Fortuitous to receive an email from Jake Morphonios regarding Olive trees for Palestinian farmers. Hopefully I can ‘copy and paste’ and present it here.
Not only is his cause ‘just’ but you’ll find no trace of hatred in his words which is exactly as it is when he talks about Israel and its policies.
…. and yet this is also a man whose views – factually based – offends youtube . A video of his, embedded here previously, is no longer available.
I don’t think Jake made it unavailable.
Greetings!
I love Palestine and its people.
Last year, I had the opportunity to harvest olives with Palestinian farmers in the West Bank. It was a moving experience and I want to do my part to continue to support those good, hard-working people.
PLANTING HOPE IN PALESTINE: Trees for Life is a Palestine Fair Trade Association (PFTA) program that gives thousands of olive trees to farmers starting out, as well as smaller farmers and those whose trees or lands have been destroyed by Israeli forces.
Unfortunately, many farmers are targeted by Israeli settlers who sneak onto their properties and cut down the olive trees that have been in the Palestinian farmers' families for generations.
This not only causes deep heartache for the farmers who have cared for the trees for many years, but by eliminating their source of income, the occupiers hope to cause the farmers to have to relocate so that the settlers can take control of their lands.
Trees for Life helps to combat these challenges by supporting the farmers.
Since 2006, the project has planted over 173,000 trees! Trees for Life is funded solely by grassroots movements abroad and solely invested in the Palestinian fair trade movement in Palestine. This project helps offset the enormous destruction of olive trees by the Israeli occupation army and violent settlers in Palestine.
YOU CAN HELP: You can support Trees for Life and plant olive and almond trees in Palestine. $20 plants 3 olive trees. Our fundraising goal is $670, which will purchase ONE HUNDRED olive trees!
HOW IT WORKS: A committee of PFTA farmers administers the program. Growers must qualify for lots of 25-50 trees. They must have suitable land, the capacity to nurture the trees, fields prepared for planting immediately upon delivery, and a commitment to fair trade practices. Priority for olive trees goes to small farmers, young farmers with inherited or acquired land, women interested in farming, and farmers who have lost trees to the occupation.
Trees are planted between Tree Day, January 15, and Land Day, March 30. Besides the actual trees planted, this program helps connect the Palestinian farmers and producers in the fair trade movement in Palestine to the grassroots fair trade movement in Europe and North America.
For a full report on the program, brimming with information, visit:
landofcanaanfoundation.org/sustainable-farming/trees-for-life
Your donation truly makes a difference!
CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
After the campaign is over, I will publicly post receipts to confirm that every penny raised was given to the PFTA Trees for Life program. 100% of your donation will be used in the purchase of 100 olive trees for Palestinian farmers as they toil to provide for their families under the harsh conditions of a brutal military occupation.
They need our help. Let's give it to them!
With gratitude,
Jake Morphonios