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Across the barricades
Kirstin lnnes finds out about a new exhibition highlighting
peace initiatives in the Middle East
ith the strikes on (ia/a receiving near
blanket coverage across all media. it's been impossible to ignore the situation in Israel
and Palestine recently. lnevitably. and perhaps understandably when communicating the realities of lile in a war zone. the sto1y the media wants to tell is one of atrocity. using horror to try and pierce the channel-hopping complacency of their audiences. Stories of hope often get lost in the grander narrative. ‘When it comes to the Middle East. the media more often than not focus on the negatives from the region to the neglect of some ot the more positive projects that are happening there says Billy Briggs. one of the journalists behind a new exhibition highlighting grassroots peace initiatives in the region. Briggs and photographer Angela Catlin met when working for The Herald newspaper. and recognised their common interest in documenting international human rights issues. Last December. before the Gaza strikes erupted. they travelled around the West Bank. Pr "”(l((Hi(l/\'(I'.\ 0/ [war] and P (.Ilcsrim’. which opens
this fortnight in Edinburgh as part of the Festival of
Middle Eastern of Spirituality and Peace. showcases Catlin's reportage photography of the area.
‘As journalists we‘ve both been out to Israel and the West Bank before. and travelled widely. but it was usually to document the darker sides of human nature. There are a lot of projects out there promoting peace and tolerance and that‘s largely ignored. so we
wanted to redress the balance. Especially because many of these people often work at great risk to their own lives.‘
During their trip. they spent a day with a group of
Jewish doctors working under the banner Physicians for Human Rights.
‘They travel every weekend to Palestinian areas to treat Palestinians. Spending time with them was great. because these guys are going into a dangerous situation. and they do it every week. even when there’s been a major incident. And they‘re warmly welcomed by the Palestinians.‘
The point of Briggs and Catlin‘s exhibition. it seems. is simply to gently indicate that the two faiths are not perpetually in opposition in the region.
‘There‘s a small village. between Tel Aviv and Jerusalam. where Arabs and Jews have lived together since 1970] Briggs says. ‘The children are educated together. too. and it‘s been a successful project. In Hebrew it's called Neve Shalom: in Arabic it's Wahat al-Salam. and both of them mean ‘oasis of peace'. We got a taxi to take its there from Jerusalam and our driver couldn't believe that such a project existed. We were there for two hours; during that time he took a look around. and decided to apply to go and live there with his young family.‘
Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Edinburgh, Mon 23 Feb-Mon 2 Mar. www.mesp.org.uk.
ilit
PEACE, POLITICS AND PACE
=l< OUADrophenia Fast paced, full impact all woman roller derby, as the Glasgow Roller Girls take on the Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames. Look out for fishnet tights and a special team of extra-malicious ‘jeerleaders'. See preview, page 12. The Arc, Glasgow Caledonian University Sat 27 Feb.
>i= Scotland Stop the War Coalition Conference 2009 The annual conference opens this year with a rally for Palestine, followed by sessions on War & Occupation, Nukes & Nato. and Resistance. For further information email glasgowstopwar@gmail.com University of Glasgow, Sir Charles Wilson Building, Sat 27 Feb.
* The Falrtrade Experience Stalls. information, kids' activities and a live satellite link from Ghana. all designed to celebrate Fair Trade and ethical business. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 28 Feb 8 Sun 1 Mar.
* Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace 2009 A celebration of the aspects of spiritual peacemaking, with a wide range of events including spiritual retreats, workshops and conferences. See www.mesp.org.uk for full details. Various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Feb—Sun 75 Mar.
19 Feb-:3 Mar 2009 THE LIST 25