Human rights violations continue unabated this week as the State of Israel ordered Palestinian farmers in the West Bank to uproot 1400 olive trees by May 1st, or face heavy fines and incarceration.
The olive trees, some of which are 1000s of years old, grow on Palestinian land and serve as the main source of livelihood for the Palestinian farmers. (more…)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb2fTQO31GQ
In response to the cowardly attack on his citizens, Norway’s Prime Minister issued some inspiring and courageous words:
“You will not destroy us. You will not destroy our democracy nor our quest for a better world.”
“Tomorrow we will show the world that Norway’s democracy grows stronger when it is challenged.”
“We must never cease to stand up for our values. We have to show that our open society can pass this test, too, and that the answer to violence is even more democracy, even more humanity, but never naïveté.”
While a natural response to such a tragedy might be to try and protect society with more restrictions, more laws, and more security, taking this approach too far can lead to needing protection from the system itself.
It is great to see that Norway will be taking the harder path, fighting for more freedoms in the hope that it will result in less violence over the long run.
