Women in Tuwani remove a road block....interactive art!
My dear friend James just made this for me. Check it out!
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Boys on Wheels!
At-Tuwani has a brand new paved road and it's the biggest toy to ever arrive in the village. My teammate Diane has great photos on her blog, Welcome to Tomorrow Morning!
At-Tuwani has a brand new paved road and it's the biggest toy to ever arrive in the village. My teammate Diane has great photos on her blog, Welcome to Tomorrow Morning!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
A Tale of 7 Houses (Part Two)
DCO officer posts stop-work order on new Palestinian house
On the 20th of July, DCO delivered stop work orders for nine Palestinian structures around the village of At-Tuwani. These orders were delivered to seven new houses (the ones I was talking about in the previous entry), one cave, and one cistern. But it wasn't easy for the DCO to deliver the order. They were met with nonviolent resistance:
Palestinian children surrounded each house and chanted loudly, attempting to make it difficult for the DCO to leave the orders at each house and making it difficult for the DCO and soldiers to use their radio and phones. Palestinians sat in protest in front of the military and DCO and prayed together on their land.
They argued their case with the DCO. One made an especially important point - the DCO and
soldiers should be delivering demolition orders to the illegal buildings in the Israeli outpost of Havot Ma’on, which is expanding every day.
Over the course of the day, the Israeli soldiers committed several abuses (in addition to delivering the stop-work orders, of course):
- Soldiers hit child.
- Soldiers shoved a Palestinian man to the ground.
- Soldiers arrested a Palestinian man for "threatening a soldier." What was he actually doing? Laughing at him. He is still being held.
Landowner being arrested
DCO officer posts stop-work order on new Palestinian housePalestinian children surrounded each house and chanted loudly, attempting to make it difficult for the DCO to leave the orders at each house and making it difficult for the DCO and soldiers to use their radio and phones. Palestinians sat in protest in front of the military and DCO and prayed together on their land.
They argued their case with the DCO. One made an especially important point - the DCO and
soldiers should be delivering demolition orders to the illegal buildings in the Israeli outpost of Havot Ma’on, which is expanding every day.Over the course of the day, the Israeli soldiers committed several abuses (in addition to delivering the stop-work orders, of course):
- Soldiers hit child.
- Soldiers shoved a Palestinian man to the ground.
- Soldiers arrested a Palestinian man for "threatening a soldier." What was he actually doing? Laughing at him. He is still being held.
Landowner being arrestedDespite Israeli settler and soldier harassment to discourage the growth of the village of At-Tuwani, Palestinians remain committed to asserting their right to develop their land. I'll do my best to keep you updated on what's going on here. In the meantime, check out this video for another look at this protest. You can also see our press release here.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
So,What Do You Do, Any way?
It's been a while since I've described what my day-to-day life actually looks, but I understand that inquiring minds would like to know. So, here are the nitty-gritty details.
In the morning, around 7am, we've been accompanying Palestinian shepherds as they graze their sheep. Particially, that means we pull out video cameras and binoculars, sit on rocks and if settlers arrive or begin to attack, we document and follow the direction of Palestinians. The idea is to have record of what is happening here, to support Palestinians in reclaiming their land by grazing on it, and to be available to physically 'get in the way' during settler attacks, if Palestinians request it.
We finish up with shepherding by the time it gets unbearably hot, usually around 10:00 am. During the afternoon, we're on call for other emergencies - checkpoints, soldiers in the village, settler attacks - or surprise visits from the UN! We also give tours of the area and try to keep our tiny house neat.
And we play and chat with our wonderful neighbors, like these beautiful people:
\
Harvesting Wheat
Climbing all over CPTers!
It's been a while since I've described what my day-to-day life actually looks, but I understand that inquiring minds would like to know. So, here are the nitty-gritty details.
In the morning, around 7am, we've been accompanying Palestinian shepherds as they graze their sheep. Particially, that means we pull out video cameras and binoculars, sit on rocks and if settlers arrive or begin to attack, we document and follow the direction of Palestinians. The idea is to have record of what is happening here, to support Palestinians in reclaiming their land by grazing on it, and to be available to physically 'get in the way' during settler attacks, if Palestinians request it.
