|
Regina residents will have an opportunity to learn more
about the current situation in Palestine at several events in Regina leading up to the United Nations International Day
of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Robert Massoud, Director of Zatoun
Fair Trade Organization, will be in Regina to promote fair trade products from Palestine and discuss the challenges of Palestinian farmers,
workers and internally displaced people.
“You don’t generally hear
anything about Palestine that’s good news,” says Massoud, who will speak at
an SCIC luncheon on Tue., Nov. 25 and at a Middle Eastern Bazaar and Coffee House
at the Unitarian Centre on Wednesday evening. Wondering how to break
through the curtain of ignorance about the Palestinians, Massoud decided that
“olive oil is Palestine in a bottle—let’s share it and make a difference.”
Olive oil is the primary
source of income for about 75,000 Palestinian farmers, who consume one-third of
the estimated 35,500 tons of oil they produce annually. Farmers had serious
problems marketing the remaining 23,000 tons until Massoud came up with his
Fair Trade Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Palestine project.
“When people say they want to help
Palestinians, I tell them to buy their olive oil,” says Massoud. “How can anyone attack olive oil?”
In the occupied West Bank as many as one million olive trees have been uprooted, which translates
into a $100 million loss for farmers. Another two million trees have been
cordoned off and go untended between Israel’s apartheid wall and the Green Line.
Touring with Robert Massoud
is a moving slide show and photo exhibit from the occupied West Bank. These photos are prepared by Project Hope, a local NGO that provides
services to young people living in refugee camps of Nablus.
It is a relatively
little-known fact that one of the UN’s many observances includes a special day
of solidarity with the people of Palestine.
On this day (November 29) in
1947, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 181, which came to be known as
the Partition Resolution. That resolution provided for the establishment in Palestine of a "Jewish State" and an "Arab State," with Jerusalem shared under a special international regime. Of the
two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being.
In 1977, the General
Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day
of Solidarity with the Palestinian People – a day for mobilizing international
support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of their rights, and for
a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. To meet Robert Massoud in Regina you are welcome to attend the following events:
SCIC
Development Issues Luncheon
"The Taste of Peace," with Robert Massoud
of Zatoun fair trade olive oil.
Tuesday November 25
College Bldg Rm 108
U of R Old Campus
12:00 noon
Admission $5.00
(includes middle eastern lunch)
RSVP 757-4669 by November 24
Bethlehem: Middle Eastern Bazaar and Coffee
House
Wednesday, November 26
5:00 to 8:00 pm (come
and go)
Unitarian Centre, 1700 College Ave
Free Admission
With Robert Massoud of
Zatoun — a Fair Trade organization that shares the taste of peace while helping
Palestinian farmers under occupation to market their olive oil and other
products. Robert will present at 5:30
and 7:30.
In honour of the UN’s
International Day of Solidarity with the People of Palestine, November 29
For more information or to book an interview with
Robert Massoud,
contact Lori Latta at Saskatchewan Council
for International Cooperation at 757-4669.
-30-
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
