Ecotopia Biketour 2006 � Call for Cooperation to Croatian NGOs

Ecotopia Biketour

The Ecotopia Biketour the best known global caravan of its type. It includes activists � primarily youth � from many countries of Europe and the world. This year, for the second time in its 16 years of history, the project includes Croatia. After its start in Lithuania, the Biketour will proceed through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia and is expected to arrive to Croatia in September 2006.

The Biketour travels for several thousands of kilometres each year, and it carries all life necessities exclusively on bycicles. The group intends to get to know the people and culture of the countries it passes through, and usually includes between 30 and 40 people. This project aims to present a sustainable way of travel, vacationing and life in general. The Biketour is one of the projects of the World Carfree Network, an organization headquartered in Prague, the Czech Republic. WCN is the centre of the global network of "green" associations that work on alternatives to automobile culture and promotion of environmentally sustainable transport.

The Croatian route, currently in the process of preparation and depending on your interest, too � will probably past from Gorski Kotar, through Lika into Dalmatia, and end in Split. The Biketour wishes to cooperate with local NGOs on its Croatian route on two issues.

First - the Biketour seeks accommodation that could be secured by local associations. The accommodation is the most rudimetary, having in mind that the caravan carries its own tents, therefore, it would need a grassy area to set about 15 tents, in a location where building open fires is allowed (for purposes of cooking) and drinking water is accessible. Showers are more than welcome, but are not obligatory. It has happened in the past for the Biketour to be accommodated in sports halls, schools or partner associations' offices. Having in mnind that the Biketour can travel for up to three months, as this year, and includes a huge number of sleep-overs, the costs of accommodation should be as low as possible. Biketour can offer up to 2 EUR per person per night.

Second - Having in mind that the Biketour is made of activists, the caravan is interested in taking action on matters of environmental protection, human rights or peace and social problems in the communities it passes through. The host organizations, especially environmental protection associations, may present the problems they are involved in and propose an action (protests, street theatre, etc) to be implemented with the help from the participants in the caravan. The Biketour is especially interested in protest actions, if there is a big problem requiring media attention. In addition, the Biketour can return the favour through one-day of volunteer work: the common practice was work on ecological farms, in animal shelters, etd.

Contact person for Croatia: Ivan Gregov, 091/78 55 175, greg@mail.inet.hr.