Archive
World Ch. Schedule : WED 09:05 KST
* Date : 2016-03-02
Olive trees are native to the Palestinian region.
From before civilization, they were growing on this land.
Furthermore, olives are a staple and the main source of income for the Palestinians.
Unfortunately, these much appreciated olive trees are disappearing.
Some get chopped down to make way for the great barrier, and others dry up in an abandoned swath because people can't obtain permits.
At times, people sneak in and set the olive fields on fire.
Over the past 70 years, more than 1.4 million olive trees have disappeared that way from the Palestinian land.
In order to protect the vanishing olive trees, numerous civic organizations are taking action.
JAI, a Palestinian YMCA chapter, is one of them.
JAI raises international awareness of the disappearing Palestinian olive trees and sends volunteers to the farms.
It hopes to prevent disputes through peaceful assistance.
As one olive sprouts to become an olive tree, and that tree bears hundreds of olives, the participants will pass on Palestinians' aspiration for peace when they go back to their countries.
And that will encourage more people to come see the Palestinian olives next year.
If the world does not care about Palestine, Palestinian olives, which have been on earth for 6,000 years, might disappear in our generation.
They say violence begets violence.
And Palestine is caught in the middle of that vicious cycle.
Who will plant the seed of peace here?
And in the middle of this conflict, will the olives take root again as Zaituna, the symbol of peace?
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