Christchurch Peace Train Interfaith Memorial Bike Ride
The inaugural Peace Train-Interfaith Memorial Bike Ride organized by Cycling Christchurch was held on 26th May in the city centre. More than 100 cyclists assembled that day on the usually busy Riccarton Road, their destination being the various places of worship in Christchurch’s city centre. The purpose of the ride was to share the “We are One” spirit, promoting the importance of peace, tolerance, acceptance, and kindness. At 2pm, the cyclists arrived at FGS South Island NZ, warmly welcomed by BLIA members. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin wished the peace-loving group well, sharing Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Five pentagon of harmonious” philosophy.
This cycling event started from Al Noor Mosque in Deans Ave, moving on to a Catholic church, Anglican church, Hindu temple, Buddhist temple and so on, finally finishing at the Linwood Islamic Centre in Linwood Avenue. The total 10km trip took 3 hours to complete, with the start and end of the ride being the two mosques that experienced the 15th March attacks.
FGS South Island was the second stop on the journey, with more than 150 cyclists gathered outside the temple’s perimeter. Under the light of the Buddha, they all listened to Venerable Abbess Manshin’s speech: “Christchurch has suffered successive natural and man-made disasters that have cast a shadow over the city”. Right now, this city needs not only colour and sound to become lively, but also positive people to bring out the good of society. Today, it is because of all of you people shining positive energy, that makes this activity meaningful”. Venerable Abbess described Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Five pentagon of harmonious concept, encouraging everyone to start from ourselves, respect each other for social harmony, and thus achieve world peace. The 150 plus reinvigorated cyclists continued on, gathering momentum and energy as each religious leader encouraged and blessed them at every place of worship stop.
The event’s initiator Mazharuddin Syedahmed is one of the survivors from the March 15th Christchurch attacks. That day, he lost many of his relatives and friends, yet at the same time, he received care and support from people in the community that gave him the courage to move on, and this led him to conceive of this bike ride idea to foster interfaith peace. Mazharuddin said: “New Zealand is a pure land, a society filled with love. Interfaith peace activities can foster mutual understanding and commonality, thus reducing hatred”. This ride also echoes NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s “We are One” slogan, and we hope that New Zealanders and people all over the world can live in harmony together like a family.
The campaign was supported by the Canterbury District Health Board, with representative Meg Christie joining the peace train. Meg said that: “The positive energy released from this bike ride will disperse the shadow left behind from the shooting incident, enabling Christchurch to start afresh”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VodNICMm9hc