excuse that I’m checking out the three courses. No, one never needs an excuse to go to Mallorca and definitely not to Sant Blai.