World Peace campaigners travel to The Gambia by foot

Debasis De, a native of India and wife, Florentine Grossu, a Romanian student, arrived in The Gambia recently on foot, in their World Peace Expedition (WOPEX) campaign under the flag of the United Nations. Debasis whose aim is to spread the message of peace, non-violence and advocate against other evil trends that might distract world peace, has been travelling on foot since 1991 and has covered more than 120, 000 kilometres, covering 74 countries and visited more than 4,000 colleges and universities.

They walk about 30 kilometres daily, spending nights in police stations, schools, motels, camps and sometimes Red Cross offices. They carry nothing except their bag, which contains only few items of toiletries and clothing. Speaking at the Daily Observer offices , Debasis said that peace in the world involved mental development and education. “

The campaign for peace cannot be achieved without this”. He said he had feelings for the young people and hence the need to be orientated on peace and non- violence. He also said materialism was responsible for most of the world’s violence “but if one believes in spiritualism (God), there would not be violence in the world today,” he said. The couple who are sheltered by one Alieu Keita (a Gambian) had travelled on foot to Bangladaesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Russia, Egypt, Jordan, Albanian and FYR of Macedonia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, amongst others.

Their next trip would include Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Cote d’ivore, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Togo, Niger and other countries in the sub-region. Their world peace campaign (on foot) would end in Hiroshima Japan, in 2014. They would however be visiting schools,colleges and youth organisations in The Gambia. They are in immediate need of material help. Anyone willing to help them before they live should contact the Daily Observer on 496608 or Foday Chorr 918399.