We finish up with shepherding by the time it gets unbearably hot, usually around 10:00 am. During the afternoon, we're on call for other emergencies - checkpoints, soldiers in the village, settler attacks - or surprise visits from the UN! We also give tours of the area and try to keep our tiny house neat.
And we play and chat with our wonderful neighbors, like these beautiful people:
Kids from the pink house at the top of the hill
\Watching for Settlers
Harvesting Wheat
Climbing all over CPTers!Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Nighttime Army Activity
Lately, the Israeli army has decided to harass at-Tuwani at night. The army has entered the village several times during after dark, scaring children and getting all of us out of the bed. I'm too tired to really describe all that's been going on, but you can consult the CPT yahoo group or www.cpt.org for more information. For now, here are some photographs from a midnight checkpoint that took place inside the village. Nicely done, Jan. And nice to have a camera with a decent flash, huh?
Lately, the Israeli army has decided to harass at-Tuwani at night. The army has entered the village several times during after dark, scaring children and getting all of us out of the bed. I'm too tired to really describe all that's been going on, but you can consult the CPT yahoo group or www.cpt.org for more information. For now, here are some photographs from a midnight checkpoint that took place inside the village. Nicely done, Jan. And nice to have a camera with a decent flash, huh?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Spring in the South Hebron Hills!
This blog has taken a rather depressing turn of late. At least I've been upset by what's going on in Tuwani. It's springtime in the the South Hebron Hills. That means that our Palestinian neighbors are working hard on their land all day. This upset upsets the Israeli settlers living in Ma'on and Havot Ma'on and all of the beauty of spring ends up overshadowed by petty ugliness and violence.
But the beauty is still there:
This blog has taken a rather depressing turn of late. At least I've been upset by what's going on in Tuwani. It's springtime in the the South Hebron Hills. That means that our Palestinian neighbors are working hard on their land all day. This upset upsets the Israeli settlers living in Ma'on and Havot Ma'on and all of the beauty of spring ends up overshadowed by petty ugliness and violence.
But the beauty is still there:
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
A day in the life of a CPTer living in At-Tuwani
Five A.M.
For a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, a day in Tuwani starts at about 5 am. It's time to crawl out of the sleeping bag, dress, grab a cell phone and video camera and don a red baseball cap emblazoned with "CPT." (Yes, the hats are embarrassing, but they immediately identify us an international human rights workers and that's important.) Then it's time for school patrol.
School Patrol?
Tuwani is a tiny village located in the south Hebron hills and it has a big problem. On Tuwani's land, Israeli citizens have erected a small illegal settlement and an outpost.
Every morning CPTers wake up at the crack of dawn to accompany Palestinian children who must walk near the settlement.
Numerous times, Israeli settlers have attacked these children without provocation. CPTers, along with members of Italian nonviolent intervention organization Operation Dove, are committed to intervening when settlers attack these children and reducing the incidence of attack by providing an international presence.
Joy, what on earth are you doing? Is this safe?
In separate incidences, four CPTers have been attacked by Israeli settlers. Members of Operation Dove and a human rights worker with Amnesty International have also been beaten.
After these incidences, the Israeli Knesset, in an unprecedented decision, ordered the Israeli army to accompany the children of the South Hebron hills to school. No where else in occupied Palestine are Israeli soldiers charged with protecting Palestinian children.
Now, instead of walking the children to school themselves, CPTers now wake up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the Israeli army shows up on time, or at all. Here's what happened one day in 2006:
After School Patrol: Additional Accompaniment Work
After getting the kids to school, CPT responds to requests for accompaniment from villagers in at-Tuwani and the surrounding area. A soldier informs a Palestinian farmer
that he can't tend to his olives, a CPTer might accompany him, documenting the situation, talking with the soldiers, and maybe calling Israeli supporters. Or a CPTer might join a shepherd who has been threatened by settlers. CPT accompanies Palestinian upon request because we've found that the presence of international reduces the likelihood of violence and helps Palestinian to be able to go about the business of their normal lives.
Nonviolence:
Harassment and attacks at the hands of Israeli settlers are a pressing concern for the villagers of At-Tuwani, but violence is not their only problem. Like all Palestinians, they must also contend with systemic injustice, like movement restrictions, land confiscation, and the Israeli built annexation Wall. To resist these human rights violations, Palestinians have used nonviolent resistance methods. CPT is honored to participate in demonstrations, press conferences, and other forms non-cooperation organized by the villagers of at-Tuwani.
