Categories: uncategorized
Date: 08 March 2005 14:59:46
Bizarre set of weeks. A trip to palestine/israel; difficult to know where to start on that one. The day after I returned I was in a taxi and heard myself waxing lyrical about the politics and problems over there to the driver... who said 'oh well, I'm sure it'll sort itself out'. It's one perspective... so until I think of what to say and how to say it, everybody go there because it's unbelievable in several ways, but failing that, find out what ICAHD do and, more importantly, why they have to do it. Also I like palestinecampaign.org although it might be a bit befuddling if you don't know much about the situation already...
I find myself lurching between feeling inspired by the people who are committed to peacemaking against such staggering odds, and despairing because the odds against them are seemingly insurmountable. In addition, it's beautiful. and of course, check out the amos trust, who I went out there with; they aim to "make people aware of the root causes of injustice, to encourage them to live with integrity themselves" through networks and connections - effectively by getting the stories of forgotten and/or oppressed people out. If you get the chance to hear people they bring over (big presence at greenbelt, the odd weekend/one-off event), or better, get the chance to go somewhere with them, go for it.
My return has been ridiculously hectic, as all the things I didn't do while I was away and should have done before I left were piled up in a big metaphorical pile, where half of them still sit...