Bike Trip with Global Agents for Change

Sup Frands, This is the official promo release of the Global Agents for Change presents: (we don’t have a name yet). But we do have a sponsor NGO and we are riding bikes from Portland to Boston this summer! Here’s the scoop: We’re looking for at least 8 more people (16 total) to tour with from June 25 to August 25. What we can offer is bike mechanic support, mostly free accommodations under the banner of Global AFC, and full support from a 16 passenger van (with gas paid!) Here’s the damage: The estimated cost of the journey is travel to Portland from where-ever you are at the end of June plus a leaving Boston with a bike. Another expense is about $16 a day on food ($1000) total to be paid before departure. A small administrative fee, ferry ride, and camping cost ($100) to be paid upfront but included in the fundraising goal. Lastly, our funding raising goal is $1,000. This money will go towards local food sovereignty initiatives of your choosing. Likely, we will be giving our funds to some of the people we stay with along the way and you will be able to choose the organization that you think can best use the money. In total our budget estimate is no more than $2,500 all included. But we’re not doing this without purpose: The ride is intended to be a food sovereignty ride. Meaning that by encouraging the rate of local food production we are bringing a stronger sense of active participation in community affairs as well as relieving some weight of the US footprint on foreign nations. We plan to do this by staying with agricultural-related organizations (farms, food security organizations, organic networks, etc). Why fundraising is awesome: First of all fundraising a grand is not that hard. Convince 10 people that local, organic food production is worth $100 and you’re done. Contact businesses for tax deductable donations, talk to your entire extended family, tell your friends and everyone you see until the day of the ride. Throw a party, make art, go on a hunger strike, get down on one need and beg, whatever it takes, it’s easier than you think, trust our experience! But why really: Well because, food is the perfect case-in-point for environmental and social justice. We all have to eat. Growth hormones in our meat, chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides in our fruits and veggies, and monoculture of our grains all make our very existence questionable in the long-term. Not to mention our food system is dependent transportation through carbon combustion, something we know will not last much longer. Let’s not forget we also import massive amounts of food from foreign tropical countries. We eat cheap, delicious foods that come at a high cost to the land of other people. Often these people are paid extremely low wages to plant, care and pick the crops. It is transnational corporations that are reaping the benefits. There are a host of reasons but for brevity purposes I will not continue. What’s expected before, during and after: Before the ride we need the riders to fundraise. We are here for advice and support in fundraising efforts. But also we need riders to find accommodations. This means we will assign you three cities and your job is to find a place for us to sleep and we encourage you to find us a meal and possibly a community event to attend. During the ride, we will be living in a large group setting. That means you must be able to clean up after yourself. An understanding of group dynamics and assistance with group chores is needed. A positive attitude is essential when waking up and getting the group on the rode in the early morning hours. Also, you are representing a formal non-profit organization to our hosts so some degree of professionality is required! After the ride, we would like riders to set aside a couple days to decompress. The ride will be more of mental test than a physical. You will get to know all the riders very well and some time to relax with each other will be needed. Also, we will be discussing very complex issues of social inequity and environmental change so be prepared to be mentally strained, some down-time after the ride will be needed. Also we would like to document this ride, so video editors, writers; etc will be needed as well. If you would like to carry this project on into the future by all means let’s do it. Don’t forget that this tour itself can qualify for directed studies that can continue after the ride. If you want to receive university credits for the ride, it is entirely possible! Be aware that these plans are tentative, if you have any input, we’d like to hear it. Also check out our blog, http://bikeacrossamerica.wordpress.com/, go to Global AFC’s page http://www.globalafc.org/ or get in touch with Ben at amund180@hotmail.com if you have any questions. Remember we’re looking for $150 deposit by March 15^th