HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Emmy winner Mandy Patinkin and legendary folk singer Pete Seeger are among those slated to participate in an unprecedented global celebration advancing the cause of peace in the Middle East through cross-border cooperation. With Earth and Each Other: A Virtual Rally for a Better Middle East, an internet-based event, will be broadcast on Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 1 pm eastern. Organizers expect tens of thousands of people around the world to participate through locally organized rallies.
The rally is being presented by Friends of the Arava Institute (FAI), a U.S.-based organization which supports the ground-breaking Arava Institute. The Arava Institute (www.arava.org ) is an Israeli-based academic institution bringing together university-level students including Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to study environmental issues in order to advance regional sustainability and build trans-boundary cooperation.
According to David Weisberg, FAI’s Executive Director, the goal of the rally is “to demonstrate that there is more to the Middle East than conflict. There are thousands of unsung heroes throughout the region working to make a difference,” says Weisberg. “Lost in the media coverage of Middle East conflict are the vital stories of people bridging the divide through concrete, meaningful cooperation. This event will cast a broad net to encompass the wide variety of cross-border/cross-cultural efforts in the Middle East, including those of the Arava Institute.”
The broadcast, presented in partnership with beNOW.tv and Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters, is also slated to feature Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, singer Dan Bern, Israeli songwriter Mosh Ben-Ari and Muslim hip hop act Native Deen. “beNOW.tv and Livestream are thrilled to be a part of this important event,” says Brian Gruber, President of beNOW.tv. “We are looking forward to building a large worldwide audience.”
“This will not be a political event,” says rally co-chair Mohammed Atwa. “The purpose is not to take a side or suggest what a peace process should look like, but to raise the voices of those on all sides who yearn for peace and show that there is another side of the conflict in which people are striving to work together for the betterment of all.”
In casting a wide umbrella for the rally’s content and participation, FAI is inviting organizations throughout the world to join as “partnering organizations” for the event. Organizations already signed on as partners include Peace Child Israel, Jewish National Fund, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, and United Religions Initiative in North America. Organizations interested in joining as partners can find more information at the event website, www.withearthandeachother.org .
As the rally is designed to be viewed at grassroots rally-watching events, FAI is inviting individuals and organizations to host rally events throughout the world. Events are already being planned in locations including New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and London, as well as the Middle East. Information on hosting rally-watching events can be found on the event website.
SOURCE Friends of the Arava Institute
