Palestinians prepare for mass protests ahead of the 70th anniversary of “the catastrophe”
The world is watching. For the seventh Friday in a row, Palestinians in Gaza are demanding their right to return to the places they lived in prior to the Nakba, or “the catastrophe” – the day when more than 700,000 Arabs were forced out of their homes. Nearly 70% of Palestinians in Gaza are refugees.
Al Jazeera reported that this week’s protest would have fewer participants as people gear up for bigger demonstrations next week. While the protests in Gaza will culminate on the 70th anniversary of the Nakba on Tuesday, activists are also planning a march on Monday to oppose the move of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move will take place on May 14, the day before Nakba Day. These are just two events that are adding to the already heightened tensions in the Holy Land.
People from around the world, including Indonesia and the U.S., are holding public demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians.
New documentary follows Kenyan farmer from hometown to global climate talks
Climate change is real. Award-winning documentary THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN (yes, all caps) makes that clear. The film is a collaboration between an unlikely pair. Five years ago, Kenyan farmer Kisilu Musya began documenting his life and the effects of climate change on his family and his village. Without giving too much away, Norwegian filmmaker Julia Dahr joins him as he transforms from a local leader to a global climate activist. The documentary paints a picture of the deeply personal, and at times painful, effects of climate change on farmers and rural communities – as well as the resilience of these very people and communities. It can be viewed for free online.
Women-led favela Occupation Hope in Brazil does not tolerate domestic violence
Pay the rent or feed the kids. This is the choice that many working parents are facing in São Paulo, Brazil. In 2013 a group of women decided they didn’t want to make that choice anymore. They took over some land on the outskirts of the city and established a favela called Occupation Hope. With more than 11 million Brazilians living in favelas, these informal urban settlements are all too common. But what sets Occupation Hope apart is its feminist leadership.
With eight in 10 of Occupation Hope’s leaders being women, female residents say they feel safer there than they did at previous residences. Not only do the leaders support women to learn and claim their rights, but they also enforce a zero-tolerance policy for violence against women. Violators can get kicked out of the community.
Living in a favela comes with many challenges, but Occupation Hope’s reputation has convinced many women, especially single mothers, to move in. In just five years, its population has grown from 50 families to 500!
