Afforestation and BDS

One element of our recent trip to the Negev was learning about problems that hadn't come up on our radar while writing the preliminary report.  The topic raised most often was afforestation and it's use in displacing Bedouin villages, as well as it's use of water resources in the desert (eucalyptus forests—once used in Palestine to dry swamps and displace natives—use up a lot of water).

While we're putting together our final report, as well as coordinating video posts and photo albums, read a quick blog on the JNF from late February posted here.

The site, BDSmovement.net is a one-stop for everything BDS related. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement was also a topic that was brought up frequently. I'm in the process of tracking down a list of the companies and products targeted, but in the meantime read up here.

Now that International Water Day is over, get ready for the BDS Global Day of Action on March 30, 2012.

Here are a few photos: the first is a small forestation project underway through the work of the JNF, and the second is of the two most adorable Bedouin protestors, who gather every Friday across from fresh trees, not far from their demolished homes.

—DJH