September 27 to October 15, 2009: On foot from the Stone Circle of Almendres near Evora to the Stone Circle of Tamera Peace Research Center, Portugal

We can be the change that we want to see in the world.

Each step taken in such consciousness is a step on a new continent.

Contact: contact@sabine-lichtenfels.com
More: www.sabine-lichtenfels.com

Sabine Lichtenfels and the GRACE Foundation will start the 4th GRACE Pilgrimage. Using the motto "Creating Models for a Future without War," the pilgrimage is intended to draw the attention of leading European powers to the original sources of human culture on this continent. It is also the wish of Sabine Lichtenfels to motivate financial backers to invest their money in the development of comprehensive peace models rather than in the war machinery.

After the three preceding pilgrimages through areas of crises, such as the Middle East and Colombia, this year's GRACE Pilgrimage takes place in Portugal and puts its focus on Europe. Historically, Europe as a continent has been a source of conquest, the destruction of nature, and the global annihilation of aboriginal tribal cultures. Just as Europe played a central part in the worldwide injuries inflicted throughout history, it can now play a central part in their healing by coming to a fundamental change of mind and behavior about the key issues involved. The Pilgrimage will therefore end with the presentation of a technological, ecological and social model that is intended to provide answers designed to lead us out of the cultural impasse of our times: the presentation of the SolarVillage testfield from October 16 to 18 in Tamera.

The Pilgrimage will start at the prehistoric stone circle of Almendres near Evora and goes from there through Torrão, Grândola, Sines and Odemira, ending at the contemporary stone circle of the Peace Research Center of Tamera. This journey will aid in the recollection and

comprehension of humanity's passage from prehistoric and peaceful tribal cultures to a global model project for a humane and peaceful culture of the future. Sabine Lichtenfels invites the participation of peace activists, pilgrims, visionaries, and of people of all ages who want to contribute to the dawn of a new age, from Portugal or any other country in the world. We also look forward to having participants from other cultures: from Tibet and from Indigenous cultures in India and the Americas.

The Pilgrimage will be accompanied by a theater tour from the "Place of the Children" in Tamera. They will perform their play in Portuguese, "The Black Shadow and the Secret of the Princess," a political piece that is looking for solutions and alternatives from a children's point of view.

Sabine Lichtenfels, the leader of the Pilgrimage, is the author of many books. She is a member of the Portuguese contingent of the Swiss initiative "1000 Women for Peace," which was nominated for the Nobel Peace Price in 2005, and she is a founding member of the international Peace Research Center Tamera.

The Route will be approximately 240 km
From the 27th September until the 15th October

Prices:
We use Ecorate tables based on the living standards and income of people rather than on financial markets.

As a preparation, we strongly suggest that you go on longer walks before the pilgrimage, with your backpack.

We will walk up to 20 km per day.

We will sleep outdoors, sometimes staying in campsites (with showers and laundry facilities).

Details of the Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage will have three parts:

I) Stone circle near Évora - Grândola
spiritual part, Pre-historic Utopia

II) Grândola - Sines
historical, political part, History of Portugal and Europe -
What does healing mean in relation to the centuries of exploitation by the Europeans in the rest of the world?

III) Sines - Tamera
actual political part, Sines as an example of the capitalistic industrial society (big oil harbour etc. ..)
and the walk to an existing alternative we build in Tamera

Schedule (subject to minor changes):

Arrival day: 27.09.09 Meeting Point Évora or Montemor o Novo - Theater play in the afternoon
Almendres, Évora to Grandola / 28.09. - 04.10.
Grandola - Melides / 05.10.
Melides - St. André / 06.10
St. André - Sines / 08.10
Sines - Porto Covo / 09.10
Porto Covo - Milfontes / 10.10.
Milfontes - Almograve / 12.10.
Almograve - Cabo Sardão 13.10.
Cabo Sardão - Odemira 14.10.
Odemira - Tamera / 15.10.

To follow up please also have a look on these webites:
www.tamera.org
www.sabine-lichtenfels.com