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EUROPE'S USED BICYCLES ARE GOOD FOR AFRICA!
By Wisdom Ogbor

Is it possible to get 5,000 used mountain bikes donated in Spain, Italy, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands; and truck them through Spain to Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Chad and Nigeria, through the Sahara desert, to support rural agriculture, and call attention to the growing Sahara desert?

The answer to this question will vary very much from one person to another. But to me, because of my experiences with dealing with several bike activism issues over the years in the USA and Mexico, my answer is a resounding - YES!

In the early 1990's I had tried to find a way to use resources that are thrown away in the USA to start useful projects in third world countries. Because of the huge distance between the USA and my home country Nigeria, it was impossible for me to take any goods to Nigeria without paying a lot of money in shipping. This is because shipping costs can easily run into thousands of dollars; therefore,  I was not able to continue with that effort.

But towards the end of the 1990's I discovered that across the USA borders in Texas, Mexico, just like many poor countries in Africa, could benefit from good things that are being thrown away and are underappreciated in the USA. And unlike to Africa, where any goods going there had to be mandatory to be shipped, I could personally drive my own goods across the border into Mexico. So, I made contacts with bicycle organizations in Texas and the rest of the USA, and we launched a Mexico Bicycle project which has trucked hundreds of used bicycles donated in the USA, for use in poor communities of Mexico, from the Texas border, to far away southern states, like Chiapas and the Yucatan peninsula..

Haven seen how useful a used bicycle could be in helping people live their lives better, it brought back to me again the feelings that used bicycles would also definitely serve well in Africa to help better lives in poor and rural communities, especially in agriculture. Discussing this further with people, I was made to understand that there are so many used bicycles in Europe and the Europeans would not mind at all to let them go, if they will be of use to poor people some where in the world.

Now for the question of shipping, I was inspired that Dr. Newton Jibunoh of Nigeria has crossed the Sahara desert several times from Europe to Africa, first in a Volkswagen, and more recently in his better fitted desert wagons with several "Desert Warriors". Investigating further, I found out that there are several expeditions across the Sahara desert every year from Europe with groups that cross on motorcycles, but are supported by trucks that carry food and resources for the desert travelers. Most of the trucks travel nearly empty until they have to shuttle a broken motor bike or it's rider while repairs are made. Inside these trucks, I see that spaces could be donated to us to carry several of our bicycles to Africa. Also, it is not far fetched that many desert exploration companies in Europe may not mind to associate with our philanthropic efforts and help us with sponsorship.

If it is possible for this to happen, then I am reinitiating contacts with all my bicycle activist colleagues in the USA to join me and wake up this consciousness with bike organizations and individuals in Europe. We are asking for donations of all used and serviceable mountain bikes, and spare parts from the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands and other countries in Europe that can donate. We also ask for donations of transport vehicles additionally, and other help and logistics to help truck up to 5,000 bikes through Spain, to Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Chad and Nigeria. We also call on musicians, artists, adventurers and news organizations to be prepared to travel with us in a convoy as we depart to deliver these bicycles to help with agricultural and community health works in rural areas in Africa.

As nations discuss the problems of climate change and how to tackle it, I see this as one way to call more attention to Africa's Sahara Desert and the problems that it poses and faces from drastic world climate changes. Many people agree that the developed countries of the world have to do something to help the underdeveloped nations that are suffering more due to climate change. Well, this is a small step, but no doubt will go it's end to provide these simple tools that will become necessary for the very poor people to have, in order to cope with shortages of agricultural products because of global warming.

To share information that will be relevant to forming this project, and getting it rolling as soon as possible, please send us an e-mail at info@rootsandwisdommusic.com


 

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