I really like their graphic!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
OpEd gets published!!!
That's right! To my very great surprise, my op-ed (Finding the Middle Ground, which I posted earlier) was published by my alma matter's newspaper, the UMass Boston Mass Media. They probably only published it cuz I'm an alum, but hey, it's a start!
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Peek at Peace
I want to showcase some of the photography done by Jessie Boylan, an Australian photographer who has been travelling through Israel/Palestine taking photographs of several organizations in t
he region working on various peace projects. Jessie was in contact with the Alliance for Middle East Peace (http://www.allmep.org/), an umbrella organization of over 50 non-profits working towards peace and coexistence in Israel/Palestine. I have been working with ALLMEP since October 2007 as an intern/volunteer and assisted in coordination efforts between Jessie and ALLMEP members in Israel/Palestine.
These photos were taken at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salaam (Oasis of Peace), a village in Israel comprised of 50% Jewish and 50% Palestinian Israeli citizens. The photos are of Jewish and Palestinian children who live in the village, and offer a glimpse of what peace between Arabs and Jews in the region can look like. More information about the village can be found on their website at http://www.oasisofpeace.org/.
he region working on various peace projects. Jessie was in contact with the Alliance for Middle East Peace (http://www.allmep.org/), an umbrella organization of over 50 non-profits working towards peace and coexistence in Israel/Palestine. I have been working with ALLMEP since October 2007 as an intern/volunteer and assisted in coordination efforts between Jessie and ALLMEP members in Israel/Palestine.These photos were taken at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salaam (Oasis of Peace), a village in Israel comprised of 50% Jewish and 50% Palestinian Israeli citizens. The photos are of Jewish and Palestinian children who live in the village, and offer a glimpse of what peace between Arabs and Jews in the region can look like. More information about the village can be found on their website at http://www.oasisofpeace.org/.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
You can pay for me to go to Israel/Palestine!!
This post is the official kick-off for my fundraising plan to raise the funds I need to cover the costs of a peace delegation to Israel/Palestine this year, which I was recently accepted to. The delegation is run by an organization called Interfaith Peace Builders, and the trip I will most likely be joining is co-sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee. This delegation is centered around the Palestinian Olive Harvest. Participants on the delegation will assist Palestinan farmers, as well as Palestinian and Israeli volunteers and peace makers, harvest this crop. Additionally, participants will gain in-depth knowledge from peace groups and avegerage people living on both sides of the conflict about what it's like to live in that environment, what is being done to help resolve the conflict and what Americans can do to work towards its resolution.
Upon return to the United States, delegates are required to share the knowledge they have learned with their communities and the media. As I am already somewhat active in this area, I plan to use experience to supplement and increase my activity. Staff members of sponsoring organizations as well as former delegates will assist myself and others with finding ways to share our experience with the public and the media.
The cost of the delegation itself is about $2,000.00, which does not include airfare. I am hoping to raise $3,000.00-$3,500.00 to cover the delegation, airfare (we are provided with group flight rates, which are discounted)and any meals that aren't covered in the cost. Any additional spending money will be provided by my own personal funds. The Interfaith Peace Builders does provide scholarships for those who require them. I have filled out a scholarship application and will find out whether or not I qualify for one and, if so, how much it will be for, closer to the trip.
More information about the delegation and about the Interfaith Peace Builders can be found on their website at: www.ifpbdel.org.
Upon return to the United States, delegates are required to share the knowledge they have learned with their communities and the media. As I am already somewhat active in this area, I plan to use experience to supplement and increase my activity. Staff members of sponsoring organizations as well as former delegates will assist myself and others with finding ways to share our experience with the public and the media.
The cost of the delegation itself is about $2,000.00, which does not include airfare. I am hoping to raise $3,000.00-$3,500.00 to cover the delegation, airfare (we are provided with group flight rates, which are discounted)and any meals that aren't covered in the cost. Any additional spending money will be provided by my own personal funds. The Interfaith Peace Builders does provide scholarships for those who require them. I have filled out a scholarship application and will find out whether or not I qualify for one and, if so, how much it will be for, closer to the trip.
