> Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) Foundation > 9/1 Rattanakosin Rd. T. Watget. Amphur Muang. Chiang Mai 50000. Thailand > > > > > For immediate release - 28/05/2007 > Contact: + 66 53 240 026 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > An unhappy anniversary: a Just Peace in Palestine is urgent > > Anniversaries are often happy occasions. The fortieth anniversary of the > June 1967 War is not - not for the Palestinians, not for the Israeli > people, and not for the Middle East and the world at large. > > The Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT), bringing together church and > other networks, advocates for a tourism that is fair and equitable, one > enriched by the gaining of insight from genuine people to people > exchanges. > > What do visitors to Palestine find? By any yardstick, an environment that > is inhumane. An occupation that persists even after forty years is > indefensible. Today, crippling sanctions are imposed on a democratically > elected government in Palestine by the Israeli and other governments. > Violence and hardship continue to escalate, causing extensive suffering > among Palestinians, and at the same time, much fear and anxiety among > Israelis. > > ECOT calls for a Just Peace in Palestine that will allow Palestinians to > enjoy a life of normality informed by structures governed by justice and > human dignity, not a life hemmed in by check points, helicopter gunships > and a meandering wall. A Just Peace in Palestine is the reverse side of a > Just Peace for Israel! > > ECOT calls on Israel, as the dominant force in Palestine, to respond with > visionary leadership in resolving the issues which confront the > inhabitants of a shared region. Eschewing 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for > a tooth' approach will surely liberate the Israeli people, who are also > desperate for a Just Peace, more than the tit-for tat cycle of violence > that the world has seen. > > ECOT challenges the powers that be in the world community to make every > effort towards realizing a Just Peace in Palestine, while mindful of the > root causes of the long conflict. This will bring rich dividends to us > all. > > ECOT urges solidarity visits to Palestine that become empowering > 'pilgrimages for transformation'. These encounters will enable visitors to > engage with members of the local communities, learn firsthand the stories, > aspirations and difficulties of local people, confront the systems and > structures from which their own home countries benefit, and break down the > negative stereotypes of Palestinian people through enjoying their > friendship, hospitality, culture and food. They will return home with a > new understanding, hopefully transformed into advocates for a Just Peace > in Palestine. (For ideas, contact the Alternative Tourism Group in > Palestine through www.atg.ps) > > ECOT calls on churches and other groups of goodwill to involve themselves > in advocacy and lobbying, awareness raising and education, and in other > symbolic acts to achieve a Just Peace in Palestine. ECOT supports the > World Council of Churches' International Church Action for Peace in > Palestine and Israel. > > The Palestinian, and Israeli, people have suffered enough. It is a tragedy > that precious human energy has been expended on the blame game, and not on > peace-making. It is time for those with power and influence to exercise a > new vision, a new imagination, and a new courage. The world awaits. > > > > > For comment and further information: > > Caesar D'Mello ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) > Executive Director, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) > 9/1 Ratanakosin Road, T. Watget, Amphur Muang, > Chiang Mai, 50000 Thailand > Tel/Fax: + 66 53 240 026 www.ecotonline.org > > >
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