BBC Travel have a new series called 50 Reasons to Love the World, “through the inspiration of well-known voices as well as unsung heroes in local communities around the globe.”
It goes without saying that the world was turned upside-down last year as we faced a global pandemic, racial reckoning and the continued effects of climate change. However, we at BBC Travel believe the dawn of 2021 brings with it a new sense of hope and possibility – as well as a heightened sense of connection to each other and the world around us.
Even as we were – and still are – unable to travel in the way we did before the pandemic, people from different cultures in every continent have continued to thrive in their personal corners of the planet, bringing joy, passion and inspiration to their communities. They’ve preserved local traditions, made strides to protect the Earth, and used their creative talents to expand and evolve their cultures.
With BBC Travel’s 50 Reasons to Love the World in 2021, we hope to share that joy with you, and through their extraordinary stories, inspire you to fall in love with the world all over again. After all, it’s the only one we have.
We asked 50 remarkable people – both known voices and unsung heroes – the question, “Why do you love the world?”
As part of this series, BBC Travel asked this question to palestinian Arab conservationist Vivien Sansour. Her short answer was:
“Because through planting seeds, we are literally creating a new world together – one that is more loving and definitely more tender.”
Sounds reasonable and fitting. Except when you read the entire piece, the message is not so much about loving the world as spreading propaganda:
Heirloom seeds, which are non-genetically modified and open pollinated, are important for the health of agriculture all over the world. Sansour believes they are especially important for Palestinians who have been living under Israeli occupation of the West Bank since 1967. “With each seed we can achieve more autonomy,” she said.
Actually, this piece is mild compared to other reports featuring Sansour’s seed activities. For instance, the below video report from NowThis contains a number of lies, including that Israel’s water company Mekorot sucks water out of palestinian Arab villages:
Why the BBC thought this piece on Sansour fit the purpose of their series on loving the world is beyond me. But they do seem rather preoccupied with palestinian Arabs this month.
Well, more than usual.
