Devon and Palestine launch new "Olives of Hope" project

The growth of the Fairtrade movement in Palestine has brought new hope to rural communities there. During Fairtrade Fortnight 2009, Palestinian olive farmer Riziq Abu Nasser visited Devon to tell how UK Fairtrade wholesaler Zaytoun has improved prospects for his community, the village of Deir Istya in the West Bank. Zaytoun offers Palestinian farmers the chance to export their olive oil to the UK for a fair price, allowing them to stay on their land and invest in their community’s future.

1 – By nurturing and maintaining personal friendships between the people of Devon and Deir Istya.

2 – By supporting just, sustainable trade with Palestinian producers by urging both consumers and retailers in Devon to choose Zaytoun Fairtrade Palestinian olive oil and other Fairtrade Palestinian products.

3 - To sponsor the planting of olive saplings on land around Deir Istya that farmers have previously been unable to cultivate. As these trees mature they will begin to produce olives for sale through Fairtrade, offering a valuable future source of income to Deir Istya and reviving the village’s lands.

Sponsor a tree – Help revive Deir Istya’s lands and invest in the village’s future by planting new olive groves, which will then produce olive oil for sale through Fairtrade. £20 pays for five saplings. Please send cheques payable to Devon Development Education (write “Olives for Hope” on the back) and forward to Devon Development Education, 17 St David’s Hill, Exeter EX4 3RG.

Have an olive themed party at your home to raise awareness about Olives for Hope and Fairtrade in Palestine. For £5, we can supply you with a pack of display materials for this purpose. Please contact Devon Development Education or phone 01392 438811 for more details.

Sell Zaytoun olive oil – or ask the manager of your local shop to do so. The Cooperative supermarket recently agreed to sell Zaytoun oil but not all stores stock it yet, so it is well worth asking local managers to do so. For other shops wishing to stock it, Zaytoun can provide you with a list of wholesalers. Email Heather at Zaytoun for more information.

Visit Palestine on a Zaytoun tour this Autumn. Zaytoun will organise a special trip to Palestine this Autumn for volunteers from Devon. If you are interested in visiting Deir Istya and meeting people who are benefiting from Fairtrade, please email Heather at Zaytoun for more information.

For all other enquiries, please contact Devon Development Education or phone 01392 438811

Olives for Hope project is an initiative of Devon Development Education in association with Christian Aid, Zaytoun, the Olive Cooperative, the Palestinian Fairtrade Association (PFTA), the Fairtrade Foundation, and Fairtrade campaigners, churches and other individuals around Devon and the South West.

"All Creatures Great and Small" star, turned author and olive farmer, Carol Carol Drinkwater has supported the launch of the project. Helen says: “When I visited Israel and the West Bank I discovered that the Israeli authorities are razing many trees – frequently the only source of life for those Palestinian villagers, in order to build illegal settlements. "I spent a day with Israeli peace activists planting saplings paid for by Israelis as a small gesture of recompense. It was one of the most memorable, moving days of my life. If this project can support Palestinian farmers and give them an opportunity to sell their fruits and the oil they have farmed for centuries, it will have helped give them back dignity and a means towards earning their own livelihoods.”