US-Arab friendship caravan officially launched in gaithersburg
Regional-USA, Local, 10/27/2003

The US-Arab friendship caravan was officially launched Thursday with Camels and Arabian horses leading a parade of citizens, children and ambassadors from the Arab states.

The project, designed to increase understanding between Americans and Arabs, will be on a test run in the city of Gaithersburg, close to the US federal capital, before embarking on a coast-to-coast tour in the spring, leaving from San Francisco and ending back in the Washington DC area.

Volunteers for the Caravan will introduce the animals to people and hold music and dance performances and a variety of debates. The initiative is an effort to dispel misconceptions between Americans and Arabs about both cultures, says Michael Kirtley who is spearheading the effort.

Kirtley, a photojournalist, who has spent several years living in Africa and the Middle East says that after the 9/11 events, he realized there was an increasing divide between Arabs and Americans.

The caravan manned by a crew of permanent volunteers, he said, will organize discussions between women from various Arab states and the United States and dance and music performances by Arab and US artists.

Business networking meetings, a satellite conference between Arab and American children, a question-and-answer session with ambassadors of the Arab countries and a "Meet the Media" session where people can talk to both American and Arab journalists are also on the program.

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