The family/team of volunteers/donors/workers at the Palestine Museum of Natural History (PMNH) and the Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a happy Eid Al-Adha. Our thoughts are always with suffering people (part of our extended human family) in places like Houston, Myanmar, Yemen, Gaza, and Syria. In our local sphere, we collectively continue to make significant progress in accomplishing tasks related to our PMNH/PIBS mission to research, educate about, and conserve our natural world, culture and heritage and use knowledge to promote responsible human interactions with our environment. Increasing respect for ourselves, for others, and for the environment, our most recent work has included:
1) Research publications and reports on many areas ranging from protected area management to biodiversity to environmental health to museology.
2) Development of and education about biogas production and other green environmental practices,
3) Education of visitors (local and internationals) and students from many schools and universities on issues of environmental conservation, climate change, food security etc.
4) Capacity building that enhances sumud (persistence/resilience) and sustainability through many workshops and job-creation programs
5) Building a family/community of activists who care for one another and care for their environment and for fellow human beings.
Please join us. Our immediate next plans which you can help with include:
1) Developing a stronger research hub and increase research in little explored areas such as green technologies (like integrated pest management, permaculture, nature conservation)
2) Developing our indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits to be of utmost use in our education programs.
3) Developing a mobile museum experience reaching out especially to marginalized communities (refugees and isolated villages)
4) Developing a good citizen science program and enhance innovation among our students
5) Helping more in school environmental clubs and enhancing programs at both schools and universities
6) Capacity building and job creation in areas of science and agriculture. Towards that we will build a Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability which will offer certificates, diplomas, and higher degrees.
7) Work with communities around biodiversity rich and vulnerable areas to ensure conservation by focusing on ecosystem services
8) Fundraising to achieve the above goals: whether by donations or helping us with grant proposals, there are many ways of helping. We also need now to raise capital for a new building costing nearly $1 million and you can donate towards that (matching exists so you can double your donation). Talk to us about how you can donate stocks or how we can name sections of our new museum in acknowledgement for larger donations. But any donation is welcome from $5 to $50,000!
Volunteering and donations in kind (books, equipment, labor) are also encouraged. We thank all who volunteered and/or helped in other ways, look forward for better/more cooperation, and ask others to join us. Please check out the website palestinenature.org
Stay Human
Mazin Qumsiyeh
A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor and (volunteer) Director
Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Bethlehem University
Occupied Palestine
