Change the Cycle refers to the individual, family and societal cycles of violence that we all want to change. Many men are becoming more courageous and want to get involved in ending violence against women. Change the Cycle will engage men and it refers to this particular act of bicycling with the intent to provoke thinking and action towards change.
Why am I doing this?
There are many ways to raise awareness about male violence against women. I have chosen a solo bike trip for a couple of reasons:
This bike tour will be a tough but worthwhile challenge that may push me to my limits at times, and will include lots of tough days, unexpected situations and great moments. And that is how change works– it’s not easy, you need to have a destination and put in the ‘miles’, overcome lots of disappointments, and celebrate the successes along the way. I see men living this reality every day at the Men’s Program as they challenge themselves and work to change and adopt new attitudes and behaviours.
I’ve worked with men who have been abusive to women for over 23 years. I witness the sexist and degrading beliefs and behaviours many men hold and which are perpetuated in popular culture, media and pornography. But I am also familiar with men’s great desire for a better and more equal society and relationships where their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers are not hurt by men and where men can trust each other. A bike tour is a way to take their messages of hope and their desire for non violence and respect to other men along the way.
Travelling by bicycle has always been my passion. You can cover long distances in a simple way without leaving a big footprint. You are close to the environment and to the communities you pass through. This solo bike tour will allow me to be up-close with many men and women and be able to talk with them about the changes they want to see to end violence.
I plan to collect stories from the people I meet on the way – stories about their losses due to male violence, their vision of a violent free world, and changes they would like to see in their relationships, communities and nation. I’m calling this aspect of the tour “Spinning Stories from Owen Sound to Vancouver”.
Goals
- Raise awareness of how men can be the change we want to see
- Collect stories of change, inspiration and hope across the country
- Build connections for collective change
- Raise funds to enhance programs and services to help men change
The Tour – What it will look like?
The planned route is Owen Sound, Tobermory, Sault St Marie, Duluth (Minnesota), Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Vancouver Island, Vancouver. The total distance will be about 5000 km. You can see my full route map and day by day itinerary here.
I plan to speak with local groups, organizations and agencies in the communities I ride through on my way west. The focus is talking to men and engaging them in the work of ending violence against women. I will collect the stories and messages I hear in a trip diary, and post them on my blog so they can be shared along the way.
Two parts of the tour are of particular importance to me:
1. A stop in Duluth Minnesota, the birthplace of the “Duluth Model”, a community approach to work with men that is applied all over North America and many European countries. Ellen Pence was one of the teachers and mentors for the Men’s Program and the Grey Bruce communities in the early 1990s and helped get services for men established. She was the co-author of the Duluth Model which the Men’s Program continues to use in a modified version.
2. The other major aspect, and a particularly painful and sensitive one, is addressing violence against First Nations Women in this country by taking the route on Hw 16, the “Highway of Tears”. On the 800 km stretch between Prince George and Prince Rupert my daughter Sonja who has lived and worked in this area for many years, and who encouraged me to include the Highway of Tears, will join me for this part of the tour.
I hope that the Change the Cycle tour will contribute in some small way to our collective efforts to make our homes, communities, and country a safer place for all.
Thanks you very much for your support! Please feel free to contact me below if you have any suggestions or comments.
All the best
Joachim