‘Guinness Book of World Records’ Holder Carla Perrotti, Announces Plan to Walk the Libyan Desert for Peace in Africa
March 31, 2008. Tunis, Tunisia
In an exclusive press briefing for journalists attending the African International Media Summit (AIMS 2008) in Tunis, world renowned Italian desert explorer Carla Perrotti, announced her plan to walk solo across 250 kilometers of the Libyan Desert, and that she was doing so in the name of peace in Africa.
Over a period of 20 years, Ms. Perrotti has gone where few humans have gone before: into some of the world’s most foreboding desert wastelands … alone. “I’m looking forward to experiencing the peace and beauty of the Libyan Desert,” said Ms. Perrotti in at the press briefing at the Abou Nawas Hotel in Tunis. “The desert is a very emotional place for me. Now, as an Italian woman who loves Africa, I am proud to dedicate this experience to the cause of peace in Africa. People often tell me what I do is incredible, walking alone across the great deserts. But I think everyday people in Africa face more difficult challenges just to survive from one day to the next”.
Nadia Murabet, a Libyan and President of Vision Media, which organizes international cultural events and festivals, is spearheading the effort behind Ms. Perrotti’s walk across the Libyan desert. Ms. Murabet also received the AIMS 2008 “ACHEIVERS AWARD” for her distinguished work building bridges of peace and understanding between Africa and Europe through culture and media.
“Carla has left her dynamic footprint in many of the world’s deserts,” said Ms. Murabet. “She’s walked the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the Simpson Desert in Australia, the Tenere Desert in Niger and the snake-infested Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. And the Guinness Book of World Records recognizes her as the first human being to walk across the Taklamakan Desert
Beginning April 20, Ms. Perrotti will face her Libyan Desert challenge.
“The desert,” she told reporters, “is beautiful, but it can also be very hard. Sometimes I suffer from the extremes of heat and cold and there is always the concern about water. But I believe the cause of peace will be a wind at my back to give me the energy to make it through,” Ms. Perrotti said. “I would like this challenge to serve as an example of what one person can do to advance the cause of peace.”
Carla Perrotti is the author of two books, Deserti (Corbaccio 1998) and Silenzi di sabbia (Corbaccio 2005) and supports Doctors del Mondo (Doctors for the World) for whom her husband serves a volunteer physician.
Vision Media’s Nadia Murabet sees Carla’s Libyan Desert Walk as a wonderful way to promote the concept of peace in Africa. “Vision Media links with charitable foundations and cultural organizations throughout Europe, Africa and the Arab World. We believe we have a responsibility to promote people like Carla and present programs and projects that support and sustain cultural development, economic stability and peace in Africa by producing high-quality programs and productions that bring people together through culture, sports and media.”
Recently appointed vice-president and global ambassador of the NewSporAfrica International Foundation based in Geneva, Ms. Murabet said the foundation uses sports and art as instruments to advance the cause of peace. “We’re also interested in providing training facilities and support to athletes participating in the FIFA Africa’s Cup Games in 2010, and we’ve just launched a global campaign to encourage the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bring a future Olympic Games to Africa. Many of history’s great Olympic athletes have come from Africa and the African Diaspora, but no Olympic Games have ever been held in Africa.”
For more information about Carla Perrotti’s “Desert Walk for Peace in Africa” contact Tony Regusters by email at: tonyregusters@division-twelve.com.

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