Olives for Hope: Devon Fairtrade groups support Palestinian livelihoods

By PRSD, on Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Actress turned olive farmer Carol Drinkwater (from essential ’80s Saturday night viewing All Creatures Great and Small) is to help launch a project supporting Palestinian farmers in the face of the destruction of their olive trees.

Carol has written several books on olive trees, and is backing the Olives for Hope, which links Fairtrade groups in Devon with olive farmers in the West Bank village of Deir Istya, where many ancient olive trees are under threat from encroaching Israeli settlements and the barrier that Israel is building in the West Bank.

Palestinian Riziq Abu Nasser visited Devon during Fairtrade Fortnight this year to talk about how Fairtrade has improved his life.

Carol told the PRSD: “When I visited Israel and the West Bank I discovered that the Israeli authorities are razing many trees – frequently the only source of life for those Palestinian villagers, in order to build illegal settlements. I spent a day with Israeli peace activists planting saplings paid for by Israelis as a small gesture of recompense. It was one of the most memorable, moving days of my life.”

“If this project can support Palestinian farmers and give them an opportunity to sell their fruits and the oil they have farmed for centuries, it will have helped give them back dignity and a means towards earning their own livelihoods.”

Olives for Hope has been established by Devon Development Education, a global education organization that led the successful campaign to achieve Fairtrade County status in Devon. It is to be launched in June with a series of events around Devon

dates of events:
Catholic Church Hall, New Road, Brixham, Tuesday, June 16 – 7.30pm
Christ Church, Bear Street, Barnstaple, Thursday, June 18 – 7.30pm
United Reformed Church, Southernhay, Exeter, Friday, June 19 – 7.30pm

posted by Cptn