Cyclist rides to free Tibet
By Toronto Sun/timesoftibet

Sep 3, 2003, 04:49



Karen McLinton is still a driven woman after two years cycling the planet to raise awareness about Tibetans. With 15,000 km and 13 countries under her tires -- including France, India, Laos, and Vietnam -- McLinton arrived in Toronto two weeks ago to spread her message.

The 39-year-old former insurance agent from Jersey -- an English island 64 km off the coast of France -- said she started her bike ride Aug. 27, 2001 after she fought off myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome.

As her "tour de world" cycled eastward through Europe and then Asia, she had an awakening when she met Tibetans living in the northern regions of India.

Her trip and work is chronicled on her Web site www.freetibetworldbikeride.co.uk.

'DIDN'T KNOW'

"I came through Europe and didn't know anything about Tibet until I arrived in India," McLinton said. "Right now I'm trying to organize a ride when I return to Europe and protest at the 2004 (summer) Olympics in Athens.

"I'm hoping to put pressure on the 2008 Chinese Games," McLinton said.

She also wants to get her message out to the Irish rockers U2 and movie star Richard Gere, who has met the Dali Lama, because of their political sway in dealing with human rights issues.

Yesterday, as she prepared to leave west-end Toronto riding toward Ottawa, she was met by a newfound Tibetan friend Lobsang Thargyal, who moved to Canada in 1999, from India.

"We believe she is sending a great message," Thargyal said, in reference to the 2,000 or so Tibetans living in Toronto.

"She is doing a very hard task and it is appreciated."

The People's Republic of China has been accused of ethnic cleansing, systematic destruction of monasteries, and religious and political suppression since it occupied Tibet 54 years ago.



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