If you have visited my site before, follow me on or Facebook you would be only too aware (almost to the point of unfollowing me perhaps!) that on Monday December 5th this year I am due to lecture at the headquarters of the in London. The subject? The Islamic Republic of Iran. Or, more specifically my on foot crossing of the country from the Caspian Sea in the north to the Persian Gulf in the south.
I had the honour of presenting to the society in 2009 following my source to sea paddling descent of the Amazon River, so to be invited a second time is humbling. My Amazon lecture attracted a large audience, filling the 750 seat Ondaatje Theatre to capacity and then some. An indication more, I think, of the lure of the Amazon than the story I had to tell.
To my Iran lecture, my ego would be well chuffed to attract an audience half that size, but my heart would crushed. An opportunity for me to open a window into an amazing country and it's people and one that would be lost to those who don't attend. Granted, talking about Iran may not have quite the same "adventure" quotient as the Amazon but the topic is an important one. What do you really know about Iran, beyond what is reported in the media? For most people, I would hazard very little. Having now spent almost 4 years researching the country, including walking more than 1000 miles across it's surface, I would like to think I know a little about the place and it is certainly a tale worthy of telling.
With new sanctions against the country activated this week, the latest IAEA report into Iran's nuclear activity just released and the spectre of war looming large, understanding the issue is, I believe of great importance, not just to those with their fingers on the buttons but to everyone.
Hi Mark,
I’d love to hear your Iran lecture but am unfortunatley in New Zealand walking this country.
I think your attitude is completely right as the vast majority of people have a negative view of Iran based on what the media and polititians tell them. This has been going on for years and has an obvious agenda behind it.
I travelled through Iran alone when I was 20 on the way to India back in 2004. When people learnt of my plans before leaving, many thought I was mad – “Your going to get your head cut off.”
They couldn’t have been more wrong. On a hospitality scale the country would rate as one of my highest (one of the others being Pakistan – surprise, surprise). My only negative experience was with a greedy taxi-driver, but I’ve had that in most countries. Otherwise I loved every minute of my all-too-brief visit and would happily go back for some more.
Since visiting my interest of the country continues to grow. It is vastly misunderstood and now the war drums have started beating once again. The same methods are being used that were employed in the run up to Iraq, but unlike that country, the implications of this war will be far greater.
People need to be better informed about this fascinating country that poses no threat to us, and has not commited any acts of aggression in modern history.
I hope your lecture and experiences about the country reach many people. I’m sure they will contribute to a more balanced view of country that may well be destroyed in the near future.
Kind regards and good luck!
Max