Humanitarian Problems
Dear Editor: I cannot sleep at night thinking about what is happening in the Middle East and how horrible humans are to each other. Hamas committed heinous crimes against humanity with the mass murder and kidnapping of Israeli citizens and foreign passport holders on October 7. More than 1,400 people were butchered, with another 242 kidnapped and held hostage. Hamas is holding babies and children without their parents. This is staggering cruelty, and it is difficult to breathe thinking about the suffering of the families and communities affected.
In response, the Netanyahu government, with support from the United States, has cut off fuel, water, food, and medicine to Gaza. They have bombed residential areas, hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches, killing upwards of 10,000 people. Among the dead are more than 4,000 babies, toddlers, and children, each unique and precious and lost forever. This is horrific and the violence is not limited to the Gaza Strip. Violence against Palestinians is also increasing in the West Bank, where Hamas has no authority, and Israel and the United States are not protecting innocent civilians.
What are we doing? How does this type of senseless violence get the hostages home? How does attacking civilians hurt Hamas? It is a violation of international law to indiscriminately kill civilians in wartime. Israel says they have warned Gazans to flee, but where can they go? What place is safe when hospitals, United Nations shelters and roads are the targets of Israeli bombs? This violence must end.
Meanwhile, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are on the rise throughout the world as all these violent, dehumanizing attacks bring out the worst of humanity. We must stop punishing people for the actions of their governments, and we must hold our own government accountable for its role in funding atrocities. Just saying International Law must be followed is not protecting innocents. As Americans, we are complicit in what is happening, and it is time to speak out.
I do not pretend to know what the resolution of this conflict is but I do know that whether Israeli or Palestinian, Jewish or Muslim or Christian, all people deserve safety, security, and freedom.
I urge you to call the White House (202) 456-1111 (Tues-Thur 11-2 EST), Senator Murkowski (202) 224-6665, Senator Sullivan (202) 224-3004, and Representative Peltola (202) 225-5765 and tell your elected officials that you support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and dramatic increase in humanitarian aid and the safe release of the hostages. Hoping for peace,
Tory Curran, Sitka
Food Survey
Dear Editor: Thank you, Sitka, for taking, sharing, and supporting the Sitka Food Security Survey! Our survey ran from September to the end of October, and we gathered over 400 responses.
This survey is part of a larger effort to better understand food security in Sitka and capture the ways in which we can make it easier for all Sitkans to have access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally relevant food. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support and for each person who took time out of their day to complete the survey.
This work is a result of a partnership between the Sitka Local Foods Network and Transition Sitka, both local non-profits with a vested interest in food security in Sitka. We are grateful to the dedicated members of those organizations who donated their time to help spread the word about the survey, especially Charles Bingham, Leah Mason, Barbara Bingham and Toby Campbell.
This work would not be possible without the dedicated support and guidance of our steering committee which include community partners Sitka Tribe of Alaska Social Services Department, Sitka Public Library, Sitkans Against Family Violence, Blessings in a Backpack, Sitka Conservation Society, and UAF Cooperative Extension Services.
A special thanks to the organizations and events in town that shared and hosted the survey including Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka Public Library, Indigenous People’s Day, Coffee with Elders, Southeast Alaska Independent Living, UAS Sitka Campus, AC Lakeside, Sitka Homeless Coalition, Sitka Sentinel, and Raven Radio.
Gunalchéesh, thank you for your support in this work. We plan to share results from the survey in early spring. If you would like to be added to our listserv to receive updates, including summary survey results please email sitkafoodassessment@gmail.com.
In gratitude and service,
The Sitka Community
Food Assessment Team
