http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2010/09/bds-its-not-about-occupation-its-about_11.html
Really. You couldn’t make this stuff up. Peter Seeger, the 91 year old icon of peace and political correctness is under attack from the anti-Israel forces. The singer/songwriter is scheduled to perform at the With Earth and Each Other: A Virtual Rally for a Better Middle East – an event organized by the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies and over 30 other non profits.
The Executive Director of Friends of the Arava Institute, David Weisberg, the sole lead organization responsible for putting together “With Earth and Each Other: A Virtual Rally for a Better Middle East” (http://www.withearthandeachother.org ) claims the concert is meant to “celebrate the many efforts in trans-boundary cooperation occurring on the micro-level, like the important work of the Arava Institute, that are making a practical difference in bettering the quality of life for Palestinians, Israelis, Jordanians, and others. I should also note that Pete Seeger’s participation in “With Earth and Each Other” does not, in fact, involve him performing anywhere in the Middle East. It is also important to note that one of the chairs of “With Earth and Each Other,” Mohammed Atwa, is, in fact, a Muslim Palestinian from Gaza, who finds the endorsement of the virtual rally by the Jewish National Fund and the exposure of their constituents to our strong and positive message about coexistence and equality to be an important step in the right direction. And I hope all of you will consider joining us for this amazing event on November 14. Thank you. With Great Respect, David Weisberg, Executive Director Friends of the Arava Institute “
From the Arava website: “With a student body comprised of Jordanians, Palestinians, Israelis, and students from around the world, the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies offers students a unique opportunity to study and live together for an extended period of time; building networks and developing understanding that will enable future cooperative work and activism in the Middle East and beyond. Here, the idea that nature knows no political borders is more than a belief. It is a fact, a curriculum, and a way of life.”
Education. Opportunity. Ecology. Peaceful co-existence. That’s what these groups are rejecting. Don’t let anyone tell you BDS is about peace.
With Earth and Each Other will demonstrate that there is more to the Middle East than conflict. This is not a political rally. The purpose is not to take a side, say who is right or wrong, or suggest what the peace process or the solution should look like. Instead, the purpose is to raise the voices of those on all sides, and throughout the world that yearn for peace, to marginalize those who try to undermine it, and to show the world that there is another side of the conflict in which people across borders are striving to work together for the betterment of all.
So spread the word, sign up to attend a local rally watching event, and let’s join together for this special day to bring hope to a new future for the Middle East and for all of us.
Sponsors http://withearthandeachother.org/building.html
Ameinu – Liberal Values, Progressive Israel – Ameinu, Hebrew for “Our People”, is a national, multi-generational community of progressive American Jews. Recognizing the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and Israel, as well as the commitment to make our own country better, we mobilize American Jews who seeks opportunities to foster social and economic justice both in Israel and the United States.
ALLMEP – ALLMEP is the coalition of 75 NGOs building people-to-people cooperation, coexistence, and peace on the ground between Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. ALLMEP works to expand and strengthen the work of these inspiring organizations by bringing new awareness, supporters, and resources to these critical and inspiring activities.
The Center for Religion, Culture, and Conflict – The Drew University Center on Religion, Culture & Conflict (CRCC) encourages scholarly understanding of the most problematic intersections where religions and cultures meet in the nexus of conflict. The CRCC also focuses on practical strategies for improving cooperation and understanding in critical areas such as the environment, even in the midst of larger unresolved conflict.
Central Reform Congregation of St. Louis
Clearwater – Clearwater’s strategy to inspire, educate and activate is still a powerful formula for the success of the environmental movement today. Clearwater has wonderfully effective and synergistic programs based on each of these themes. Their concerts, sloop Clearwater educational and environmental advocacy programs have changed the lives of generations, and have contributed to a better future for our planet.
Clergy Beyond Borders – Empower religious leaders to explore and utilize the resources of their diverse religious traditions in the advancement of world peace.Clergy Beyond Borders incorporates classical spiritual texts, traditions,and rituals; Utilizes contemporary conflict resolution disciplines; Respects and embodies religious pluralism; Works domestically and internationally
Crossing Borders – Crossing Borders (CB) is a non profit, nongovernmental organisation (NGO) whose mission is to provide impartial dialogue space and enabling skills training for youth, media people and educators to participate actively in the development processes of their societies
Green Zionist Alliance – The Green Zionist Alliance works to protect Israel’s environment. By focusing on the environment while working from a pluralistic and multicultural base, we seek to bridge the differences between and within religions and people – helping to build a peaceful and sustainable future for Israel and the Middle East.
