Meet the PeaceRiders

	JIGME NORBU Age: 38 Place of Birth: NY, NY In America Since: Birth Occupation/Studying What and Where? Self Employed Current Residence: Bloomington, Indiana Future Aspiration: To regain Tibet for Tibetans Why I RIDE! I dedicate this ride to my Father -Thupten Jigme Norbu, Takster Rinpoche- Eldest brother of His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, and the strongest advocate for Tibetan Independence and the proper liberation of six million Tibetans still under Chinese Communist Rule.
	TSERING SAMDUP Age: 21 Place of Birth: Byalkuppe, India (southern settlement) In America Since: 1997 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: Freedom for all Tibetans Why I RIDE! To end the occupation of Tibet.
	RINBO TENZIN Age: 32 Place of Birth: Amdo, Tibet In America Since: 1997 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Cook Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: To continue to fight for a Free Tibet Why I RIDE! To Free Tibet! To tell Tibetans not to give up and continue to fight to realize our goal. To Free the Panchen Lama, all the Tibetan Political Prisoners, and support World Peace.
	RABKA Age: 35 Place of Birth: Amdo, Tibet In America Since: 1999 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Cook Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: Keep on fighting for Tibet! Why I RIDE! To Free Tibet, and emphasize the need to cultivate a future permeated by World Peace, which can start by releasing all Tibetan Political Prisoners.
	GENDIN GYATSO Age: 28 Place of Birth: Amdo, Tibet In America Since: 1997 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Carpenter Current Residence: Santa Monica, California Future Aspiration: To continue to fight for Freedom in Tibet Why I RIDE! For a Free Tibet, and for the release of His Holiness the XIth Panchen Lama: Geden Choekyi Nyima- the world¹s youngest Political Prisoner- and other innocent prisoners in China.
	TASHI DORJEE Age: 21 Place of Birth: Dharadin, India In America Since: 1997 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Auto Mechanic Current Residence: Columbia Heights, Minnesota Future Aspiration: To educate more people about the truth in Tibet. Why I RIDE! To inspire the youth of Tibetan communities to become more involved in the continuous fight for a Free Tibet, and to create a heightened level of awareness of what is STILL happening in OUR country!
	KARMA TASHI Age: 30 Place of Birth: Tibet In America Since: 2002 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Life Current Residence: Bloomington, Indiana Future Aspiration: Freedom Fighter Why I RIDE! To Free Tibet, release His Holiness the Xith Panchen Lama; Geden Choeyki Nyima- the world¹s youngest Political Prisoner, all other Tibetan Political Prisoners, and World Peace.
	TSERING TOPDEN Age: 23 Place of Birth: Orissa, India In America Since: 1997 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Student; Business, Minnesota Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: To establish myself as an independent businessman Why I RIDE! To FREE TIBET, stop the human rights violations inside Tibet, free the Panchen Lama and stop the execution of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, as well as World Peace. My presence on this PeaceRide is also meant to send a message to all my Tibetan Brothers and Sisters within Tibet that if they never give up we won¹t either, for if any of us do how can we ever expect the rest of the world to help us regain what is rightfully oursŠTIBET!
	NYIMA TSERING Age: 30 Place of Birth: Byalkuppe, India (southern settlement) In America Since: 2000 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Recently finished schooling in India. Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: To feel Tibet be FREE! Why I RIDE! To Free Tibet, the Panchen Lama, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, and to secure the future of the Tibetan culture rests firmly in the hands of noone but Tibetans.
	SONAM WANGDU (Kusho) Age: 30 Place of Birth: Tibet In America Since: 2002 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Sangha (Monk) Current Residence: New York, New York Future Aspiration: Freedom Fighter Why I RIDE! To Free Tibet, release the Panchen Lama and Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, as well as ALL Political Prisoners en route to World Peace.