More information about the delegation and about the Interfaith Peace Builders can be found on their website at: www.ifpbdel.org.
Totally Unrelated
So this is completely unrelated to anything on this blog, but I have to give a quick shot-out to my favorite band ever, The Mars Volta, who just won their first Grammy for best Hard Rock album or something like that. They don't need the Grammy to prove their greatness, but it's nice to know that quality music is finally being recognized and rewarded.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
My First Op-Ed
So after two full days of lobby/advocacy training and actual lobbying on the Hill I decided that daily e-mails to Obama may not exactly be the most effective way to get my voice heard. The occasional e-mail when the occasion calls for it is one thing but daily....maybe not so much anymore.
After the "success" of having my letter published (butchered as it may have been) I became motivated to take the next step: writing up an Op-Ed. Very much outside of my usual character, I have decided to be less controversial and take a much more middle ground, as the title illustrates. I will try submitting it to some big-name papers and, after being rejected by them, will try some smaller papers--I was thinking maybe North Dakota or Alaska, maybe some rural paper there will publish it. I will keep you updated on its progress!
February 3, 2009
Finding the Middle Ground
Within the past couple of months, the on-going conflict between Israel and Gaza has been on the forefront of the news as well as the op-eds and letters to newspapers nationally. Reading these opinion pieces are often like watching a soap opera or bad reality t.v. show—the pieces next to always swing back and forth from one extreme opinion to the other. The writer writes from their standpoint, which is either “Pro-Israel” or “Pro-Palestine” and attempts to educate the world on why their side is right and should have the upper hand and the sympathy of the masses. Aside from riling emotions and potentially increasing media sales figures, this opinion writing style does little to actually address and much less solve any issues in Israel/Palestine. What is clearly lacking is the essential middle ground.
On both sides of this 60-plus year old conflict, one will find stories of injustice, loss, anger and, in many cases, hatred towards the other side. For many people directly involved in the conflict, it is probably impossible to change many of those deep-seeded emotions, but I would assume that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians simply want to live their lives free of violence and the daily threat of death and destruction. It is the extremists, very much prevalent on BOTH sides of the conflict, who make this dream impossible.
Most US citizens can barely fathom what life is like for the average person living in this region. So it’s almost ironic that Americans can be the most radical, the most extreme in our one-sided opinions of Israel/Palestine. This issue of taking a side and defending it with such fervor (and often with much ignorance) makes it impossible for our government to be forced to find and follow through with a viable solution to offer the region. It’s time for Americans to offer a third option to this two-sided issue: a middle ground on which people who support peace, reconciliation and coexistence can stand. Not only is it moral, but also invaluable for our country’s security.
As someone who has studied this conflict and been actively involved in working towards its resolution in some way, I have found that the more I learn about the situation the more even-toned my dealings with it become. I have learned through experience that acting off of my emotions is the easier but much less effective way to deal with the situation. Bickering back and forth about who is right and who has suffered more is doing nothing but working backwards. Moving forward (this means not looking back at what has happened) with open hearts and minds and with, most importantly, a listening ear is the only effective action Americans can take. It is not us who have to pay the ultimate price for this ongoing fight.
Davina Abujudeh
After the "success" of having my letter published (butchered as it may have been) I became motivated to take the next step: writing up an Op-Ed. Very much outside of my usual character, I have decided to be less controversial and take a much more middle ground, as the title illustrates. I will try submitting it to some big-name papers and, after being rejected by them, will try some smaller papers--I was thinking maybe North Dakota or Alaska, maybe some rural paper there will publish it. I will keep you updated on its progress!
February 3, 2009
Finding the Middle Ground
Within the past couple of months, the on-going conflict between Israel and Gaza has been on the forefront of the news as well as the op-eds and letters to newspapers nationally. Reading these opinion pieces are often like watching a soap opera or bad reality t.v. show—the pieces next to always swing back and forth from one extreme opinion to the other. The writer writes from their standpoint, which is either “Pro-Israel” or “Pro-Palestine” and attempts to educate the world on why their side is right and should have the upper hand and the sympathy of the masses. Aside from riling emotions and potentially increasing media sales figures, this opinion writing style does little to actually address and much less solve any issues in Israel/Palestine. What is clearly lacking is the essential middle ground.
