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Christmas behind the wall
We remembered the 20 children killed in Connecticut (where I last lived in the USA). We remembered them and we also remembered the 33 children killed last month by US funded Israeli war machine and the hundreds of Pakistani and Afghani children killed this year by US drone attacks. We also remembered the tens of thousands of children killed this year by hunger and disease that could have been avoided if we had our priorities correct. I just attended two conferences one indirectly dealt with children: one indirectly because it discussed environmental issues - my abstract is below) and one dedicated to serving Palestinian children (led by UNICEF). So for this Christmas, I am making a pledge to focus on needs of children in 2013 and urge you to do the same.
Action: Donate to a charity that deals with children; here are three I am donating to this month among many: 1)http://www.unicef.org/ 2) http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps (tax deductible donations in USA http://alrowwadusa.org, France http://www.amis-alrowwad.org/ ) 3) http://pcr.ps/read/donate-pcr
Action: Thursday December 20th 6 PM: Christmas behind the wall gathering for families at Rachel's tomb area (Bilal's mosque) between Bethlehem and Jerusalem where the apartheid wall stops us from entering our city Jerusalem. Carols, prayers, and fellowship. All are welcome. Organized by http://www.barakachurch.com
Below are articles and also media contrtacts dealing with Christmas in the land of Jesus. Whether one is a Christian or not, the situation here calls for examination.
Hope from Bethlehem (behind the walls) by Mazin Qumsiyeh http://www.
Christians in the Holy Land today http://imeu.net/news/
Colonizing Christmas: Facts on Israeli Occupation and Bethlehem (Including Map) http://www.nad-plo.org/
List of Spokespeople for Christmas available at http://www.nad-plo.org/
ABSTRACT to Environmental conference
Two recent reports published this year raise additional alarm on the status of the environment in Palestine and lack of adequate human preparations to meet the challenges ahead. The UN report on Gaza projections by 2020 highlight population increasing to 2.13 million, increasing population density to 5835 person/km2, depletion of water aquifer, and increase in water demand by 60%. 51% of Gaza population are children and there will be a shortage of 440 schools by 2020. The study on Gaza did not take into account the effect of global warming.For example a world bank study shows that in the Arab world cumulative effect of global warming/climate change will be the reduction in thousands of dollars of household income by 2030. The projected change will vary by country in all categories including especially water needs and availability. The effect on Palestine will be severe (1948 and 1967 areas). It is far more severe in 1967 areas even if Israel allows those areas to use the water resources due to geography and population density (including existing refugees). For example in the WB and Gaza between 2000-2009, water demand was 567 million cubic meters while supply was 170 mcm. This differential is projected by the World Bank report to become 1587 mcm demand and 96 mcm supply. There are other impacts of climate change, population growth trends, and the misguided attempt to isolate us under the guise of a two state solution on quality of air, biodiversity, ecologic capacity, sustainability of agriculture, and more. The data combined point to a catastrophic future unless dramatic political restructuring is carried out combined with social re-engineering at a grass root level. Our collective and individual responsibility is to act now and urgently
Chinese writer: Palestinian issue source of global conflict http://www.columbia.edu/cu/
Have a happy, wonderful Christmas season. May your new year bring you hope and empowerment to change
and …… stay human
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
http://qumsiyeh.org
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