UAWC and Talamh Beo August 2025

Since the Talamh Beo participation in the La Via Campesina delegation to the West Bank in December 2024, a working group on Palestine solidarity has been formed in Talamh Beo. Led by Ollie Moore, who participated in the delegation, this has resulted in a deepening relationship with Palestine’s Union of Agriculture Work Committees (UAWC).

UAWC-Talamh Beo relationship 

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two organizations and a strategy for implementation of this MOU have been developed. The five core tenants of the emerging plan of action are:

• Advocacy and public engagement; 
• Education and political development; 
• Emergency support and campaigning; 
• Solidarity Visits; 
• Farm Twinnings. 

European activities

Participation in

• European meetings and initiatives led by la Via Campesina, including at the European Trade Justice Coalition;
• European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine and 
• LVC webinars and message amplification on Palestine. This includes condemnation of the destruction of the UAWC seed bank near Hebron in August, campaigns on the EU-Israel Association Agreement and denunciation of the use of starvation as a weapon of war by Israel.

Irish activities

A number of meetings to outline the fact finding trip – and the five core tenants of the MOU – have been held these include:

• Feeding Ourselves (Cloughjordan). 60 in person 25 online. Yaseen from UAWC and 2 x LWA remote participation. 5th April 2025  – See article below for more on this.
• Cloughjordan (Tipperary)  19th January 2025
• Dublin (Cobblestone) 80 in person 26th January 2025
• Nenagh (Tipperary) 20 in person 5th March 2025
• UCC (Cork) 40 in person Tamam (UAWC) & Moyaad (UAWC) remote participation. 24th March.
• Loughrea (Galway) 80 in person. 21st May 2025
• Miltown Malbay (Clare) 100 in person. 26th June 2025
• Buncrana (Donegal) one talk 80 in person, 2 fundraising gigs 100 in person each time Fuad UAWC remote participation 25/26th July 2025
• Falcaragh one talk 30 in person, one forage 20 in person. 28th July 2025

Talamh Beo has also amplified UAWC messages, in particular with regard to the wanton destruction of the Seed storage facilities near Hebron, where it called on:

• The Irish government to publicly condemn this attack, demand accountability, and oppose the ongoing destruction of Palestinian food systems.
• International allies to increase pressure on Israel to end these violations of fundamental rights to land, seed, and life.
• All who care about food sovereignty and climate justice to stand in solidarity with Palestinian farmers, whose ability to save and share their seeds is a frontline defence for biodiversity, human dignity, and climate resilience worldwide.

Upcoming this year a webinar is planned from a West Bank farm near Ramallah, which practices Korean Natural Farming, to connect this farmer – Adham Karajeh from the Ard Al-Ya’as cooperative – with farmers in Ireland. Information on this will be shared soon.

Many of these events have also been significant fundraising events for UAWC and its Stop Gaza Starvation campaign. You can donate to this in an ongoing manner at the link to the Buncrana event.

Media

Articles have appeared in thejournal.ie; the Irish Farmers Journal Changing Ireland;  Audio on countrywide, GIY radio. 

Ongoing

Despite the horrors of colonisation and occupation, with the Israeli Occupation Forces and settlers breaking international law and abusing the land and the people of Palestine on a daily basis, Talamh Beo has made and deepened its connection with fellow farmers in the West Bank.

There has been continued engagement related to the five core tenants, some of which is beyond the scope of this short article. One thing is clear – we have made personal and organizational contacts which are enduring. More to come!

Strengthening Solidarity Farming Connections with Palestine