On both sides of this 60-plus year old conflict, one will find stories of injustice, loss, anger and, in many cases, hatred towards the other side. For many people directly involved in the conflict, it is probably impossible to change many of those deep-seeded emotions, but I would assume that the majority of Israelis and Palestinians simply want to live their lives free of violence and the daily threat of death and destruction. It is the extremists, very much prevalent on BOTH sides of the conflict, who make this dream impossible.
Most US citizens can barely fathom what life is like for the average person living in this region. So it’s almost ironic that Americans can be the most radical, the most extreme in our one-sided opinions of Israel/Palestine. This issue of taking a side and defending it with such fervor (and often with much ignorance) makes it impossible for our government to be forced to find and follow through with a viable solution to offer the region. It’s time for Americans to offer a third option to this two-sided issue: a middle ground on which people who support peace, reconciliation and coexistence can stand. Not only is it moral, but also invaluable for our country’s security.
As someone who has studied this conflict and been actively involved in working towards its resolution in some way, I have found that the more I learn about the situation the more even-toned my dealings with it become. I have learned through experience that acting off of my emotions is the easier but much less effective way to deal with the situation. Bickering back and forth about who is right and who has suffered more is doing nothing but working backwards. Moving forward (this means not looking back at what has happened) with open hearts and minds and with, most importantly, a listening ear is the only effective action Americans can take. It is not us who have to pay the ultimate price for this ongoing fight.
Davina Abujudeh
Friday, January 30, 2009
Letter Published in the Paper...Obama Gets a Break
So, today I had a letter published in the daily Express in DC, so I decided to let Obama off the hook for the day and not e-mail him. And Monday I will be lobbying all day so I may not e-mail him then either. But just wait till Tuesday, Obama!!! Here's what my letter stated (after all the editing the paper did to it):
Another Excuse for Israel
(not my title but definitely much catchier)
A story in Thursday's Express ("Envoy Urges Extended Gaza Truce") said Israel is threatening more violence for the use of the tunnels between GAza and Egypt. One of your stories a couple weeks ago said these tunnels are actually mainly used to bring food and medical supplies into Gaza. It's unrealistic for Israel to expect the Palestinians in Gaza to not use these tunnels when they have basically no other way to get supplies. It's just another excuse for Israel to continue its massacre on the Palestinians.
-Davina Abujudeh
Here's what I actually wrote:
January 29, 2009
Gaza Tunnels Used for "Smuggling"
In an article published in today's edition, there was an article stating that Israel is threatening more violence for one offense--the use of the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. As one of your published articles a couple weeks ago explained, these tunnels used in Gaza to "smuggle" weapons used by Hamas are actually mainly used to bring food and medical supplies into Gaza, which is the most populated region in the world and is complete blocked off from the outside world but for these tunnels. It is completely unrealistic for Israel to expect that Palestinians in Gaza will discontinue using these tunnels when they have basically no other method of supplying themselves with food, water and medical supplies, especially in a time when they need those things the most. It's clearly just another excuse for Israel to continue its masacre on the Palestinian people.
-Davina Abujudeh
Their version makes me sounds a lot stupider, don't you think? Anyone else smell a consipracy?!?!?!?!? Make me sound stupid and look like a fool, will you?!?!?!?!? How dare the Express! I'm shocked by the bias and dishonesty of the media! Oh no, wait, I'm not.
Another Excuse for Israel
(not my title but definitely much catchier)
A story in Thursday's Express ("Envoy Urges Extended Gaza Truce") said Israel is threatening more violence for the use of the tunnels between GAza and Egypt. One of your stories a couple weeks ago said these tunnels are actually mainly used to bring food and medical supplies into Gaza. It's unrealistic for Israel to expect the Palestinians in Gaza to not use these tunnels when they have basically no other way to get supplies. It's just another excuse for Israel to continue its massacre on the Palestinians.
