Gaza Children Go For Kite-Flying Record

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2:23pm UK, Friday July 31, 2009
Children in Gaza have attempted to set a world record by flying thousands of homemade kites over the war-torn region.

Palestinian children fly kites during a festival on the beach of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip



The event saw more than 3,000 kites take to the air above a sandy beach in northern Gaza, UN organisers said.

Some designs included the red, green, black and white of the Palestinian flag.

If confirmed, it will break the record for the highest number of kites flown simultaneously.

The previous mark of 967 kites was set in Germany last year.

The colourful kites were released into clear skies as part of activities at the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) summer camps, which hosted more than 240,000 children this year.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Gaza-Children-Attempt-Kite-Flying-Record-Thousands-Above-War-Torn-Region-As-Part-Of-UN-Relief-Work/Article/200907415350659

[madrchsod]

1. did they tell the idf?

ouch..i`m being really cynical today

[Howardx]

2. clearly they didnt

they all survived.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

3. Of course the Guiness judges couldn't be there. Gaza is too dangerous for Western adults.

[oberliner]

4. Why is this newsworthy to you? nt

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Don't know about you, but it's good to see positive human interest stories for a change n/t...

[oberliner]

6. Here's a good one

http://abcnews.go.com/International/Travel/story?id=8219738&page=1

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Thanks for posting that one. I'd never heard of Surfers for Peace before n/t

[ProgressiveMuslim]

10. I posted it for 4 reasons: 1) This made world-wide news.

2) The pieces shows me personally that no matter what inhumanity the civilized nation of Israel foists upon Gaza, Israel can never, and will never, destroy them or their essential humanity.

3) I imagine that depiction of Palestinian humanity and will to live was hard for some here to see.

4) My sister saw a photo the event in our local paper and called me, choked up, saying "OMG... those boys look like (my son)" (I would never say his name here). Some who post here see a bunch of future suicide bombers when they look at those photos. Other people see a bunch of kids who who have the same big beautiful eyes and innocence of my son.

I hope that answers your question.

[oberliner]

11. Thanks - I'm all for the human interest stories

I was wondering if there was a political angle to this as well vis-a-vis the Hamas/Fatah power struggle.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

12. Not particularly. I am personally disgusted by the ridiculous power struggle

between the two parties.

[ConsAreLiars]

7. It's great to see UNRWA helping the children of Gaza

in this way and so many others. The children of Palestine and Gaza in particular are certainly high in the ranking of kids whose oppression and suffering is deliberate and strategically planned, rather than a byproduct of conflict.

[LeftishBrit]

9. An inspiring story. I hope the record is confirmed,