Giving peace a fighting chance
When children from northern Arab and Jewish Israeli villages get together for martial arts, they are really building relationships.
A project called Budo for Peace is bringing Israeli Arab and Jewish children together to fight for peace -- literally. The 400 children from 20 clubs take part in joint sessions to learn the martial art and also discover some important things about one another.
"Our goal is to bring children who are in conflict areas to understand about respect, tolerance, non-violence, and break down the barriers of ignorance and fear," says founder Danny Hakim, a sixth-degree black belt.
It may seem odd to use a fighting framework to forward peace in Israel, but Hakim believes his method leads to greater harmony among children from the two cultures, who often harbor misconceptions about each other.
In fact, Budo for Peace has been a springboard for additional contact between the two villages. "Clubs that have existed for years want to join us," says Hakim. There is also interest from other countries.
Downloads:
Videos:
- Hi Res: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2TRWKBE7
- Hi Res No Narration: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=R86FDY3T
- Streaming: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=62NUGP1S
- Streaming No Narration: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=51URPMYY
Documents:
- SCRIPT: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IUH6I520
- INTRO: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4L85E4IS
Please credit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel for any use of these videos
Categories:
Israeli TV
