Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Every inch of land, every grain of sand

"It isn’t just Syria that is suddenly importing grains and relying upon aid agencies to help feed its population. Climate scientists say that the entire Fertile Crescent – which encompasses all of Syria and much of neighbor Iraq – might be turning barren. Such a permanent, drastic decline in agriculture in the face of diminishing oil reserves and declining foreign investments would spell disaster for Syria. Iraq faces a similarly tenuous future: agriculture there has been all but decimated by years of warfare and drought. The collapse of farming is presenting extreme economic challenges as well as safety concerns: both Syria and Iraq are becoming increasingly dependent on imported food and water, and both face growing numbers of displaced migrants no longer able to glean profit or sustenance from farming."

This is an extract from a blog called Water Matters maintained by Columbia University's Water Center. I have a few of things to tell them:

1. Please STOP talking about the war in Iraq as if the US had nothing to do with it and it is the Iraqis fighting each others for fun. You have a duty to keep reminding readers that Iraq is under US occupation and that it is US occupation that has destroyed the infrastructure and turned millions into refugees. There are "water refugees" because the US has devastated Iraq. 

2. What the heck does the title mean? That peace in the fertile crescent is prevented by water scarcity? The obstacle to peace in the region is zionist colonization and unconditional US support. Point final. 

3. I have gotten used to the vocabulary used in the west, but I can't help noticing it: dont you just love this bit: "previous water shortages contributed to disputes between Syria and Israel regarding the Golan Heights, which Israel conquered in 1967 and which Syria now wants back." Bad Syria, how unreasonable of you, to want back what was taken from you and annexed. Look at the use of the term "conquered" which carries victorious, almost admirable undertones. Invaded, occupied, yes, these are the words that must be used. But let me break the news to you. We do not only want the Golan back, we want every inch of land, every grain of sand from Palestine...And the disputes are not about water, they are about the colonization of Palestine by the zionists. And they will not end until the usurping entity ends even if there were years of rainfall and water aplenty.

1 comment:

Bashir said...

wlik akhh kif bet feshelna khele2na ya rami!