The recent tragic events, beginning with provocations in East Jerusalem, and leading to another heinous massacre in Gaza, have given rise to new forms of resistance and self-expression, and seem to have united Palestinians in all parts of historic Palestine, as well as galvanized people of conscience throughout the world.
We are delighted that Professor Qumsiyeh, founder and volunteer director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University, joined us to discuss his thoughts on what this means for the struggle for dignity and freedom in Palestine and beyond.
As a “bedouin in cyberspace”, Mazin has much to teach us about using “bottom up” activism and joint struggle for justice. As a “villager at home”, much of the work done by him and his team endeavors to increase environmental awareness in children and increasing sustainability in human and natural communities in Palestine.
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh is a Palestinian biologist and human rights activist. He is the founder and volunteer director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University (https://www.palestinenature.org/). He is an ardent defender of the human and non-human environment, and has been a major figure in the struggle for Palestinian rights particularly since his return in 2008 from the US where he taught at Duke and Yale. He is the author of over 150 scientific articles and several books including Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human Rights and the Israeli-Palestinian Struggle and Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment published in several languages. For more see http://qumsiyeh.org/
The Cafe started with live music featuring a young Palestinian musician and her friend.
Tibah is a Palestinian music student, a PalMusic scholar completing her Bachelor’s degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. She is studying the Cello and has taken part in many PYO: Palestine Youth Orchestra tours across Europe and the Middle East. She is also part of the Galilee Quartet.
Tibah has recently launched ‘Lunchtime for Palestine’ as a protest in support of her compatriots and to raise awareness about the Palestinian struggle.
Tibah’s first piece was the “Allemande” from the 2nd Bach Suite.
Tibah’s second piece was a duet. Her friend Inesh joined her in playing the Berceuse from the Eight Short Pieces by Reinhold Glière.
Translation
Why is it that we do not have any festivities or decorations for our feasts?
Ye, World
My land is burned down
My land is a stolen freedom
Our skies are dreaming, they are asking time
Where is the beautiful sun?
And where is the fluttering of doves?
Ye, World
My land is burned down
My land is a stolen freedom
My land is small like me, it is small
Give her back her peace, give us our childhood
Give us childhood
Give us childhood
Give us peace.
Tanslated by Heba Zaphiriou-Zarifi
الشبكة البريطانية الفلسطينية للصحة النفسية 