	TENZIN SHERAP Age: 19 Place of Birth: India In America Since: 1996 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Student, Minnesota Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: To settle my life and accept the responsibilities of being a Tibetan. Why I RIDE! I am Riding for my country¹s Independence, for the long life of His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama and Tibetans the world over, and lastly for the sake of Peace prevailing on Earth.
	NAMGYAL RAPTEN Age: 22 Place of Birth: Byalkuppe, India (Southern settlement) In America Since: 1999 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Marketing Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: To one day actually be standing on the soil that is my nation. Why I RIDE! To Free Tibet, and emphasize the need to cultivate a future permeated by World Peace, which can start by releasing all Tibetan Political Prisoners.
	TENZIN NORBU: Age:20 Place of Birth: Bhouda, Kathmandu In America Since: 1998 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Student; Minneapolis Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota Future Aspiration: To continue to keep on doing things to have a Free Tibet! Why I RIDE! To make it clear that Tibet wants its freedom back so it can further His Holiness¹ Teachings, World Peace
	KHEDUP RITZEKURA Age: 22 Place of Birth: Karnataka, India (southern settlement) In America Since: 1996 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Student, Minneapolis Current Residence: Fridley, Minnesota Future Aspiration: Law Enforcement Why I RIDE! To FREE TIBET by influencing other younger Tibetans to step up to receive more knowledge about their own culture.
	"TENZIN" (Dranyi) Age: 31 Place of Birth: Bhutan In America Since: 1998 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Translator for Tibetan Cultural Center TCC/Jhamtseling: Bloomington, Indiana Current Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana Future Aspiration: A FREE TIBET Why I RIDE! Peace begins with Freedom. A Free Tibet means one step closer to a Free World
	PARZIVAL HERZOG Age: 52 Place of Birth: Germany In America Since: In Canada since 1957 Occupation/Studying What and Where? CEO Software Company Current Residence: Winnipeg, CA Future Aspiration: To become the best human being I can be Why I RIDE! I want to show my solidarity with the suffering Tibetan people both in Tibet, and in exile. People in Tibet are punished for showing the truth about their oppression, so we must express what they cannot. I feel that the struggle to Free Tibet requires careful study and analysis of all the factors contributing to the problem, especially Chinese history and culture. With this objective and compassionate background, it becomes possible to 'imagine' a realistic path to a resolution, and when you can truly 'imagine' one, it is then possible to act effectively. I am sure that the freedom of Tibet will not be possible without a considerable increase in the level of Human Rights for the people of China.
	SHARON WISEMYN Age: 58 Place of Birth: Washington DC In America Since: In Canada since 1967 Occupation/Studying What and Where? Retired Social Worker; Astrologer Current Residence: Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA Future Aspiration: To live each day in joy and be of help wherever I am Why I RIDE! In gratitude for all the gifts of wisdom and examples of peace, which Tibetans have given to the world, I wanted to support this ride.
	LARRY GERSTEIN Age: 51 Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York In America Since: Birth Occupation/Studying What and Where? President, ITIM; Professor, Ball State University Current Residence: Fishers, Indiana Future Aspiration: To retire in an independent Tibet! Why I RIDE! To give voice to the people inside of Tibet who firmly desire independence, to advocate for the release of The Panchen Lama, and to assist Taktser Rinpoche in His effort to return Tibet to the Tibetans.
	DOUGLAS F. HERMAN Age: 29 Place of Birth: New York, New York In America Since: - Occupation/Studying What and Where? Cultural Photographer/Writer/Educator Current Residence: New York, New York Future Aspiration: To finally launch my multicultural website www.samsaranet.net- to take the world on a philosophical, photographic, literary, and educational journey through Asia and the Sub-Continent. (Summer 2004); and to further develop ŒPangaea not-for-profit¹ to help revitalize the educational fabric of our public school system. Why I RIDE! After immersing myself in the Tibetan Culture within a Chinese occupied Tibet; and the Exiled communities in Nepal, India, and America; I have vowed to do everything I can to help them regain autonomy of their culture¹s future!