Hello from Palestine Museum of Natural History

Wow! It is noisy in the Museum garden today because the campers, ages 13-15, boys and girls, are screaming in delight as they compete in the treasure hunt planned  by the staff. These happy sounds are in such sharp contrast to the lives these kids live on a usual day. The staff is cheering them on with even greater enthusiasm, and their lives aren’t any easier.  For them to get to work they must be prepared to be stopped anywhere along the way by young Israeli soldiers who start with an attitude of disdain for every Palestinian.

Thus our staff, university graduates, masters and doctoral candidates, skillful in running the Museum and the Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability, are confronted  by a high school graduate with an automatic weapon and an attitude. There is no telling where this confrontation will end, because the soldier does not need any excuse to arrest a Palestinian who is on his/her way to work.

Yet the staff arrive in good humor and dedication to our research, field work, and expansion of the botanical garden.

And the kids can forget about how the soldiers invaded a neighbor’s apartment during the night to arrest a 12 year old boy they accuse of “throwing stones”.  It’s true that lots of kids, especially in poor neighborhoods throw stones at soldiers who are trespassing. But there is absolutely no proof that THIS child threw stones.  Nevertheless, they take him from his bed at 2 or 3 a.m., forbid his parents from coming with him, take him somewhere in a jeep where he is pushed onto the floor under the soldiers’ boots, and interrogate him.

This is what these summer campers get to forget about, and to fill the air with their seemingly innocent laughter.

Ah, a staffer just brought me a popsicle like the ones he just distributed to the kids.  I check the label to be sure it is a Palestinian-made treat, a habit I have from being in East Jerusalem where Israel prohibits most products made in Palestine.  Of course, I needn’t have checked.

Jessie then instructs me to wash and save the popsicle stick, for not a single thing gets thrown away that might some day find another use. Recycle, upcycle, reuse, repurpose, and always remember to Respect the environment!