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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
November 8, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| October 19, 2005 |
Fair Trade for a Brighter Future in Palestine – Yamada Shirabe |
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| Shirabe Yamada came on Peace Boat to discuss the problems facing Palestinians |
Yamada Shirabe knows first hand the hardships facing the people of Palestine, as she has lived and worked in the Palestinian Occupied Territories for the past eight years. Onboard Peace Boat from Egypt to Morocco, Shirabe brought participants’ attention to the many day-to-day problems that Palestinians face. |
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| Shirabe shows participants photos of the poor living conditions in the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated places in the world |
Shirabe first visited Palestine in 1993 after completing her graduate studies in International and Public Affairs in the United States. After witnessing the dire economic situation faced by Palestinians, she resolved to work to help people to help themselves.
Onboard Peace Boat, Shirabe gave Peace Boat participants a background to the complex history of Palestine and Israel, and the continuing obstacles facing the peace process. She focused on increasingly difficult economic problems for Palestinians, and the work of the fair trade organization Sunbula she is involved in, which helps to empower local people to improve their situation themselves. |
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An example of traditional Palestinian embroidery
(Photo courtesy of www.sunbula.org) |
Employment opportunities for Palestinians are extremely limited, says Shirabe. Due to a curfew to and from the Gaza Strip, and hundreds of army checkpoints and roadblocks across the West Bank, traveling in and out of Palestinian Occupied Territories has become so difficult that many people are simply unable to get to work and have therefore lost their jobs. This is forcing many Palestinians to look for new sources of income.
Shirabe is Executive Director of Sunbula, a fair trade NGO that “supports economic self-help of Palestinian artisans through the promotion of traditional handicrafts.” In other words, it helps local people at the grassroots level, especially women, refugees and disabled people, to become economically sufficient. Founded in 1996, Sunbula is Palestine’s leading Fair Trade Organization and is based in Jerusalem. |
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A Palestinian women embroidering traditionally styled handicrafts
(Photo courtesy of www.sunbula.org) |
Sunbula currently works with 12 craft producing organizations across the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel. Staff and volunteers provide skills training, and assist in product design, funding and the crucial work of finding markets for items made. Currently, Sunbula helps over 1800 people earn much-needed income through the sale of their handicrafts, with all proceeds directly benefiting Palestinian artisans. “Women are now supporting their families, even if it’s in a small way,” said Shirabe. |
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| Shirabe shows images of life in Palestine to Peace Boat participants |
Olive oil has long been an important commodity throughout Israel and Palestine, and in the wider region. Owing to ongoing oppression and social instability, many Palestinians can no longer access their olive tree plantations, or even a market to sell the finished products. It is estimated that 60 per cent of olive oil products made in Palestine go to waste every year, largely due to problems of transporting olives to presses, or inability to finally sell the products.
Shirabe is currently working on a project where olive based soap products are made and sold to support women’s economic independence. She works with an NGO that makes oil based soap products, which are then exported overseas. While onboard Peace Boat, Shirabe sold a range of olive oil based products to participants, who were eager to support the cause. |
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The Israeli occupation has recently intensified, with the rapid construction of the Separation Wall (a wall being built by the Israeli government to further segregate Palestinians from Israeli occupied land). Because of this, Palestinian communities are currently threatened with even more violence, physical isolation and economic stagnation. Considering this, the economic role of craft producers, most of whom are women, has thus become crucial, and the need for organizations such as Sunbula who are able to lend support, even stronger.
Village women are often unable to bring finished pieces of embroidery to their co-operative to receive wages, and resources such as fabric and thread can be difficult to obtain. The role of functional artisan groups, and organizations which support them, such as Sunbula, has become even more vital to meet the needs of hundreds of Palestinian families. “There are many projects that help people to generate income, but more are needed,” said Shirabe.
After one week onboard Peace Boat, Shirabe returned to Jerusalem to continue her work towards empowering marginalized people within Palestine. Through her real life experiences and sharing of stories which were conveyed to those onboard through a series of lectures and workshops, Shirabe left a deep impression on many. Not only did this include a new awareness of the reality faced by Palestinian people, or the importance of fair trade, but also wonderful inspiration gained from a person as dedicated, compassionate and energetic as Shirabe.
For more information about Fair Trade and Sunbula, please visit: www.sunbula.org |
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