Hazon
Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East
Inter Religious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP) – The Inter Religious Federation for World Peace, and its director have worked extensively throughout the Holy Land (Island, Gaza, and other Palestinian territories) for the sake of peace and reconciliation from 1997 until the present day. The organization and its director have been central to quide the direction and concept of over 40 Middle East Peace Initiative consultations and tours since 2003.
Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information
JAM (Jews and Muslims) – University of Miami – Jews and Muslims (JAM) is a University of Miami student organization that focuses on “bridging the divide” between Jews and Muslims on campus and within the Greater Miami community. Established in the spring semester of 2008 by University of Miami students Farah Dosani, Jehan Feroz, and Shoshana Gottesman, JAM continues to expand its programming to provide a positive foundation for Muslim-Jewish relations beyond the university campus. This is also within compliance of JAM’s acceptance to the Clinton Global Initiative University this year. All faiths are always welcome!
Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis – JCRC is the public affairs arm of the organized St. Louis Jewish community. Our work includes supporting two Muslim-Jewish dialogue groups and our Israel Business and Technology (IBTEC) program currently is making efforts to identify a possible joint enterprise (Israeli-Palestinian, Israeli-Arab and/or Jewish-Arab) to support and publicize
Jewish Palestinian Living Room Dialogue of San Mateo – After 18 years and 220 meetings, we Muslims, Jews, and Christians model face-to-face relationship building for successful Middle East and global public peace processes. Hundreds of outreach actions include free, how-to tools like printed facilitator guidelines and DVDs — PALESTINIANS & JEWS TOGETHER AT CAMP, and DIALOGUE AT WASHINGTON HIGH.
Jewish National Fund – Since 1901, Jewish National Fund has been hard at work caring for the land of Israel by planting trees, building reservoirs and dams, developing land, creating parks and educating students in the U.S. about Israel. Today, JNF is supporting Israel’s newest generation of pioneers by bringing life to the Negev Desert, Israel’s last frontier. For more information, visit http://www.jnf.org or call 888-JNF-0099.
mepeace.org
Musaique- Musaique is a diverse group of musicians that have come together from all around the Middle East to focus on breaking down the barriers between religions and nations through the language of music. Our wish is to spread the knowledge of unity and We aim to work with local communities around the region, bringing our music to places where people need faith, hope and love.
New Story Leadership – New Story Leadership (NSL) brings emerging Palestinian and Israeli leaders to Washington, DC each summer for cultural immersion with host families, unpaid internships, and a curriculum emphasizing the power of the personal narrative to establish common ground. The students are encouraged to create a new, shared story inspired by their Washington experience.
Peace Child Israel – Peace Child Israel was founded in 1988, and continues its activity, in order to promote, and contribute to, a life of peace and equality between Arab and Jewish citizens in Israel. The contribution of the organization to this objective is by activity amongst the future generation, the youth from the two peoples. It uses the theatre as the vehicle for reaching its objectives.
Peace it Together Society – Peace it Together empowers youth to promote peace through dialogue, filmmaking and multi-media. Palestinians, Israelis and Canadians build relationships through face-to-face dialogue and then create short films together about conflict. We then help the youths engage in peace-building and use their films as educational tools around the world.
Psychosemetic – Psychosemitic facilitates transformative interaction between Muslim, Jewish and Middle Eastern individuals and communities in the UK, through: Cultural Events – music, film, poetry, storytelling, painting and movemen; Education – arts-based programmes for schools and community centres; Social Action – these projects generally focus on helping the wider community as well as our ‘home’ communities.
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East – SPME, representing some 65,000 academics, envisions a world in which Israel exists within secure borders and her neighbors achieve their legitimate peaceful aspirations. We commit ourselves to the promotion on our campuses of a peace in which human rights, stability and economic development benefit all the peoples of the region.
The Shalom Center – Since The Shalom Center was founded in 1983 (and in the work of its founder/ director since 1969), it has worked for a two-state peace settlement between Israel and a new Palestinian state that includes the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, within a regional peace settlement encompassing Israel, Palestine, and all Arab states. In the last previous election of the World Zionist Congress, its executive director was a member of the slate of the Green Zionist Alliance. The Shalom Center has as one of its highest priorities the creation of theology and practice of Eco-Judaism.
Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis
United Religions Initiative in North America – United Religions Initiative in North America provides support and coordination services for grassroots Cooperation Circles throughout the US and Canada, several of which are integrally involved in supporting the development of the Middle East and peace among its people, faiths and nations. Further information can be found on the global organization at http://www.uri.org, and on North America’s CCs at http://www.uri.org/na.
WhiteFlag Music
350.org – 350.org an international campaign that’s building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis–the solutions that science and justice demand. Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis—to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet
withearthandeachother.org/building.html
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