APN: Don’t Disregard Farmers, the Primary Resisters | The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature
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العربية لأطفال الأردن تقاطع: لا تنسوا المزارع فهو المقاوم الأول

On the 20th of August, 2017, The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature was asked to present its work to a group of 20 students who were taking part in a summer camp organized by the Jordanian BDS Campaign in collaboration with Challenger Team.

The aim of the camp was to help young students grow their leadership and communication skills, as well as deepen their understanding of civil and social responsibilities. The camp also focused on encouraging students to take part in social initiatives and student solidarity campaigns. Throughout the camp, students were also introduced to the BDS movement as a nonviolent form of challenging Israeli apartheid.  

APN was therefore asked to talk about its Million Tree Campaign (MTC) as a means of resistance to Israeli occupation and resource theft. Zeena Al Jaajaa, representing APN, involved the students in an interactive discussion about the symbolism and significance of trees, land, and agriculture in Palestine. Al Jaajaa introduced the students to the concepts of food security and food sovereignty, and how these can be achieved by planting fruit trees for smallholder farmers. She also gave several poignant yet inspirational anecdotes about steadfast farmers in Palestine who have resisted Israeli settler-colonialism through support by APN.  The students then had the chance to plant several Azedarach trees to understand the beauty and importance of such an activity.