“Everything in this world can be robbed and stolen, except one thing; this one thing is the love that emanates from a human being towards a solid commitment to a conviction or cause.”
― Ghassan Kanafani, co-founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, assassinated by Israel in 1972.
Saturday, 16 September 2023, is Day 15 of the Big Ride for Palestine (Australia). Forty-three (43) riders nationwide have already completed nearly 3,500 km of riding and have raised nearly $6000 for a projects in Palestine and refugee camps in Lebanon run by Union Aid Abroad (Apheda). At the same time the tour of Spain is being conducted by the professional body of cyclists, (UCI). On day 15 a number of riders from Brisbane (Meanjin) intend to do a stage equivalent in distance to a stage of La Vuelta. The map and itinerary of the our journey is below.
During Stage 18 of La Vuelta from Puerto de la Cruz de Linaris in the Asturias, my eye was caught when I saw this huge landslide at a mine while watching the race on SBS TV. Apparently, activity at the El Valle-Boinás gold, silver and copper mine in Asturias was interrupted by a landslide affecting one of the tailings deposits. According to the Canadian transnational mining company, Orvana Minerals, the damage was not structural and did not affect the mine’s personnel. However these images taken while watching La Vuelta show enormous damage to the ecosystem not only by the landslide but by the mine itself.
The TBR23 Palestine team in Brisbane ( the Auraucarians) have planned a stage equivalent stage of 127 kms as part of the Big Ride for Palestine (Australia) 2023.
We are going to ride from Southbank in Brisbane (Meanjin) down to Moreton Bay (Quandamooka), along from Victoria Point, via Cleveland point, to Wellington Point reserve and on to Manly and Wynuum and back to Brisbane, Meanjin.
Here is the itinerary:
Curiously, when one of he SBS race commentators first saw the golden images he exclaimed: “how beautiful !” but then when he realised it was part of the mine he said “aw, not really.” He was quick to follow up these comments saying that mining is being replaced by tourism in the Asturias region. True to form, SBS looks on the bright side of industrial capitalism. SBS refused the Palestinian requests not to endorse the Tour of Italy held in Israel a few years ago. The 101st edition of the Giro d’Italia was the first Grand Tour race to start outside Europe.
Here are some images from the SBS coverage of La Vuelta:
From the helicopter shots, not far away, we could see an enormous cement works showing the mining industrial complex in the Asturias region of Spain, still going strong.
Did the Dutch betray the quiet American?
Meanwhile, during the race, I was trying to decide whether the dominant team, Jumbo Visma (Dutch) had indeed betrayed the American rider, Sepp Kuss, by riding away for him on the queen stage of the monster climb of L’Angliru. And then, did team management decide that, on the following Stage 18 of La Vuelta, to redeem themselves by allowing the quiet American to retain the red jersey?
Come join us if you can!
Ian Curr
15 Sept 2023
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