CASSIDY KLEIN and ASHLEY VER BEEK – As of Oct. 30, residents of Umm al-Khair have lawyers representing their case against the demolition orders, though the lawyers believe it will be difficult to stop the demolitions through legal action alone. The Umm al-Khair village is calling on the international community to pressure the Israeli government through media attention and by urging their representatives to intervene. They also say a larger protective presence of activists would help right now.
Tag: Land rights
How Women Led a Peaceful Flotilla to Reclaim their Island from the Sri Lankan Navy
LISA FULLER – 100 Sri Lankan community members have permanently moved back to their navy-occupied island of Iranaitheevu. After a quarter century of displacement, they have begun to rebuild the long-neglected, war-ravaged town. Their success was not a result of luck, nor did the navy have a sudden change of heart. Instead, a group of women from the community had developed and implemented a nonviolent strategy that closely resembles techniques implemented by professional civilian peacekeepers in conflict zones across the world.