[News] Palestinian youths speak out with art

[News at freedomarchives.org]

This is a mural that was painted by Break The Silence organization in
San Francisco in 1990.

http://www.breakthesilencearts.org/images/missionmural_whole.jpg

Marlene

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"Palestine is as big an issue as South Africa was. What is going on
here is genocide."

Palestinian youths speak out with art
By Lawrence Smallman
Thursday 05 August 2004, 19:01 Makka Time, 16:01 GMT


Children in Bait Hanun can paint trees - but not climb them

An America Jew has made sure at least some Palestinian children will
remember their land the way it was before its destruction by Israeli
bulldozers.

Dr Susan Greene has repeatedly left the safety of San Francisco and
travelled to the occupied territories - armed only with a paintbox.

She has become a leading member of the Break the Silence Mural
Project - an arts group that promotes a greater awareness of the
complexities of the conflict in Palestine.

"Although there is no real freedom of movement, friends got me to
Bait Hanun where the local children and I painted a mural of orange
trees," she told Aljazeera.net on Thursday.

Anyone familiar with Bait Hanun, in the northern Gaza Strip, knows
the town was once famous for orchards - especially its orange trees.

"Now it is a desert. The trees have been martyred ... so the mural
depicted martyred orange trees."

Local support

With more than 15 years' experience in Palestine, Greene has built up
a great relationship with countless parents and young people.

"The children loved taking party and showed real enthusiasm. The
parents were just as pleased - though many joked that Israeli
soldiers would probably knock down these trees too!"


Palestinians of all ages took part
in creating the huge mural

The artist told me she laughed at the joke, but felt the tragedy all
too keenly.

"As an American Jew I have the privilege to be able to speak out.
Americans need to get acquainted with what is happening here.
Palestine is as big an issue as South Africa was. What is going on
here is genocide.

Breaking the silence

"At night I couldn't sleep because of the gunfire and the F-16s
constantly making flights over the town.

"But the children are accustomed to it - if you ask them whether they
have trouble sleeping, they will tell you 'the gunfire is like music -
we can't sleep without it'".


Locals take cover during an air
raid - the real Bait Hanun today

"What Israeli soldiers do to Bait Hanun is horrible and relentless."

Break the Silence started work when four Jewish American women
artists travelled to the West Bank city of Ram Allah and worked on a
series of community mural projects with Palestinian community members
and artists.

Upon returning from that first trip in 1989, the artists presented
their work and reflections on their experiences to approximately 100
audiences in high schools, universities, art galleries and community
centres across the United States.


Aljazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FE5BEF7F-2F1E-4BB1-B25E-
6680234EE1A8.htm

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