New Documentary: Stone Quarries...Depletion of Palestinian Natural Resources скачать в хорошем качестве

New Documentary: Stone Quarries...Depletion of Palestinian Natural Resources

MA'AN Development Center has recently produced and launched a new documentary in cooperation with Heinrich Boll Stiftung and Wattan TV. The documentary addresses the issue of stone mining in the West Bank, and exposes the systematic theft of natural resources by Israel through tens of stone quarries conveniently located in the occupied West Bank. These quarries produce an approximate 12 tons of stone per year and are contributing towards 25% of the Israeli construction industry. While International law states clearly that an occupying power is only permitted to administer public buildings, real estate, forest and the agricultural estates of the state it is occupying, the Israeli Supreme Court in 2011 has ruled against a lawsuit to halt the mining of natural resources in the West Bank and instead deemed the exploitation legal by citing benefit to the Palestinians laborers through jobs created by the mining industry. The film also addresses the environmental damage associated with stone mining and quarrying such as the destruction of surrounding ecosystems, the devastation of agricultural land, the harm caused to ecological diversity, as well as pollution of air, soil and surface water as well as ground water. The film then addresses the phenomenon of quarrying in and around residential areas , health and safety consequences faced by local communities. In specific, it aims to present the health related hazards for families that live near quarries that are vulnerable to chronic diseases such as respiratory system infections, allergies and lung cancer. Quarries have also been known to cause structural damage to nearby buildings and homes putting people's lives at danger, while the very deep pits left behind a quarry endangers the lives of children that often play across these spaces. The documentary advocates for the quick halt of mining activities in and around residential areas, and for rehabilitation of existing quarried sites through replanting, while mass mobilization is needed to push for the implementation of laws against unregulated quarrying and environmental laws for the protection of non-renewable natural resources and the environment.