-Davina Abujudeh
Here's what I actually wrote:
January 29, 2009
Gaza Tunnels Used for "Smuggling"
In an article published in today's edition, there was an article stating that Israel is threatening more violence for one offense--the use of the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. As one of your published articles a couple weeks ago explained, these tunnels used in Gaza to "smuggle" weapons used by Hamas are actually mainly used to bring food and medical supplies into Gaza, which is the most populated region in the world and is complete blocked off from the outside world but for these tunnels. It is completely unrealistic for Israel to expect that Palestinians in Gaza will discontinue using these tunnels when they have basically no other method of supplying themselves with food, water and medical supplies, especially in a time when they need those things the most. It's clearly just another excuse for Israel to continue its masacre on the Palestinian people.
-Davina Abujudeh
Their version makes me sounds a lot stupider, don't you think? Anyone else smell a consipracy?!?!?!?!? Make me sound stupid and look like a fool, will you?!?!?!?!? How dare the Express! I'm shocked by the bias and dishonesty of the media! Oh no, wait, I'm not.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
January 29, 2009
Dear President Obama,
I read in the paper today that George Mitchell has made some strong comments about Gazans' use of tunnels for "smuggling" purposes. As I have written to you before, and as you well know, these tunnels--while they may in some cases be used to smuggle weapons into Gaza--these tunnels are for the most part used to "smuggle" things like food and medical supplies to the citizens of Gaza. Without the access that these tunnels provide to the outside world, Gazans are left with barely any life-sustaining resources in the most populated region in the world.
I ask you once again to not punish or allow the punishment of Palestinians in Gaza to continue just because they are doing what they need to do to survive. The rest of the world knows that Israel is using the tunnels and the "smuggling" as an excuse to continuously kill Palestinians.
The actions taken by Israel in general and within the past few months in particular have been absolutely unthinkable. 600 Palestinian civilians have been killed, with more surely to come. There have been billions of dollars in damages, families have lost their homes, businesses and any other trace of a life they may have had before and young Palestinian children are being traumatized into the hatred towards Israel which has spurred this violence to begin with. Why are we letting this happen? It would be bad enough if we sat back and acted like we didn't know what was going on--I think I would prefer that to actually supporting the proprietors of this violence.
I know that you and your administration, with the appointment of George Mitchell, are working towards a resolution but I am already skeptical--will this resolution be unbiased? Will it be skewed in Israel's favor, once again?
I ask you to please not let this happen. History and the majority of the world will thank you for it.
Sincerely,
Davina Abujudeh
Dear President Obama,
I read in the paper today that George Mitchell has made some strong comments about Gazans' use of tunnels for "smuggling" purposes. As I have written to you before, and as you well know, these tunnels--while they may in some cases be used to smuggle weapons into Gaza--these tunnels are for the most part used to "smuggle" things like food and medical supplies to the citizens of Gaza. Without the access that these tunnels provide to the outside world, Gazans are left with barely any life-sustaining resources in the most populated region in the world.
I ask you once again to not punish or allow the punishment of Palestinians in Gaza to continue just because they are doing what they need to do to survive. The rest of the world knows that Israel is using the tunnels and the "smuggling" as an excuse to continuously kill Palestinians.
The actions taken by Israel in general and within the past few months in particular have been absolutely unthinkable. 600 Palestinian civilians have been killed, with more surely to come. There have been billions of dollars in damages, families have lost their homes, businesses and any other trace of a life they may have had before and young Palestinian children are being traumatized into the hatred towards Israel which has spurred this violence to begin with. Why are we letting this happen? It would be bad enough if we sat back and acted like we didn't know what was going on--I think I would prefer that to actually supporting the proprietors of this violence.
I know that you and your administration, with the appointment of George Mitchell, are working towards a resolution but I am already skeptical--will this resolution be unbiased? Will it be skewed in Israel's favor, once again?
I ask you to please not let this happen. History and the majority of the world will thank you for it.
Sincerely,
Davina Abujudeh
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