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From Conrad Schmidt, World Naked Bike Ride,
Vancouver, BC Canada
A
common question about this event is "What does the law say?"
Yup, it seems that almost everywhere in the world riding your bicycle
naked is illegal....
...but
still we do it !!
Here
may be why we have been getting away with it.
1) The
laws on nudity are vague and seem to hinge on something called
"indecent exposure." The fact of the matter is that being
naked is not "indecent." There is nothing indecent about a
naked body. The only thing that is indecent are the laws on
indecent exposure. There are many indecent laws that we the citizens
of the world have to stand up to. (e.g. the U.S. Patriot act)
2)
Police do not want to be seen confronting a large group of peaceful
naked people. Its too embarrassing.
3) The
World Naked Bike Ride is clothing optional.
4) This
is a very important one, If you do encounter police or any other
aggression do not reciprocate the aggression, keep it light, our
best weapon is humour. It's tough getting angry at a colourful naked
person on a bicycle. Anger and aggression only returns anger and
aggression.
None
of our rides in Vancouver have been behind closed doors, we do them LOUD
and we do them proud. We advertise them in local non mainstream
newspapers.
We
are challenging social norms, we are challenging the template laws that
tell us that what is right is wrong.
I
have had many fun encounters with police officers, one of the most
interesting was when this grumpy police officer came up to me and told
me that he thought that what I was wearing was indecent. I looked him
straight in the eye and told him that I thought his opinion was
indecent. I was right. - No, I was not arrested.
I
have some cool pictures of this event, I will put them up on the
website.
Although
arrests have been made in Seattle for bicycling naked during the
Solstice Parade with at least one person going to jail, charges were
dropped because there was no lewd behavior. Nobody
has ever been arrested at any of the major naked cycling events in
Vancouver, Spain or Germany.
June
12th is going to be ride #8 in Vancouver!
June
12th is not just a ride against oil dependency, its a ride for self
empowerment.
If
you have any questions, e-mail
me or give me a call 604-215-9395, and be sure and subscribe to our free
newsletter
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Love
and Peace,
Conrad,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
...more on the law
From J. Charles Banks, Editor
When
any government, through media manipulation and control, chooses to close
off normal avenues of recourse, discussion and exploration, and begins
to suppress people's liberties, free expression and lifestyle, sometimes
these people take to the streets. Whether in Tiananmen Sq. China,
the Berlin Wall or Pack Place, Asheville, NC, it has always happened.
It's not
important that the World Naked Bike Ride be a success. It
already is. It is perhaps important that it is a
statement of the people. One of freedom. It is also a
barometer of how much fear and suppression people are really in, and how
"enforcement minded" are the police.
Throughout history,
when people needed to vent their disapproval of government control, whether of
Kings, Czars or perverted and corrupted "democracies," they
took to the streets, risked
embarrassment and arrest, and even their lives. The World Naked
Bike Ride tommorow may well be one of those times.
Sometimes
there is a breakthrough. Asheville law enforcement officers simply may
not wish to be
seen as bullies...especially with the new Asheville Chief of Police taking
office two days later! The World Naked Bike Ride
tomorrow may well be one of those times.
The World Naked
Bike Ride appears to have the coloration of a civil disobedience
event. Most of the cities participating do not seen to have obtained any
permits. It also appears to be anarchistic, a word that seems to
engender fear in law enforcement. I see this simply has not being under
the law, and not having a leader. I view this harmless, anarchistic
event as a sort of "power-to-people" event. Not having at
its core the intention of breaking laws and ordinances, but rather
affirming freedom and sovereignty.
Sometimes there is a
clash of view points. Lord knows, now, with the federal Patriot
Act, fear permeates the minds of so many, killing our aliveness. One can clearly see
the potential for control, if not the actual suppression.
Americans have been in the politically proverbial "lobster pot" for
several years now. Too many.
Some people are seeing
and feeling it. They are waking up. Taking action! Speaking out!
While some are saying "FREEDOM NOW!," others, numb to what is happening,
are being skillfully programmed and managed by a profit-based social
structure. Through a surgically manipulative, capital-driven media, they
are
unknowingly preparing for their next lemming journey to the sea. In the
meantime, relinquishing their personal sovereignty.
I am amazed at this
country. How can so many people be so asleep. Amazing!
At 66, I
have participated in my share of protests...from the March on
Washington to end the Vietnam War back in the 70s,
Live Aid in the 80s, and sundry peace promotions over the past
three decades.
I have also witnessed the control and manipulation of the
old Soviet Union as well as its final breath. I have been active in the liberation of the new
Russia since 1992, often spending months at a time there, doing mostly
spiritually-oriented sharing, new thought, universal stuff. While they
sympathize with the bombing of America by what have been termed
terrorists, they can't believe the existence of America's Patriot
Act. My friends in Russia are amazed, having just tossed these
worn-out suppressive regime less than two decades ago. Sure, they have
also had their share of terrorists, but more government control...NEVER!
There is unity in
numbers, intention, demeanor, awareness. I trust there will be no
violence, and no arrests made or citations given.
I am surely not calling
for martyrs to this cause, which to some, may almost appear frivolous.
As editor of Asheville Magazine, I am merely chronicling
this event. I do not see it as frivolous. I see it as the tip of the
iceberg, and a major statement concerning major issues, ...and well
worth a controversial Naked Bike Ride.
Blessings & Love,
J. Charles Banks, Editor
Asheville Magazine
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