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Olive oil - fundamental for lifeThe agricultural sector has traditionally been the backbone of the Palestinian economy. The most important Palestinian agricultural export is virgin olive oil. Olive oil is a very important source of income for some 70,560 Palestinian farmers. Palestine produces an average of around 35,784 tons of olive oil per year and consumes about 12,500 tons. Palestinian farmers face very serious problems in marketing the remaining 23,284 tons. Olive tree - Symbol of lifeFrom the fruits of the ancient, venerable olive trees with their silver green leaves, men and women who cultivate the land gain the precious oil. For them this oil is a symbol of life and basis of their survival. These trees also symbolize the rootedness of the Palestinians in their country. Around Palestinian villages, those olive trees are uprooted and destroyed by bulldozers of the Israeli Army. The official explanation of the Israeli Occupation Force is "security reasons". For the Palestinian people it is a question of life. Threatened HarvestSince the outbreak of the Palestinian Intifada in September 2000, the farmers have been picking their olives under life threatening conditions. In the past three years at least nine olive farmers were killed, and hundreds were injured and harassed by Israeli settlers threatened by settlers and Israeli army and blocked from harvesting their crop. During last year's olive harvesting in autumn 2002, settlers under the cover and protection of the Israeli army set fire to around 500 dunums of olive groves. According to the statistics published by the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, Israel has uprooted about 203,000 olive trees and confiscated thousands of dunums of olive groves. Since the construction of the Apartheid Wall on Palestinian land in early 2002, confiscation and destruction have escalated. International Women's Peace Service IWPSSince August 2002 IWPS has maintained a permanent international presence to monitor and document human rights abuses, intervene nonviolently and support nonviolent resistance. During olive harvest IWPS accompanies farmers, to enable harvesting despite attacks from Israeli settlers and army restrictions. IWPS uses its international status to establish contact between the often isolated Palestinians and the outside world. IWPS also takes responsibility for ensuring that every farmer who is eligible is able to sell his oil for a fair price. IWPS is also engaged with the cooperation partners to distribute not only the precious oil, but also background information on the difficulties and risks of farming land. More information: www.iwps.info Palestinian Agricultural Relief Commitee PARCPARC establishes the connection between Palestinian farmers and European People. PARC is a non governmental organization working in the field of rural development, environmental protection and enhancement of rural women's role and status in Palestine. PARC was established in 1983 as a voluntary organization and has developed since then to become one of the leading NGOs in Palestine serving the direct needs of some 160,000 Palestinians living in the most marginalized rural areas of Palestine. Since it became impossible for the farmers to market their oil and the price was decreasing to a point that farmers were not able to cover their production costs, PARC has decided to buy large quantities of olive oil directly from the farmers at a higher price. This managed to stabilize the prices and stop further decline. PARC is hoping to open new marketing channels in other countries in the world in order to help more farmers. More information: www.pal-arc.org ProductThe best quality of Palestinian olive oil "extra virgin" will be marketed in Austria like in the EU as "nativ". Its cultivation is organic and the oil is free of cholesterol. Palestinian olive oil is known for its low acidity and special taste. This oil maintains its nutrients and taste long after it is bottled. The oil is bottled in 500ml bottles, imported to Austria and distributed by Eine-Welt-Handel AG (Tel +43 3842 83468 60). ThanksThanks to the Swiss "Olive oil Campaign" for letting us use the calligraphy "Falestin" and the label template. Solidarity PriceA part of the money goes directly to support Palestinian families known by the "Sister of Sion", Ecce Homo Jerusalem. Read about their program here. Further informationen about "Oliveoil from Palestine" can be found on: www.palestineoliveoil.com
For further information on the campaign in Austria: |
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