I was just wondering

Why are moths attracted to light, even to the point of death?

"One's past is what one is."
- Oscar Wilde

I think this is true. But I think that two people could have similar pasts and choose to do different things with those realities. But both would be equally shaped by where they came from.

I remember being struck by the lack of water

"CPTnet
1 August 2008
AT-TUWANI: Drought in South Hebron Hills worsened by Israeli occupation



At-Tuwani and neighboring villages are in the worst drought-affected area of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Only 13% of the expected rainfall came in the Hebron area in the winter of 2007-08. Two weeks ago, At-Tuwani villagers told Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) that only around one week's supply of water was left in the village's wells and cisterns.


Israeli military road blocks restrict access to the nearest Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) filling point, but even without these restrictions, the capacity of the PWA is insufficient to meet local needs. The Oslo II Peace Agreement of 1995 called for "the equitable utilization of joint water resources,": which the Israeli government never carried out. Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem reports that the daily per capita consumption of water of Palestinians in the West Bank is 66 liters, whereas the average daily water consumption in Israeli cities is 235 liters.


Some families in At-Tuwani have purchased water, but the Israeli military roadblocks mean that water tankers have to take longer routes, thus raising the price. NGOs who recently brought water to the area told CPT that it cost 35-40 NIS per m3 (1m3 = 1000 liters), three to six times higher than Israeli households pay. In addition, the villagers must provide water for their flocks , and a sheep requires a minimum of 5-7 liters of water per day.


The low winter rainfall adversely affected the growth of the natural vegetation, and the planted crops, like barley and wheat, produced a very low harvest. The Palestinians, therefore, have had to buy additional fodder for their animals. In the past 12 months fodder prices have tripled, while the market price for a sheep has nearly halved. The Occupation has also interfered with shepherds' ability to graze their animals. Since it began in 1967, 21 percent of West Bank grazing land has been declared Israeli military zones and another 8 percent nature reserves. Israeli settlers often attack shepherds and their flocks in the fields, which makes feeding their flocks even more difficult for families.

Palestinians, with support from a Spanish NGO, are building a new cistern in At-Tuwani to supply water to villages in the area in future years. The Israeli military issued a 'stop work order' (the first step in the demolition process) for it on 26 June, 2008. Representatives from the village met with the Israeli military authorities last week requesting that this order be rescinded. They have told CPT that they will appeal to the Israeli High Court if necessary.


CPT continues to accompany Palestinian herders as they graze on their traditional lands and resist Israeli army and settler harassment. Local and international NGOs are working to meet the humanitarian needs in the area by supplying water and fodder.



Figures in this release are taken from





"

When you deport nonviolent people, all you are left with is the violent ones

"CPTnet
2 August 2008
AT-TUWANI: CPTer faces possible deportation

The Israeli authorities detained Kristin Anderson, a U.S. citizen working with Christian Peacemaker Teams in the South Hebron Hills, today during a non-violent action in At-Tuwani. Israeli soldiers took Anderson's bag and passport, and police detained her when she stayed behind to retrieve them; they then took her to the Kiryat Arba police station. The Israeli authorities may move her to the Russian Compound in Jerusalem for a trial and possible deportation.

The public witness was a response to four attacks Israeli settlers perpetrated against Palestinian children in the last week as they walked to or from summer camp in At-Tuwani. About 300 Palestinian adults and children as well as Israelis and internationals marched from At-Tuwani to Tuba to protest the continuing violence and the expansion of the settlement outpost Havat Ma'on."

something good to lose

Sunshine On My Shoulders

Again, ignore the video, but enjoy the song.

I'm not sure what it is about this song, but it resonates with my feelings around losing friends. Not the forever death kind of losing, but the inevitable people move away and friendships change, kind of losing.

As well as a too much death, I've also had a couple good friends move away in the last month, and it makes me sad. But this song, I think it touches me because it celebrates that there is something good to lose. (As we could never really lose anything if we never had anything worth keeping.)