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news
Refugees Welcome.PNG“Refugees Welcome” – British cyclists complete world’s largest GPS artwork
A pair of cyclists from the UK have finished what is the world’s largest GPS artwork, riding 2,200 kilometres to sketch out the words “Refugees Welcome” across southern England.
Georgie Cottle, 27, and David Charles, 39, undertook the challenge to raise funds for the charity, Choose Love with their total currently standing at more than £50,000.
The pair, who set out on their journey a month ago, have smashed the previous record of 761km.
“We chose to spell out ‘Refugees Welcome’ across this region because this is the biggest entry point for asylum seekers reaching the UK,” said Georgie.
“To finish the last letter in Dover felt very symbolic and sends a message of compassion to those arriving here.
“The challenge has been in response to what’s been happening in Afghanistan, and also Priti Patel and the UK government’s monstrous overhaul of the asylum system.
“The new policies will put the country in direct opposition to the 1951 Geneva Convention by shutting down more of the few remaining legal routes to the UK.”
“The south of England is hillier than you might think, so it’s certainly been a challenge” she continued.
“I spent my 27th birthday cycling out the ‘O’ of in Welcome, so that was really cool.
“But the challenges have definitely been overcome by the amount of amazing people we’ve met on the route and we’ve had a further 35 people sign up to help us finish the challenge.
“Everyone’s been so supportive and even in places we haven’t been sure they’d support our cause, they really have.
“Normal people, like us, really do just want to help to try to do something to help people in need,” she added.
On their fundraising page, the pair set out the reasons behind the challenge, saying: “The British government is trying to make it almost impossible for refugees to claim asylum in the UK.
“Home Secretary Priti Patel's Nationality and Borders Bill is putting the UK in direct opposition to the 1951 Geneva Convention by shutting down even more legal routes to asylum in this country. Incredibly, it will also criminalise the courageous, life-saving work of the RNLI.
“That's why we're getting back on our bikes, cycling really really far and fundraising for grassroots organisations that offer refugees the welcome that our government withholds.”
They also wrote of their own personal reasons for taking on the challenge.
“I have been a keen bean cyclist since I was 19 and found myself cycling the length of America, sort of by accident,” Georgie said.
“Since then I have explored much of Scotland, Wales and New Zealand with my trusty Raleigh Capri (called ‘Sunny’).
“I first got involved volunteering with refugee and asylum seeker communities while studying Arabic in Jordan in 2016, at the height of the crisis. I learned one heck of a lot about what it meant to be a 'refugee', what people had to give up and why people were forced to flee.
“I now work with refugee and asylum seeker communities in Glasgow and it seems that people's journeys are being made ever more difficult by governments here in the UK and in Europe.
“Spell It Out is an incredible challenge that I am so privileged to be a part of. We are both really looking forward to getting on the road, and rallying as much support as possible for Choose Love!”
David said: “I've been going on ridiculously long bike rides for ten years now, including two stints on the London to Athens relay with Thighs of Steel.
“For me, bikes are the ultimate freedom machine, carrying me across continents, powered by nothing more than a croissant (or seven). I have also seen the transformational potential of bikes when put into the hands of refugees and asylum seekers, both here in the UK and in places like Calais, Athens, Chios and Samos.
“Bikes give us both independence and community and I'm proud to use mine in solidarity with those fleeing persecution, conflict and torture.
“I've been so lucky that I've been able to travel freely around the world, thanks only to the freak chance of being born in a politically stable, wealthy country. The sheer injustice that some human beings aren't allowed to cross borders makes me furious and anger is an energy, right? I hope so, because I've got an awful lot of cycling to do!
“We are far from powerless,” he added. “Please donate generously, make a noise and show the world that refugees are always welcome here.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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87 comments
I've avoided this thread after seeing what the original article about Georgie and Charles setting off dragged up. Am I right that scrolling down will be utterly depressing and almost make people nostalgic for old-fashioned nasty people who were honest about their views, rather than modern ones who are a bit more covert and hide their prejudices behind diffuse motivations for their policies.
Why don't you summon up just a tiny bit of courage and name those people?
You could even name their real motives which you have so cleverly deduced?
Nigel Garrage, Mark_1973_ - those hugely courageous anonymous posters. Don't think they really need naming, everyone can see what they've written.
