There is a peaceful way to take a stand — even if you're in the world's most volatile region, according to an author speaking at Thompson Rivers University Monday and Tuesday.
Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta is author of the book Refusing to be Enemies: Palestinian and Israeli Non-violent Resistance to the Israeli Occupation.
Kaufman-Lacusta, a Quaker Jew and a dual citizen of Canada and Israel, describes herself as a semi-retired activist and occasional journalist.
Her interview-based book highlights both non-violent resistance by Palestinians and Israelis to the Israeli occupation in ways, she argues, that foreign citizens can support.
In their own words, more than 100 interview subjects share examples of effective non-violent campaigns and obstacles encountered in their pursuit of a just peace.
They also discuss the changes required for their organizations — and the non-violent movement as a whole — to more successfully pursue this goal.
Attention is also devoted to the hopes and visions for a shared future in the region.
Since the hardcover edition of Refusing to be Enemies first came out in early 2010, Kaufman-Lacusta has toured Canada, the U.S., and made presentations to 20 groups in the UK and Ireland, including at Britain Yearly Meeting of Quakers.
Her two free presentations in Kamloops happen Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the TRU Clock Tower Theatre and Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in room AE 164.
