The Arab American University, in cooperation with the Caritas Jerusalem Foundation, has held an environmental agriculture event and the opening of a marketing exhibition for national rural products, in partnership with Caritas International Belgium, the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority, and the Jenin Governorate Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and with funding from the Belgian Development Cooperation and Caritas France.
The event comes on the occasion of World Environment Day, as part of the Social Cohesion Program for Rural Communities, with the aim of enhancing resilience, social cohesion and economic empowerment of rural communities by focusing on youth and women.
The event was held with the presence of Dr. Muayad Abusaa, representative of the Arab American University, Antoun Asfar, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem, Ammar Abu Baker, President of the Jenin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Engineer Lama Jarad, Director of the Office of the Environmental Quality Authority in Jenin Governorate, and a number of representatives of governmental and private institutions, the private sector, and farmers as well as entrepreneurs from the northern governorates of the West Bank, in addition to a number of members of the academic and administrative staffs and University students.
AAUP Speech
The event began with a welcome speech by Dr. Muayad Abusaa, representative of the Arab American University, where he welcomed the attendees and stressed the importance of this event, which seeks to enhance resilience, social cohesion and economic empowerment. He pointed out that today’s event coincides with World Environment Day and the anniversary of the occupation of Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967. He recalled the dangers surrounding the Palestinian environment and the challenges it faces, as well as the necessity of taking effective measures at all political, scientific, research and popular levels to preserve and protect it.
He stressed the necessity of preserving, protecting and caring for the Palestinian lands and preserving the agricultural heritage, in light of the difficult circumstances that Palestine is experiencing and the continuing suffering. He also stressed that this must be an essential part of the national culture and identity. He explained that the continuity and development of local agriculture and the encouragement and support of agricultural and rural products and women and youth initiatives in this field, would enhance environmental sustainability and contributes to enhancing resilience, social cohesion and economic empowerment. Dr. Abusaa appreciated the efforts made by all those responsible for this event and its success.
Caritas Jerusalem Speech
For his part, the Secretary-General of Caritas Jerusalem, Antoun Asfar, said in his speech, “The Foundation attaches utmost importance to the environmental aspect and to our adaptation to climate change, as we ensure the application of all environmental standards through the implementation of our field activities. He added that they are always keen on continuous communication with international and local platforms and networks in this regard to exchange experiences and knowledge.”
He pointed out that the Foundation is seizing the opportunity on the occasion of World Environment Day to launch an activity to support agricultural and environmental products, and Jenin has been selected due to the suffering and political and economic challenges it is experiencing.
He explained that in view of the environmental deterioration that the region is witnessing, especially as a result of the intensive use of agricultural pesticides, we celebrate today to emphasize several goals, the most prominent of which is launching the application of the ecological agricultural approach with the aim of implementing sound agricultural operations that lead to the production of safe and healthy crops, and the necessity of exchanging experiences and knowledge with relevant institutions. This is to create a national alliance to implement the ecological agricultural approach, and to emphasize marketing rural products and connecting producers with merchants and consumers during this event. He concluded his speech by thanking the Arab American University for its great contribution to the success of this event.
