In episode nine of the Courage My Friends series, we welcome visiting professor and dean of the faculty of agriculture and veterinary medicine at Gaza’s Al-Azhar University, Dr. Ahmed Abu Shaban. We discuss the weaponization of already fragile food systems in Gaza, the acceleration of the climate crisis through conflict and Palestinian resilience under occupation.  

Reflecting on the nexus of food, climate and occupation, Abu Shaban shares:

“My father passed away in 2021 and we had a farm in Gaza. This farm was destroyed several times. And this farm is an olive trees farm. And olives, you know, you need to wait at least three to five years to get production out of it.So several times we cultivate the seedlings … The Israelis come inside … and destroy the land, cut the trees. My father would just … recultivate the trees again. I told him, Listen, but this is really too expensive because we are investing a lot of money in this and we never see the production of them. And my father said, Let them cut it for 100 times and we will recultivate for 101 times."

About today’s guest: 

Dr. Ahmed Abu Shaban is a visiting professor at York University in the faculties of liberal arts & professional studies and environmental and urban change. He is also dean of the faculty of agriculture and veterinary medicine at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. His work focuses on food systems and climate vulnerability, particularly the impact of conflict on agricultural production and food security in the Gaza Strip. Dr. Abu Shaban plays a leading role in advancing higher education in crisis settings and co-founded the Emergency Committee of Universities in Gaza.

Transcript of this episode can be accessed at georgebrown.ca/TommyDouglasInstitute. 

Image: Dr. Ahmed Abu Shaban  / Used with permission.

Music: Ang Kahora. Lynne, Bjorn. Rights Purchased. 

Intro Voices: Ashley Booth (Podcast Announcer); Bob Luker (Tommy) 

Courage My Friends podcast organizing committee: Chandra Budhu, Ashley Booth, Resh Budhu. 

Produced by: Resh Budhu, Tommy Douglas Institute and Breanne Doyle, rabble.ca. 

Host: Resh Budhu.