PEACE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD
Jean Béliveau left Montreal, Canada, at 9:00am on August 18th, 2000. His goal was to walk around the planet to promote "Peace and non-violence to the profit of the children of the world". He is still walking – traveling alone with a three wheeled stroller to carry a bit of food, his clothing, a First Aid kit, a small tent and a sleeping bag. Jean plans to walk across all the continents. So far he has crossed North America to South America, walked the length of Africa, across Europe, to London. The next leg of his journey will take him across the Middle East, South and Eastern Asia, Australia, New Zealand and finally to Vancouver, where he will walk across Canada.
This journey will take 12 years to complete which is in accordance with the United Nations proclamation: 2001-2010 - International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World.
He
is in his sixth year of walking - half way through his epic journey. Jean
was in touch with the consular section, who referred him to the Political Affairs and Public
Diplomacy Division. Ron Hoffman took him for lunch, and as you know, Jennifer
Brown organized a small meet-and-greet in the Red Room while he was passing
through London. What stories he told us and how fascinating to meet someone
so dedicated. A truly lovely gentleman!
Ron Hoffmann arranged a meeting for Jean Béliveau and Jennifer Brown at the
Royal Geographical Society with their Head of Expeditions and Field Research,
Mrs. Shane Winser. This proved to be a fruitful meeting, with lively discussions
about Mr. Beliveau's overland route to Japan, including safety, terrain, border
crossings, visas, weather, scenery, geopolitics, and the benefits of taking
his educational and awareness-raising mission to certain regions vs. others.
Murray Sigler gave Jean an Alberta t-shirt, while Mary Lou Finlan collected £90 which she sent to Jean's wife. As well, people donated €17.50 – these Euros he took with him as he was leaving England and going to France.
If you want to see his route, check out his website which explains more about his epic journey on foot: http://www.wwwalk.org/
From Luce, Jean's wife:
Bonjour Mary-Lou!
Quelle ne fut pas ma surprise, en prenant mon courrier, hier soir, de trouver un chèque au montant de 189$ représentant les contributions volontaires des gens du Haut-Commissariat de Londres!
Tu sembles trouver que c'est un montant négligeable... mais pour moi, ce montant fait preuve d'une grande générosité et il est certain que Jean pourra avancer de plusieurs kilomètres grace à cet argent!
Soyez assurés de toute notre reconnaissance, de Jean et de moi, et s'il te plaît, transmets nos remerciements à tous ceux qui contribué au support de la wwwalk tant financièrement que par leur dévouement!
Bien amicalement!