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'''Hundreds On the occasion of hitchhikers take part in the 2nd European International Hitchhiking Week'''(first week of August), the European hitchhiker community have decided to organize a big Festival in Odessa, Ukraine : The “project 789”.

On August 7th, 2009 (7/8/9), hitchhikers from all over Europe (and the world World) will meet up in Odessa, Ukraine. After many days on the road for most.All of them hitchhiking. In facts, for every year, thousands of people hitchhike all over the 2nd European Hitchhiking Week - world. People from all backgrounds, a very diverse society indeed. In many countries, hitchhiking is still an "official" way of transportation. The 789 Project"hitchhiker community wants to show that sharing your car and exchanging stories with a hitchhiker can turn out to be a fantastic human experience in an increasingly individualistic world.

The aim of the festival demonstrates is to spread awareness about hitchhiking. To give it a better image, To promote it as a way of transportation. To show that even it is social and fun ; and that it does indeed work. Even in the an age of motorways and low-cost airlines. Moreover, the hitchhiking community is still very much alive. Every year thousands in a background of people hitchhike all over the world. In many countriesglobal warming and economical crisis, hitchhiking is still an "official"means of transportationa sustainable solution. The hitchhiking community seeks So, in order to show that sharing your car and swapping stories with reach a hitchhiker can turn out to wide audience, the festival will be a fantastic human experience an official event, organized hand in an increasingly individualistic worldhand with the local community and authority.

The festival will take place in Odessa, but the adventure will be starting hitchhiking community is very active. It maintains a permanent presence on your doorstep! Each participant is invited to contribute to the event with stories, pictures road and videosthe web. Last year (8/8/8)Through global platforms like hitchwiki.org, digihitch.com or hitchbase.com ; and a group myriad of filmmakers directed Paris 888, a feature documentary about four hitchhikers traveling to the 888 projectlanguage specific platforms.

Journalists are also invited to join the European Hitchhiking Festival. They can team up with experienced hitchhikers and The festival will take part place in Odessa, Ukraine, but the preparatory meetings taking place all over adventure will start on your doorstep! Ukraine is a very central country in Europe from , in equal reach of the Ural mountains, the Atlantic coast, the Mediterranean beaches and the 1st - 6th AugustNordic fjords. To get Odessa is a major and multicultural city on the latest news from shore of the roadBlack sea. Last but not least, they can also follow the adventures of a group Ukraine is outside of hitchhikers Schengen Space and call them to hear their updates has tolerant border policies that welcome all European and stories from the roadmost World citizen.

In Odessa, workshops and punctual events will be held. Many artists are joining in so you can expect an explosion of performances and talents. People that hitchhike a lot often learn useful and unusual skills. And are willing to teach them. As much as possible the participants will reach out into the streets of the city through performances and activities. Last year (08/08/08), for the first Official Hitchhiking Week, the festival was hosted in Paris, right in front of the Eiffel tower (Champs de Mars). It gathered 150 hitchhikers from all around Europe and the World. A group of hitchhiking filmmakers produced “Paris 888”, a feature documentary about four hitchhikers traveling to the 888 project from Saint James of Compostela, Armenia, Copenhagen and Barcelona. The film is being presented at the Cannes film festival. For more information about the "789 Project", please visit: www.the789projecthe789project.euFor hitchhiking information and tips, please visit: http://hitchwiki.org 789 – The road is mine! ''Journalists are also invited to join the European Hitchhiking Festival. They can team up with experienced hitchhikers and take part in the preparatory meetings taking place all over Europe from the 1st - 6th August. To get the latest news from the road, they can also follow the adventures of a group of hitchhikers and call them to hear their updates and stories from the road.'' ''The festival is organized in a very decentralized and open way by a team spread out all over Europe. To enquire about anything, the easiest way is to write an email to the address: [email protected] and someone from the team will get back at you shortly.''