Today, on the 60th anniversary of Gandhi’s death, a 28-year old man called Saoirse (Sear-Shuh) is setting out to walk from the United Kingdom to India. He has no money, no visa, not much of anything else (except presumably a laptop, as he’ll be blogging!).
A little while back, he set up an organisation called Freeconomy, dedicated to removing the need for money by developing local communities in which people volunteer – not barter – skills, tools, space and land. It’s well worth taking a look at.
Here is the announcement of Saoirse’s adventure in his own words:
Hey Freeconomists, tomorrow, on the 60th anniversary of the assassination of Gandhi, I start walking from Bristol in the UK to a place called Porbandar in India without money. Do you want to know how it feels physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to do so? Would you like to find out if humanity is as beautiful and kind as I believe or whether the tabloids are actually right and that everyone is a possible threat?
If you do, then subscribe to the RSS feed on the Freeconomy Blog and join me on both the physical and internal journeys I am about to embark on. I have no idea what is going to happen, all I know is that it is going to be interesting! Well then I think that all there is left for me to say is a huge thank you and that I think you all are amazing people for wanting to be part of a new way of life. A big group of volunteers led by our project coordinator Dawn will be taking over the website today, and from here on I won’t be able to respond to all emails, though I will try to read all. Now I must go and prove that another, more beautiful and gentle, way of life is possible. I love you all. Now go pay the kindness forward. And make those random acts more regular and brighten up someones day. Saoirse x
A link to his blog is here.
Now obviously, the guy’s barking mad. I mean, one person can’t change the world, can they? I guess these hopeless dreamers and idealists just come along every so often.
Like this one:
(My video, created in loving commemoration of Gandhi)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Tess thank you for introducing me to this man’s RSS Feed. He is full of hope and an example for the world to know. I’ll pray for his journey and for his idealism that it may be rewarded as he endeavors to find the goodness in people.
Thank you for posting this. If only the world had more Ghandi’s and Mother Teresa’s!
sorry, but i just can’t help but wonder why he is starting in england…how does he plan to make it to the main land? all that water, you know. limiting thought, i know. sigh…
Thanks guys. Well Lucy, I guess he’s starting in England because that’s where he lives… but the thought did occur to me also. I’m sure he’ll find a way to cross the water (hitch on ferry) to continental Europe through the Ukraine to Russia, then down through China to India. Or take the short cut down through Iran and Pakistan (gulp). Maybe he won’t make it. Probably he won’t. But you never know! Me, I’m scared shitless even thinking about it!