Villagers have resisted land confisciation, the destruction of their olive groves, and home demolitons, but most frequently they have worked to slow or stop the construction of the Annexation Wall.
Villagers have held international press conferences, built bridges of rocks over the wall, and
used their physical presence to slow down construction. Demonstrations like these are dangerous for Palestinian - they risk being tear-gassed or beaten by the Israeli army, or even arrested and imprisoned. When internationals, like CPT, and Israeli peace activists attend demonstrations, the Israeli army is often less inclined to respond violently because their actions are carefully documented.
7 P.M.
When night begins to fall, CPTers enjoy a couple of hours of electricity. (No, there's no internet access. Nor is there running water. Yes, that means no flush toilet.) Reports are written and cameras charged. In a 10 ft by 10 ft house, four teammates snuggle into sleeping bags, dreaming of justice and peace.
Five A.M.
For a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, a day in Tuwani starts at about 5 am. It's time to crawl out of the sleeping bag, dress, grab a cell phone and video camera and don a red baseball cap emblazoned with "CPT." (Yes, the hats are embarrassing, but they immediately identify us an international human rights workers and that's important.) Then it's time for school patrol.
School Patrol?
Tuwani is a tiny village located in the south Hebron hills and it has a big problem. On Tuwani's land, Israeli citizens have erected a small illegal settlement and an outpost.
Every morning CPTers wake up at the crack of dawn to accompany Palestinian children who must walk near the settlement.
Numerous times, Israeli settlers have attacked these children without provocation. CPTers, along with members of Italian nonviolent intervention organization Operation Dove, are committed to intervening when settlers attack these children and reducing the incidence of attack by providing an international presence.
Joy, what on earth are you doing? Is this safe?In separate incidences, four CPTers have been attacked by Israeli settlers. Members of Operation Dove and a human rights worker with Amnesty International have also been beaten.
After these incidences, the Israeli Knesset, in an unprecedented decision, ordered the Israeli army to accompany the children of the South Hebron hills to school. No where else in occupied Palestine are Israeli soldiers charged with protecting Palestinian children.
Now, instead of walking the children to school themselves, CPTers now wake up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the Israeli army shows up on time, or at all. Here's what happened one day in 2006:
After School Patrol: Additional Accompaniment Work
After getting the kids to school, CPT responds to requests for accompaniment from villagers in at-Tuwani and the surrounding area. A soldier informs a Palestinian farmer
that he can't tend to his olives, a CPTer might accompany him, documenting the situation, talking with the soldiers, and maybe calling Israeli supporters. Or a CPTer might join a shepherd who has been threatened by settlers. CPT accompanies Palestinian upon request because we've found that the presence of international reduces the likelihood of violence and helps Palestinian to be able to go about the business of their normal lives.Nonviolence:
Harassment and attacks at the hands of Israeli settlers are a pressing concern for the villagers of At-Tuwani, but violence is not their only problem. Like all Palestinians, they must also contend with systemic injustice, like movement restrictions, land confiscation, and the Israeli built annexation Wall. To resist these human rights violations, Palestinians have used nonviolent resistance methods. CPT is honored to participate in demonstrations, press conferences, and other forms non-cooperation organized by the villagers of at-Tuwani.
Villagers have resisted land confisciation, the destruction of their olive groves, and home demolitons, but most frequently they have worked to slow or stop the construction of the Annexation Wall.
In many parts of the West Bank, the Wall takes the form of a huge cement barrier.
But in Tuwani, it's just 2.5 feet high, just tall enough to prevent a donkey with a cart from crossing.
Villagers have held international press conferences, built bridges of rocks over the wall, and
used their physical presence to slow down construction. Demonstrations like these are dangerous for Palestinian - they risk being tear-gassed or beaten by the Israeli army, or even arrested and imprisoned. When internationals, like CPT, and Israeli peace activists attend demonstrations, the Israeli army is often less inclined to respond violently because their actions are carefully documented.7 P.M.
When night begins to fall, CPTers enjoy a couple of hours of electricity. (No, there's no internet access. Nor is there running water. Yes, that means no flush toilet.) Reports are written and cameras charged. In a 10 ft by 10 ft house, four teammates snuggle into sleeping bags, dreaming of justice and peace.
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