Can little Markieteeee not speak for themselves?
"I am concerned about those who seek to limit other's contributions to a debate. It's an extremely worrying personality trait." You, last week.
Explain how I've sought to limit anyone?
I'll wait.
Hi Rich. I hope you're well. I think you can work out who they may be - it doesn't take courage to name them but in the interests of not getting dragged into a debate that I don't currently have time for, I chose not to. Also, I have not read the comment string, for time reasons as well as those stated. So, if you feel that you have made comments that fit the bill I was genuinely unaware.
If you don't want to get involved in the debate why post something so vague?
Insinuating ulterior motives without actually making any effort to demonstrate proof is a pretty low.
I might market cycling jerseys with a hair lining. There's enough potential buyers on this forum alone to turn a profit.
That's a good idea, you could get the materials from shearing the billygoats that cross your bridge.
Rendel, please, please work on your insults. I don't mind a bit of banter, but you're actually embarrassing. How old are you? 12?
Who on earth uses the word "whackadoodle"? I'm cringing for you!
Oh no, a humourless rightwing troll doesn't think I'm funny! What a devastating blow.
Genuinely made me spit my tea, that did.
Just make sure you've got sustainable material sources and they're made under ethical working conditions... Hey, you even could employ some of these refugee folks to make 'em! You're winning!
I'm sure the 3.2M slaves British traders shipped to the Caribbean and the Americas, and the 520,000 who died on British ships in transit, prior to abolition might have something to say about that "always".
Gotta love people glorifing the abolition of slavery, conveniently forgetting that to abolish it you had to have institutionalised it in the first place.....
Wilbeforce was a great man, however the establishment fought him tooth and nail, every step of the way.
Hmm, the executive abusing, opposing and actively rolling back human rights. I wonder if there are any parallels for modern times....
When do modern times start ?
After Back in the Day. Much later than Yore, which of course preceded even the Olden Days. Perhaps on Tuesday the week between Yesteryear and Living Memory?
Although I think it's safe to say any period that allows us to vehemently disagree, so generating a parallel dispute that gets us no nearer to reaching consensus.
much obliged for that handy bit of info although In would have opted for the Wednesday the week between Yesteryear and the day Grandad fell of the tram.
Fascist
We'll get to them eventually.
Especially as we "abolished" it by a) paying so much compensation to slave owners (40% of the national budget at the time - not a penny to help slaves of course, who, transformed into "indentured labourers", continued as slaves in all but name) that the Treasury only finished paying off the debt in 2015 and b) continuing to build our Victorian prosperity and feeding the Industrial Revolution using cotton, tobacco, molasses and other materials produced by US and South American slaves.
A BEACON I tell you....
I'm still waiting for the Govt to announce indentured labour as an answer to the cost of benefits and a way around their suddenly discovering that all those foreigners we sent home / scared off after Brexit did actually do something...
"Indentured labour" - an oldie but... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YBumQHPAeU
"We have the bravery to bring back slavery"
Indeed. Farage thought the fact that Great Britain had abolished slavery was some mic drop moment. Got his arse handed to him by Femi Oluwole in a few seconds on live TV, pointing out exactly the same thing.
I almost felt sorry for Farage. 🤣🤣🤣
Of course when slavery was abolished the British state compensated those owning slaves making a strata of sociey wealthier still. In 1833 the Gov't used 40% of it's debt to compensate the owners, a debt finally paid off in 2014 (meaning of course any decendent of those enslaved who's lived and paid taxes in the UK has contributed to the emancipation of thier forebears). The flip side is that it prooves, if ever proof were needed, that Gov't finance just ain't the same as that of a family despite St. Magaret's protestations to the contray. So we realy can finance a green recovery, decent infrastructure (cycle paths, yay!), good schools, a well funded health service it's just that a certain governing party does't think the people deserve it.
There's no magic money tree you know (unless you're a slaver. Or a banking spiv)
And I can't believe that I can't spell 'proves'...thank heavens no one pointed that out before I noticed.
I can just imagine Boo going "see mummy, I must be popular because look how many reply to my messages".
Anyway don't forget the Irish Potato Famine and the millions killed when we setup "human rights" in India, Australia and the Colonies that would later become the USA.
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